Words are lost on him. He swallows around a lump in his throat. The press of Joshua's lips to the back of his pale hand makes Alecto want to cry, a sob heaving itself out from deep in his chest. He turns fully, temporarily, away from the door, to grab hold of his husband's handsome, tired, despairing face and kiss him, fully, mouth open, apologies and regret and love pouring forward all in equal measure.

He wants to stay. But he can't help but leave.

"Darling," he says, that treasured term of endearment, now a farewell, trembling with so much feeling. He pulls back to press their foreheads together, briefly. But, try as he might, nothing else comes to him then, a multitude of things he wishes he could say, wishes he could explain, compromise on. But the tide is calling and his magic must run free -

So with that, he flees, his tears stinging cold on his face, but the breath of relief he feels when he finally pulls up the hood of his coat and turns back to what he's supposed to be...it's unparalleled.

Alecto disappears beneath the swell of the rising tide, a flash of pearl white. On the black rocks of the sea cliffs from where he leapt, he leaves behind his wedding band, a thin gold halo glinting in the sun.