Alex hadn’t, but suddenly it dropped into place with icy certainty: the Council. With a human-looking aura, Willow could be there when they attacked. He swore as he slumped against the outside wall of the house. “Oh, Christ, I’m an idiot.” He scraped a palm across his face. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming...I am such an idiot.”

“No argument from me,” said Seb. He twisted at the bike’s throttle. “Still, you couldn’t have not wanted her to learn to disguise her aura,” he added grudgingly. “Or even put it off, really. She had to know how; it was vital.”

“How long has she been planning this?” Alex asked, massaging his temple, where a distant ache had started.

Seb shrugged. “I picked it up from her a couple of days after I arrived. But knowing her, probably from the second she heard about it being possible.” His gaze went over Alex, considering him. “She’s determined to be there, you know,” he said finally. “And not just to help the team – she loves you very much.”

Coming from Seb, this should have given him a feeling of satisfaction; instead he was just worried sick. “Yeah, I love her too,” said Alex. “So much that I think I’d rather see her get together with you than come along on the Council attack.”

Seb’s mouth quirked into a humourless smile. “That wouldn’t get an argument from me either. Just say the word; I’ll kidnap her and take us both far away from here.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Alex dropped his hand and let out a breath. “Okay, look – we still have to get the security info if we hope to even have a chance. Let’s just focus on that for now.”

Seb helped him get the motorcycle into the house, then they wheeled it down the hallway into the range. Willow was crouched on her haunches, inspecting the toolbox. “I’d thought you’d both absconded,” she said, glancing up with a smile. Then she took them in more closely. “Hey, is everything all right?”

Alex propped the bike up on its kickstand. “So I hear you’ve got something to tell me,” he said, stalling for time.

Willow raised an eyebrow at Seb. “You already told him?”

“Yes, I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have let you do it.” Alex was impressed despite himself by how relaxed Seb seemed – there was no hint anything was wrong.

But Willow’s forehead had creased. Slowly, she rose to her feet. “Something’s going on, I can feel it,” she said to Seb. “You’re really worried.”

Seb’s smile faded. “Willow...”

“Something about me, and the cathedral.” She moved closer to him, her eyes searching his. “Seb, what is it?”