“The little boy leaned against his father's chest and slowly nodded. "Yes," he said. "I heard all of thenames, but I don't remember the other two… just the man who hurt Gillian.""That's the name I most want," Brodick said softly. "Who is he, Alec?""Alec, please," Gillian began."Tell me, Alec. Who is he?""Baron," Alec whispered. "His name is Baron.”

“Alec," Magnus said. He put a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder; Alec was standing still, staring angrily at the floor. "Are you okay?"Alec looked at him. "Who are you again?"Magnus gave a little gasp; he looked — for the first time Simon could remember — actually unnerved. It lasted only a moment, but it was there. "Alexander," he said."Too soon to joke about the happy memory thing, I take it," Alec said.”

“Instead of replying, Alec reached down and took Magnus's hands. Magnus let Alec pull him to his feet, a questioning look in his eyes. Before he could say anything, Alec drew him closer and kissed him. Magnus made a soft, pleased sound, and gripped the back of Alec's shirt, rucking it up, his fingers cool on Alec's spine. Alec leaned into him, pinning Magnus between the table and his own body. Not that Magnus seemed to mind.'Come on,' Alec said against Magnus's ear. 'It's late. Let's go to bed.”

“Mother." Alec's voice as he interrupted his mother was firm, implacable, and notunkind. "Father. There's something I have to tell you." He smiled at them. "I'm seeing someone."Robert Lightwood looked at his son with some exasperation. "Alec," he said."This is hardly the time.""Yes, it is. This is important. You see, I'm not just seeing anyone." Wordsseemed to be pouring out of Alec in a torrent, while his parents looked on inconfusion. Isabelle and Magnus were staring at him with expressions of nearly identical astonishment. "I'm seeing a Downworlder. In fact, I'm seeing a war—"Magnus's fingers moved, quick as a flash of light, in Alec's direction. There was a faint shimmer in the air around Alec — his eyes rolled up — and he dropped to the floor, felled like a tree.”

“Sweet pea?'" Alec said."I was just trying it out."Alec shook his head. "No."Magnus shrugged. "I'll keep at it.”

“Wear that scarf," he said, pointing to a blue cashmere scarf hanging on a peg. "It matches your eyes."Alec looked at it. Suddenly he was filled with hate - for the scarf, for Magnus, and most of all for himself. "Don't tell me," he said. "The scarf's a hundred years old, and it was given to you by Queen Victoria right before she died, for special services to the Crown or something."Magnus sat up. "What's gotten into you?"Alec stared at him. "Am I the newest thing in this apartment?""I think that honor goes to Chairman Meow. He's only two.""I said newest, not youngest," Alec snapped.”