infiltrated the centre of the circle before settling to form some kind of demonic shape in the middle of them all and all of their grips on each other's hands began to strain. Arya was just happy Alec had such a firm grin on hers and that Magnus was skilled at doing these things.

"Valak is among us. Do not break the bond." Magnus warned and everyone held on tighter. Alec's large hand engulfed Arya's and she felt oddly safe beside him—even though that wasn't what she should be thinking during the current situation.

"Hold on," Jace shouted to Clary who's hands were slipping a little. "I'm trying." She struggled, holding on as tight as possible. The winds were dishevelling everyone's hair and then the process began.

"It's time, the demon demands payment." The warlock told them and they all braced themselves for the worse. "What does it want?" Alec asked hopefully.

"We must each relinquish a beloved memory of the one we love the most," Magnus revealed and Arya couldn't help but share a look of word with Izzy. There were no keeping secrets from this demon. There were no blocking thoughts and there was no lying. This would be the truth. And Arya wasn't sure if she was ready for everyone to know that yet. But she had no choice and neither did the others. Although it did raise some curiosity as to who exactly Arya did love the most.

First of all, was Izzy. Her memory was of Alec, who sat at the table in the centre of the institute. He was smiling and Arya couldn't help but think he looked hot—she always did—even as payment to a Demon.

Arya knew she had limited options. She had no blood family. So it was going to be one of her new family. She already knew but didn't want to admit to herself that it could be Alec.

Next was Clary and it revealed an image of her mother but the memory being received seemed to cause a loss of grip between Jace and Clary. They still maintained it but it was looser.

After it was Alec and as the memory was close to being revealed, the grip between Clary and Jace accidentally slipped up and the memory was gone in a flash of an eye, the only thing being seen was a flash of brown hair before all hell broke loose. "No!" Magnus shouted, trying his best to contain it. The impact of it breaking free disconnected them all and sent Arya flying into a wall. "I cannot contain the demon much longer." Magnus strained. Clary ran towards Jace and the Demon attempted to grab her but Arya ran forwards and pushed the girl out of the way before it clasped around her but instead it grabbed her. She was dragged with as much force possible towards the demon and the hold it had on her body was agony.

"No!" Alec panicked, running forwards and grabbing one of her hands that she could reach while Izzy did the same and grabbed the other.

"The demon is growing stronger," Magnus warned them and Arya could feel it. The air was being taken from her lungs and her bones were on the verge of cracking from its grip. Her head was growing lighter and her vision was starting to darken with random black spots. Her grip weakened on Alec and Izzy which Jace tried to help in any way he could.

"Clary, if you kill the demon, your memories will be lost forever!" Magnus warned the girl when he noticed she had brandished her seraph blade. But this was her new family if all was lost. And she felt for them all. They were family and she wanted to be part of that. Arya may have been hard on her when she first arrived but she could tell why, she saw the bond between Alec and her and the bond between Izzy and her. It would tear them both apart in too many ways if she died. Even Jace, they had both lost all of their families and considered each other a brother or a sister. She was everything to everyone and it pained her to lose her memories but for a fellow Shadow hunter. A new sister. It was worth it.

So in one swift motion, she had taken the sword and plunged it into the demon. The creature screeched and Magnus contained it for as long as possible but then it was dust and they were left with an unconscious Arya.

"Arya..." She mumbled caring just as much as the others but not as much because for them it wasn't possible, the five surrounded her loosely so she wasn't too confined.

"Oh, my god, Arya," Izzy muttered, wiping the hair from her parabatai's face. She wasn't dead otherwise Izzy would've felt it. "Arya, please get up." Alec practically begged, holding her head in his lap while he shared a worried and pained look with Jace. "Is she gonna be alright?" The blonde asked hopefully. She was truly like his sister—even if he was a stubborn asshole to her sometimes and she was the same back. That's just what siblings were like—even not biological ones.

"I don't know. Does she normally just lay like that without moving?" Magnus asked and Alec glared at him. "Show some concern. Your the one who's been fawning over her all night." Alec snapped, resting her comfortably across his leg while Magnus just smirked at how jealous he had managed to make the lightwood shadow hunter. The warlock did not doubt that if Alec's memory had been revealed—it would have been an image of that girl.

Suddenly Arya shot up onto all fours, choking on the oxygen around her and the aching feeling in her abdomen. She felt weak as she collapsed sideways which happened to be into Alec's Arms. She didn't give much thought to it when she did and rested her head against his chest and it took her a minute to notice that Alec had his head pressed against her shoulder, breathing deep sighs of relief.

