"It's okay." He pets Magnus' hair. Alex needs to cut it again. Magnus is a warm, summery lump against his chest, and what he makes Galahad think of the most right now is himself, the only person with all of God's rules to follow, not allowed to touch or be loved by anyone -- made for one purpose, a weapon, a cup, a useful object. He remembers how many years that was all there was.

"It's okay," he says again, snuggling Magnus in his arms.