The angel came soaring out of the building. It saw him standing on the street below almost immediately, its beautiful face contorting in fury. Seb’s angel form darted in front of it and the creature roared and charged at him in the air, burning with light.

The two battled fiercely in the street over the dance, flapping and struggling at each other; Seb felt the sizzle of the angel’s energy where their wings touched. The halo. He had to get to it; it was the way he’d defeated the only other angel he’d ever fought. But the creature’s great wings kept him at bay as they twisted together in the air – the angel trying to get to Seb’s human form with its vulnerable life force; Seb straining to reach that gleaming, pulsing circle.

“Hey, what’s going on – are you okay?” Mike had come out and was on the street beside him now, holding both bottles of beer. “Dude, you look like you’re seeing ghosts, or something.”

Seb shook his head, unable to take his eyes off the invisible battle above. His angel self was fast and strong, but he could feel that he was tiring. The angel snarled at him as they collided again, shoving at him with its wings.

“I’m fine,” he managed with an effort. “Mike, go inside. Don’t stay out here.”

Mike laughed uncertainly. “What – is this another dangerous place like Tepito? Yeah, we’ve got all these scary grannies and grandads dancing past – don’t know what they might do.”

Seb started to speak, but knew with a chill that it was too late – the angel had seen Mike standing with him. He saw its eyes narrow; it plunged at the angel Seb with an even greater ferocity, fighting to get past. No! Seb’s angel held it off somehow, his wings flashing in the light of the lanterns. The angel darted; Seb lunged but it wrenched away, soaring straight at Mike – not bonding with him, just attacking for all it was worth.

Seb grasped the thing’s plan instantly; knew it was a trap – but he couldn’t let Mike be hurt when he’d only been trying to see if Seb was okay. His angel self put on a burst of speed, whipping in front of Mike to protect him, just as he’d protected the girl. He stretched his wings out, holding the angel off as it feinted at him in a frenzy of radiance. Mike kept talking, oblivious to the drama being played out only feet away.

In his human form, Seb’s heart was thumping. He put his hand in the back pocket of his jeans and his fingers closed around his switchblade.