"I'm all right. I'm all right." She assured, also gripping onto his hand subconsciously. "I just need to get my breath back." She mumbled weakly, deciding she didn't want to move from her place practically on Alec's lap. He was warm and comforting and she felt exhausted as if she could fall asleep right then and there, Her joints, muscles and bones ached. She just wanted Alec, but she couldn't say that so she lay against him instead and he was more than happy to comply. Visibly being relieved that she was still alive.

Everyone could see that she was desperate for his comfort and him giving it to her was soothing. And that he needed her too. "Thank god your okay. For a second there I thought we lost you." Izzy sighed and Arya weakly smiled at her Parabatai.

"I am so sorry, Arya. It was too strong and I lost my grip and then I stood up and—" She stumbled but Arya cut her off. "It's fine, Clary. Just kill it a little faster next time, yeh." Arya chuckled and Clary's did the same, relieved that she wasn't mad at her.

Alec couldn't say the same. The girl had almost died for and because of Clary twice now. He hated feeling like he had almost lost her or he could have lost her—which was why his grip was equally as strong on her hand.

Arya leant forwards on all fours again as another coughing fit emerged and she felt like she couldn't breathe again. Alec gently ran his hand up and down her back as she flipped over onto her back and closed her eyes trying to not think about how sick she felt. "Let's get back to this institute." Alec pleaded and everyone nodded, even Arya who felt as if she was going to throw up at any moment.

✧

Arya lay back against her headboard with a pounding headache and aching muscles. She felt weak awake and she couldn't help but think that if she felt so mentally vulnerable now, she would feel just as unstable asleep. He mind would be more susceptible to memories and she would have another sleepless night. She could already feel the shivers running throughout her body.

She was about to head to Izzy's room again but then she remembered that she had gone to see Meliorn that night. She knew who she wanted. She felt so secure and at ease earlier in Alec's arms and she wanted to feel like that again. So she swallowed whatever worry she had and walked the other way down the hallway to the other light woods room.

She knocked on the door and heard a muffled voice telling her to come in. She slowly opened the door and saw him lay against the headboard with his hands behind his head. He was shirtless and lay with the sheets halfway up his torso so she could see his pyjama bottoms a little. "Oh, Arya." He said, sitting up slightly. "Hey, sorry...I know it's late. I just...Izzy's with Meliorn and I can't sleep and when I close my eyes I can feel a nightmare coming and i-i just—" She rambled and Alec climbed out of bed and over to her, moving her into the room and closing the door behind them.

"It's fine. Completely fine." He sighed, pulling her into a comforting hug. "Do you feel any better from earlier?" He asked her hopeful but she shook her head sleepily as they moved to sit on Alec's bed. She had her head lay against his shoulder and she was exhausted.

"Come on," Alec mumbled, swallowing his nerves and patting the pillow on the other side of his bed. "You sure?" Arya asked carefully and Alec nodded sure, pulling back the thick covers for him. She climbed in one side while he Climbed on the other. She was still cold and Alec draped an arm over her waist and she leant into him a little, the two feelings secure.

Alec leant over and turned the lamp off on the side of his bed and the two of them closed their eyes. Arya had the same sensation in her bones as she did earlier. She was exhausted and Alec's bed smelt just like him. It was a fresh and woody scent that smelt just like he looked. It was dark but the light at the same time and Arya loved being engulfed in it.

His strong arm was holding her softly but securely and Arya liked the way she felt safe when she was with him. And that whole night, she didn't have a single nightmare, and Alec didn't feel a single ounce of stress. He was holding onto what he wanted and he was happy for it. This way he knew she was safe in his arms and he knew that she wasn't in any immediate danger. He was calm.

And he finally made up his mind. If that Demon had revealed the person he loved the most. It would have been Arya. But now he was sure of it,

✧

Okay, this is my favourite chapter I've written by far. I'm so proud of this and you can finally see Alec and Arya's feelings blossom and his jealousy towards Magnus is just iconic.

I battled with how I wanted to write the demon scene. It was always going to be that Clary's grip slipped but I couldn't decide whether I wanted it to be after Arya found out Alec loved her or Alec found out Arya loved him or if they both found out. But overall I decided it would be better if they just discovered it together and I'm really happy I chose that.

This is also a long chapter, so, sorry it took me a little while to write.

LCC-Xoxo

Word count : 8895