There was a world where Max hadn't died. One where he was safe and getting a chance to have the life that had ended so violently back home. One where an Alec hadn't made a mistake that had cost his brother his life and almost gotten Izzy killed as well. "It was my fault." His knees almost buckled as the realization combined with his grief. He'd blamed himself before but this showed how things could have been. In another world, an Alec had protected Max. In his, he'd failed his brother in the worst way.

"I made the wrong choice. I trusted the wrong person and..." His voice was thick with sorrow, nearly choking him as he forced out those words. His fault. If he hadn't trusted Sebastian, if he'd been better, then Max would have lived.

For what felt like hours but he knew that it was only a few minutes, he clung to Magnus, trying to fight past the loss and guilt to focus on what was needed instead of being lost in the past. At least the memories proved that this wasn't a dream created by Magnus' father. If it was, Max would be alive and Alec wouldn't remember his death.

Slowly, he pulled away enough that he could offer Magnus his hand. Alec wasn't sure why the spell had taken so much energy but it had hurt Magnus in some way. "Take my strength. I've done it before."