Magnus felt bad. Because this was Billy's birthday party and Magnus' words had lost Billy one party guest. He was not sorry for what he had said because, in his mind, every word was true and warranted. Maybe in a few hours, maybe a few minutes, he would regret being so harsh. But it had been weeks of this attitude and those words -- It should have been me -- echoed in Magnus' head every time he looked at Alec. He couldn't take it, couldn't sit there while Alec closed himself off to everyone and everything, including, slowly, Magnus.

The very fact that Alec didn't fall apart, that he reacted so physically but still refused to acknowledge his feelings even remotely, sealed Magnus' resolved. He let his boyfriend walk away, walk out, and Magnus didn't make any move to follow, instead summoning himself up another drink, something stronger than the last.