This was a dangerous conversation for them to be having right in the middle of what Alec assumed was supposed to be a happy get together. They were delving into things that Alec wasn't sure if he was ready to hear or deal with. At the best of his times, his emotions were muted and controlled, pressed down into a dark box where he could keep an eye on them. At the worst of times, that control was lost, frayed and broken, and he had no idea what he'd end up doing.

"How do you know different?" That was the question, the risky, risky question that he almost hadn't asked. But, Magnus had made the statement and Alec was nothing if not thorough when it came to investigating an issue, getting to the bottom of a problem.

He brought his gaze back up to Magnus's face and settled there, watching. Maybe he didn't know this face as well as he wanted to but he could spot the most minute of changes when he really looked.