Without trying, I got a sudden image of him. He was sprawled on his bed reading a book – I could picture him so vividly that I could see the Spanish title on its front cover; the brown hair falling over his forehead in those loose curls that I knew drove him crazy. The image made me smile; he looked so engrossed. I closed it away as quickly as it had come. I don’t know when I’d first realized that I could sense Seb’s whereabouts when he wasn’t around – somehow it just felt natural to know where he was.

Why was I thinking about Seb again? I pushed him away, irritated, and studied Alex’s face in the faint glow of the street lights – its strong, beautiful lines. I kissed his nose. “You have a very nice nose, are you aware of this fact?”

He laughed for the first time in days, warming me like a hot drink on a winter’s evening. “No, I can’t say that I am. I don’t think my nose has ever gotten a compliment before.”

“Poor nose. It deserves lots of compliments.” I kissed it again.

Alex shook his head with a grin. “My nose and I both thank you. Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to distract me? You know, I did actually notice that you didn’t tell me what you were thinking.”

“Maybe that’s because I didn’t want to. Maybe I’m busy having lots of secret, private thoughts.”

“Hmm, very mysterious...” As Alex drew me to him again, a sound came from inside the house, almost like someone shouting.

We glanced at each other, startled, and then it came again and this time there was no doubt. Sam’s voice, bellowing: “Guys! You guys, get in here! Everyone, now!”

The TV showed a reporter facing the camera, speaking in rapid Spanish. Behind him was a broad conference table with twelve well-dressed people sitting around it, though you couldn’t really make out their faces. Sam sat hunched on the sofa, his muscular forearms resting on his thighs. “They’re talking about el Consejo de los Ángeles,” he said tersely. “That’s the Council, right?”

“Oh my god,” murmured Trish.

No one else said anything. Everyone was there, including Seb, still holding his book: Sam’s shouts had brought us all running. I sank down on the arm of the sofa, staring at the TV. Alex stood next to me, frowning; I was glad to feel the warmth of his arm against mine.

From the doorway, Kara began to translate. “...I was brought to this secret location blindfolded, to maintain the security of the group that claims to be the Seraphic Council – the government of those heavenly beings here on earth. I’m talking now to their spokesperson.”