Alec had closed up the shop for lunch, deciding that he needed a cup of coffee before tackling the dusty classical section that was gathering cobwebs in a corner of the storage room. As he walked toward the bookshop, he saw a boy staring up at the sign. His chest ached, grief tightening his throat. His memories were still fragmented but he finally understood why he felt such a profound loss when he thought of his baby brother.

From a distance, the boy looked like Max. As he drew closer, Alec expected to find some detail that was wrong but instead, he had to stop, almost shaking as he realized that the child didn't look similar. He was Max.

Strange, incomprehensible thoughts kept him frozen. Demons and hearts' desires and... This can't be real.

Slowly, he moved toward the boy that shouldn't be Max but looked so much like him that Alec couldn't understand how it could be possible. Swallowing hard, he told himself to be calm. Keep his voice steady so that he didn't frighten the boy. "Is your name Max?"