“Maybe he’s gone out for a sandwich!” suggested Leon.

Alec called Magnus’s cell phone, and waited again. There was still no answer. This time his stomach took a small, cold tumble. Was Magnus all right?

“This is very awkward,” said Aline.

Helen was looking sorry for Alec. He glared at her.

“Look,” she said. “We have something. We know about a meeting point near Rome that the Crimson Hand used. Why don’t we go there together. And then we’ll see what we see.”

It was clear she thought they would find Magnus there, evilly leading an evil cult.

“Fine,” said Alec, putting his phone away. “I want to find the Crimson Hand more than you do. I have to clear Magnus of these allegations. I’ll allow you to help me with my investigation.”

“Your investigation?” Helen repeated. “This is my investigation. And I thought you were on vacation.”

“He can be both investigating and on vacation,” Aline said defensively. She and Helen both started talking over each other in low, intense voices, beginning their second argument in the three minutes since they’d met. Alec really hoped he hadn’t gotten Aline into trouble.

He looked away from the argument and met Leon’s eyes. “I don’t think you have anything to do with this cult business,” Leon told him.

“Oh,” Alec said. “Thanks, Leon.”

“I hope Helen’s zeal won’t get in the way of you and me growing closer.”

“Huh,” said Alec.

Leon appeared to take this as encouragement. Alec did not see why he would. Leon came closer. Alec edged back toward Aline.

“Helen and I have a lot in common,” Leon said.

“Good for you.”

“One of the things we have in common,” Leon ventured, “is that we are both interested in a variety of company. If you follow me.”

“I don’t,” said Alec.

Leon glanced around, then said rapidly, “I mean, we’re both bisexual. Interested in men and women.”

“Oh,” said Alec. “I don’t know a lot about that, but again, good for you.”

Alec knew Magnus was the same way. He had begun to learn that there was a whole world he had been entirely cut off from, words like “bisexual” and “pansexual” he’d never really known. It made him grimly sad to think now of his younger self, how desperately lonely he’d been, how he’d been sure he was the only one who’d ever had the feelings he did.

In the dark small corners of his soul, Alec worried sometimes. Why would Magnus choose him if he could choose a girl, a woman, an easier life? He thought of how terrified he’d been once of how he would be judged.

But then, if Magnus wanted an easier life, surely he wouldn’t have chosen a Shadowhunter at all?

“When this is over, I could come to New York,” Leon suggested. “You could show me a good time.”

He winked.

“Please tell me you’re getting the implications this time,” Leon added.

“I am,” said Alec.

“Fantastic!” Leon told him. “We’d have to keep it quiet, but I think we could have fun. You have so much going for you, Alec. You can do better than some Downworlder with a shady past. Hey, do you have any time tonight?”

Leon was handsome, Alec guessed. If Leon had come to New York when Alec was angry and miserable and thought nothing was ever going to happen for him, Alec might have taken him up on his offer.

“No,” he said. He turned away, then looked over his shoulder. “I want to be clear,” he added. “No, I have plans for tonight that don’t include you. No, I’m not interested in fun on the quiet. And no. I can’t do better than Magnus. There isn’t better than Magnus.”

Leon raised his eyebrows as Alec’s voice rose. Aline and Helen took notice and looked up from their quiet, intense argument.

“Leon, are you making a pass?” demanded Helen Blackthorn. “Why do you always do this? Stop hitting on people, Leon!”

“But life is short, and I am handsome and French,” Leon muttered.

“Okay. We’re going to this Crimson Hand meeting place. You’re out, Aline’s in,” said Helen. “Don’t seduce anyone until we get back.” She turned to Alec. “Let’s go get some weapons and do this. Try to keep up.” She strode away, and Aline moved to walk alongside Alec, a few steps behind.

“So, have you known Helen Blackthorn long?” she asked gruffly, and coughed. “You said she was kissing a vampire girl at that party? Didn’t you say that?”

Alec had a vision of Helen, pale arms around the vampire girl in the moonlight. He shouldn’t have mentioned it to Aline. It was Helen’s business, and it would be his fault if Aline thought of Helen differently now.

He hardly knew Helen, but he felt a hot rush of protectiveness. It was as if he’d heard someone whispering about him, when he was younger and even more scared.

“I haven’t known Helen long,” he answered.

“I guess Jace told you about that time we kissed,” Aline continued irrelevantly. “Like, why we kissed. He was helping me figure something out.”

Alec looked at Aline sadly. Aline had always seemed very levelheaded about boys, but Jace was the exception to many rules.