Once Kara was gone Alex stood where he was for a few minutes, worry over the Council throbbing at his skull. He’d thought he had almost two months left to train everyone, but if the Twelve were following their original plan, they’d only be in Mexico City three weeks. Three weeks. And he still had a team that who went running off without thinking.

He closed his eyes, squeezing his temples with one hand. Don’t panic, he told himself. It’s not as long as you thought you had, but you can do it – you can get them ready in time. And maybe Willow got it wrong, and it wasn’t even the Council at all.

That last one seemed like way too much to hope for. Alex let out a breath. Anyway, no point in worrying about this just yet – he’d have to wait and see what Kara came back with.

The only other half-angel in the world.

He frowned as he looked down, swirling the coffee in his mug. It couldn’t really be true, could it? And if it was, then Christ – what were the odds of Seb being around Willow’s age, and just happening to stumble on her things in a marketplace? Or getting a “feeling” that he should go to Chapultepec, on the only day of Willow’s life that she’d ever been there?

Remembering what Kara had said, about the two of them finding each other, a prickle ran up Alex’s spine.

He shook his head at himself in irritation; he didn’t even believe in fate. Seb was obviously as psychic as Willow was, that was all. And had been determined to find another half-angel. Once he had, learning that she had a boyfriend must have ruined the guy’s day – because although Alex was certain that for Willow, the moment when he’d found them staring at each other really had just been about meeting another half-angel, he severely doubted the same was true for Seb. No guy looked at a girl the way Seb had been with only species solidarity in mind.

And now he was here in their house...and would be alone with Willow all the time, teaching her how to change her aura.

Alex put down his mug, a little harder than intended, and went to find them. He eventually discovered Willow and Seb up on the second floor, where a small balcony overlooked the concrete courtyard. Seb stood lounging in the doorway with his hands in his jeans pockets; Willow was on the balcony itself, leaning against its metal railing. They’d obviously been deep in conversation, but Willow broke off with a smile when she saw him.