Alex could hear the unmistakable note of fondness in her voice. Unbidden, a conversation he’d had with Kara that morning came rushing back. She’d been standing at the kitchen counter, long legs crossed at the ankle. Blowing on her coffee, she’d said, “Sooo...how are things going?”

His eyes had narrowed at her arch tone. “What do you mean, ‘how are things going?’”

Kara’s shrug had been elaborately casual. “Willow and Seb seem awfully close already, don’t they? They’re always talking whenever I see them.”

They were always talking whenever Alex saw them, too. “They’re friends, that’s all,” he’d said shortly as he took a teaspoon out from the drawer.

“You said he wants more though. And, boy, he’s really good-looking, isn’t he? Those eyes, and that sexy stubble. Willow has to have noticed.”

Alex had made a face before he could stop himself. Earlier, he’d seen Willow’s cheeks go pink when Seb had come out of the shower room wearing only his jeans, his chest slightly damp. And though her cheeks probably would have gone just as pink if it had been Sam or one of the others, Alex still couldn’t help wishing that the only other half-angel in the world had been short, with acne.

“I’m glad you’ve got the hots for Seb,” he’d told Kara coldly, jamming a piece of bread in the toaster. “Do you actually have a point you’re trying to make?”

She’d given him a level look. “Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

The genuine concern in her voice had grated on Alex. It still did; he pushed the memory away. He and Willow had reached the stairwell by then, where it was relatively quiet for now. She reached for his hand. “Alex, look – I know you and Seb haven’t really hit it off, but he’s a good person, okay? And he’s my friend.”

“Yeah, but—” Alex broke off; he’d been about to say, But you know the guy’s in love with you, right? It was completely obvious; Seb couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“What?” said Willow.

“Nothing,” said Alex finally. He shook his head, irritated with himself. “Sorry, it’s just all this Council stuff – I guess it’s getting to me. Yeah, I know you’re friends. I’m fine with it.”

She seemed to smile despite herself. “What – really?”

He smiled too. The love in her eyes was so obvious that he felt like a jerk for caring about Seb at all. “Yeah, really,” he said. “I’m glad that you’ve got another half-angel to talk to. Anyway, how’s the aura training going?”