Choosing a screwdriver, Willow removed the air cleaner cover, ducking her head down to take a look. “Ah-ha,” she muttered as she extracted a plastic bag that had somehow gotten caught in the filter. Then, as if to prove what Alex had just been thinking she looked over at Seb, who hadn’t even moved as far as Alex could tell. Her mouth moved in a faint smile. “Hey – I won’t be in any more danger than you are, you know.”

Seb didn’t deny whatever he’d been thinking. With a sigh, he shoved back the brown curls from his brow; Alex saw again the scar on his forearm. “Yes, that’s probably true – but you see, I don’t care if I’m in danger,” he said. “When?” he added to Alex.

Sometime next decade, Alex wanted to say. “Day after tomorrow,” he said instead. “That’s when the special service is. We couldn’t wait any longer anyway, in case we need to use the security code after all. At least it gives you a little more time to practise,” he added to Willow.

She nodded. “I will, but I really think I have it now.” She darted him an impish look, her green eyes dancing suddenly. “What’s your favourite colour?”

He couldn’t help smiling. “Blue.”

“Okay, check it out.”

He concentrated, and Willow’s aura came into view – a clear, sky blue, with lavender lights floating through it. Alex stared. He’d been expecting it, but wasn’t prepared for his own reaction. Seeing Willow’s aura looking so different, as if she was just an ordinary girl, not the girl he loved...it was as if she’d somehow moved far away from him, to someplace where he couldn’t get her back. As he took in her life force’s gentle blue glow, he felt ridiculously close to tears.

“Alex?” She rested her hand on his thigh, then winced and pulled away, glancing down at her smudged fingers. She wiped her hands off on a rag, giving him an anxious look. “Are you okay?”

“It’s great,” he got out. He was uncomfortably aware of Seb, who sat watching with an expression that seemed to understand far too much. He cleared his throat. “Seriously...it’s great. How about one that the angels wouldn’t want to touch?” He’d barely gotten the words out before her aura turned a sickly greyish-brown. It shrank in front of his eyes, hanging listlessly near her body.

Alex blinked. “Wow,” he said. “That’s – pretty amazing.” The realization rushed through him: no matter what else this meant, he’d never have to worry about Willow’s aura again. For the rest of her life, she could walk down the street and be safe from the angels.

“Thank you,” he said to Seb, and he could hear the relief in his own voice. “That’s going to save her life someday.”