Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

The first thing Reed noticed when he returned to his house was that it felt different, like someone had quietly shifted the balance of the air while he was gone. His shadows stretched and tested the edges of the space, brushing against resistance that had not been there before. He smiled faintly. Raven had put up wards.

They pulsed quietly in the corners of the house, the kind of protective web only demonic magic could weave. Nothing dramatic, just invisible threads strong enough to stop an uninvited portal from tearing into his living room or frankly any other supernatural creature. She had given him a kind of safety most hunters never had unless they paid heavily, and she had not even asked before doing it.

His eyes moved across the room and caught on something else. Her boots by the door, her coat slung over the chair, her bag half open on the table with makeup scattered carelessly beside it. She had moved into his space like it was the most natural thing in the world, and instead of being annoyed by it, he felt quite happy.

From the kitchen came the smell of garlic and oil. He stepped closer, leaning on the doorframe for a moment, and there she was. Raven had on a silk slip that clung to her curves, and over it an apron that was tied at the back, loose enough that one tug would undo it. She stood at the counter, humming softly as she stirred a pan.

Reed moved behind her without a word. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her gently back into him as he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. She laughed under her breath, shaking her head.

"You should go and rest in the living room, Sir Ghost" she said playfully. "Dinner is almost ready, and I don't want the scary assassin to kill me too."

He kissed her again, softer this time, and let her go.

When he dropped onto the couch, the television was already on. Some young preacher in a cheap suit was shouting about demons, his hand pressed to a woman's forehead as she collapsed into his arms, writhing and speaking in tongues. The audience clapped and cried out, and Reed felt his mouth twitch.

The Apostles had perfected this trick. Preachers, shamans, miracle healers—they wore a hundred masks across the world, but all of it was the same business. Spreading the gospel of whichever angel's blood flowed through their veins, turning faith into loyalty, and loyalty into control. He had fought beside them enough to know that their halos were more than decoration, but he also knew how far they were willing to twist human belief into a weapon.

The screen dimmed when Raven appeared, carrying a single plate and a glass of water balanced neatly. She straddled him like it was the most natural thing in the world to do when feeding someone, he could feel the softness of her ass on his leg as she held out the first forkful of food.

He opened his mouth as requested, she smiled at his cooperation "So Sir Ghost," she said, "how did the mission go?"

Reed chewed slowly, leaning back as her legs squeezed against his sides. "Handled, the hunters are back safe and sound, the important criminals will be interrogated most likely, and Hale will probably buy me a drink if he ever admits he owes me one."

She fed him another bite and took another for herself. "As expected of my love."

He smirked. "You praise me too much, it wasn't actually that difficult of a mission really."

Her smile widened, but she didn't press. Instead, she scooped up another bite of food and held it to his mouth. "Just shut up and Eat, Reed."

For a while it was only the sound of the fork against the plate and the preacher's voice in the background. Then Reed remembered what had been tugging at his mind since earlier. He caught her wrist gently and lowered the fork. "I forgot to ask. Do you know anything about the recent kidnappings by warlocks and witches?"

Her expression shifted instantly. "Why?"

He gave her the short version, just enough to cover what mattered. The missing hunters, the warlock's involvement, the hybrids on the ship. She listened, her eyes narrowing slightly as the weight of it settled.

When he finished, she set the plate aside and ran her fingers down his chest. "Not really. I am not surprised though. The covens keep things like that away from us. You know how it is. Daughters of Lilith are not exactly welcome in the circles of warlocks or witches unless it's to present us to their Patron demon."

He nodded. He already knew the truth, but it was useful to hear her say it. Raven's bloodline made her too dangerous even for her own kind. Her kind feared her Mental magic yet envied it, and shadowhunters treated her like a threat that should have been burned centuries ago since shadow magic couldn't stop it.

"I could find out for you," she said softly, her lips brushing his jaw. "It would not take much. A few whispers in the right ears, a charm spell or two. They wouldn't even know I had been there."

Reed kissed her, before pulling back just enough to speak. "No. It would draw eyes to you, and you've already done too much hiding yourself just to stay here with me. I'm not letting you risk that."

Her gaze softened, they were about to move on to much more enjoyable activities when his phone buzzed against the table.

Raven slipped off his lap reluctantly as he answered.

"Good Day Hunter Reed," came a familiar voice, sharp and professional. His handler from LA. "By any chance were you sent on a mission recently?"

Reed's mouth curved faintly. A trap question. If he admitted to acting on orders from Hale, it could cost the old man dearly. So he kept his voice neutral. "No I wasn't sent formally on any mission. I simply saw a problem, so I helped out

The pause on the line was enough to tell him that answer was acceptable. The voice returned, less sharp this time. "Good. Then I have something else. There's an opening for a mission in Africa. New vampire gang making trouble in Lagos, Nigeria. They've been feeding too openly, killing civilians, and it's quite a blatant disrespect to us. The House Of Black wants them cut out before it becomes a full nest. The pay is substantial, travel covered, usual terms. Are you available?"

Reed glanced at Raven. She had frozen where she stood, her eyes dark, her body tense. She didn't say a word, but he could see it in her face, the thought of him leaving made her afraid, though she would never admit it.

Reed reached out, his hand brushing her hip, his thumb tracing the edge of her apron as if to calm her down without a word.

Normally he would have accepted it without hesitation. Missions were his life. But New York was starting to feel familiar again. He was starting to love it again.

"Not this time sorry," he said into the phone. "I'm staying in New York for a while."

The silence stretched long enough for Raven to look at him with wide eyes.

The handler spoke again, stumbling slightly. "That… is unexpected. You always take the missions. Why not this one?"

"Because I am a here as a mentor now, not a hunter" Reed said. "And I will not be available for at least three months. Longer, maybe."

The man on the other end stuttered, clearly thrown. "You… a mentor? Since when? And who?"

Reed leaned back, letting the corner of his mouth rise. "Mia Hale. Daughter of Commander Hale."

The handler exhaled in a low whistle. "That is… appropriate. She deserves a mentor of your caliber. I wish you luck in your endeavors."

"And I wish you the same," Reed replied before ending the call.

He tossed the phone aside and turned back to Raven. She was still standing there, but now her eyes had softened, and she looked more like a woman than a demonic sorceress.

"You are staying," she whispered.

"I am staying," he said, pulling her back into his lap. "Now feed me the rest of that food before I decide to eat you instead."

Her warm laughter filled the room, and he had to admit it sounded more like home than anything else he had known.