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The bill is put to a vote on Tuesday. Alec is one of the first people in the Council chamber. He sits in the back of the room and watches everyone arrive. Alec started writing this bill when he became Inquisitor, and he’s spent the years since then rewriting it over and over. He needs this to go through, for himself and for Magnus. It’s a test of the work that he and Magnus have done during their time in Alicante. If it passes, Alec will know that they’ve made real progress.
The Council members prepare to cast their votes. Alec has met with most of them over the past few years. All Shadowhunters, still, despite his efforts. Alec has overheard some of them talking about him. He sees the judgemental looks every time he enters the Council chamber; he knows what they think about his marriage. If he wins today, all of it will be worth it.
One by one, the Council members whisper their votes into a small glass vial. Jia Penhallow sits watching at the front of the room. She’s there to preside over the vote. She expresses no public support for Alec’s bill, but she’s encouraged him in private conversations since he first proposed it. She nods at Alec from across the room, but says nothing except to call the room to order. As she writes the rune on the side of the vial, Alec holds his breath in nervous anticipation.
The results appear in the air. The bill is passed. Alec’s won. All the tension leaves his body in one long exhale, and he shuts his eyes. The news travels around the room, and he’s surrounded by whispered conversation. Alec can feel the glares on the side of his face. He glances around and sees some people celebrating, cheering and embracing.
Aline comes up to him. She’s smiling broadly, eyes shining, and Alec feels himself grinning in response. “We did it!”
Alec hugs her tightly. “Does that mean we’ll be hearing an announcement from you soon?”
Aline pulls back from him, blushing. She punches Alec in the arm. Then she leans in, whispering in his ear: “Don’t tell anyone, but I might be planning something.”
Alec gives her a high five. Then they turn their attention back to the crowd. They’ll need to shake hands with a lot of the people in this room before they can leave.
When Alec leaves his office that afternoon, he takes the ring box from his desk drawer. He picked it out months ago, when he began preparing to propose the bill to the Clave. During late nights in his office, or after especially frustrating meetings, he took it out and looked at it. He holds onto it now, as he walks home.
Alec finds Magnus in his office. He’s working, frowning in concentration with his lips pursed. His hair was styled this morning, but now it's falling over his forehead. While Alec watches, a fire message burns into the air at his shoulder and falls, joining the ones already on his desk. His job as the High Warlock of Alicante has become more difficult in recent months. After the recent arrival of Downworlders in the city, he has to keep in contact with leaders from all over the world. “How are you doing?”
Magnus looks up and smiles at Alec. “Welcome home, Alexander,” he says. “Good to see you’re not working late today.” He gets up from his desk and walks over to where Alec is leaning against the door frame.
Alec leans in for a kiss. Magnus reaches up to cup his jaw, pulling him closer. Alec forgets, for the moment, all his concerns about the city’s future. “I hope you aren’t too busy for dinner,” he says. “I made reservations at that restaurant down the street.”
“No, I need a break,” Magnus says. He returns to his desk, pushing the scattered papers into a pile. “Is there a special occasion I’m forgetting?”
Alec suppresses his grin. He leans back against the wall, attempting to look casual. “Can’t I take my husband out for a nice dinner?”
Magnus raises an eyebrow at him. “If you say so.” He runs a hand through his hair, pushing it back. “I’m looking forward to it.”
After dinner, they walk along the street, through the heart of the city. The sun is setting, casting light across Alicante’s skyline. It’s lined with buildings, with their home visible in the distance and the demon towers shining on the outskirts. There’s room for more construction on the edges of the city; Alec only has rough ideas so far, but he’s optimistic about the future.
There are a few other people on the street as well. A few are recent arrivals, ones that Magnus has spent a lot of time with. They nod to Alec and Magnus as they pass, and Alec returns the gesture. Alec hopes they’ll remember the friendliness of their neighbors at the next election.
Alec pauses on the side of the street, above the canal. Magnus stops with him. The light from the streetlamps shines radiant over his face and reflects in his brown eyes. He’s dressed up for dinner, with makeup glittering around his eyes and a golden earring dangling from his ear. Alec swallows, suddenly nervous despite himself. “Do you remember when we got married?”
Magnus raises one eyebrow. “Of course,” he says. “It was a very memorable day.”
“I’ve been thinking about it recently,” Alec says. He steadies himself with a hand on the railing. “It wasn’t fair that we couldn't have a Shadowhunter wedding.”
The Clave’s law prohibited them from getting married in a Shadowhunter ceremony. They got a mundane marriage license, and held their wedding in the Institute, but under Shadowhunter law, they couldn’t be legally married. It's an insult that Alec hasn’t forgotten.
“No, it wasn’t,” Magnus says. He looks up at Alec, his head tilted. “But we were lucky to be able to get married at all, don’t you think?”
“A bill that I wrote was passed today,” Alec says abruptly. Magnus’s eyebrows draw close together. Alec doesn’t bother trying to hide his grin anymore. “It gives Shadowhunters the right to marry anyone, regardless of gender or classification.”
Magnus stares at Alec with his mouth open. Before he can say anything, Alec steps back and kneels on the ground in front of him. “Will you marry me? Again?”
Magnus covers his mouth, his eyes shining. “How long have you been planning this?”
“A few months.” Alec smiles broadly up at him. “So, is that a yes?”
Magnus laughs, loud and joyful. He pulls Alec to his feet. “I can't believe you.”
Alec slides the ring onto Magnus’s finger, next to the Lightwood family ring and his wedding ring. Magnus throws his arms around Alec’s neck and kisses him. Alec pulls him close, hands on his waist, holding him in the center of Alicante.
“I love you,” Magnus whispers into the space between their mouths.
“I love you too,” Alec says.
Magnus leans against him, and Alec holds him close. It’s dark now, and the stars are out, but Alec can’t look away from Magnus.
“I never thought I would be getting married twice,” Magnus says quietly.
Alec runs a hand down his back. “Why stop there? We should have a warlock ceremony too.”
Magnus laughs against his shoulder. “That’s ridiculous.”
“I mean it,” Alec says. “I want to marry you as many times as I can.”
Magnus kisses him again, When he pulls away, it’s only a little, so the tips of their noses touch. “We should have a wedding near the ocean.”
“Sounds good,” Alec says. “We might have to invite a bunch of Council members.”
Magnus shakes his head. “As long as you aren’t talking about politics the whole time.”
“Definitely not,” Alec says. “I’ll only be paying attention to you.”
Magnus leans against him again. “I’ll invite some old warlock friends too.”
Alicante glitters with lights in the cool night air as they walk home. Alec keeps his arm around Magnus, holding him close.They have more work ahead, more votes and negotiations, but tonight the city is still and quiet.
“It’s a beautiful night,” Magnus says.
Alec holds him tightly. “It really is.”