Only seconds had passed. Alex handed the phone back to Willow. “Here – I’ve put my number on speed dial. Keep it in your pocket; we’ll be right outside once the service starts. If there’s any trouble, just hit the call button and we’ll get in there somehow.”

Seb tore his gaze away, his thoughts spinning as he remembered Alex’s migraines, his constant headaches, and thought of the dozens of ominous issues those things could mean. His first and main concern was for Willow. If this was what he thought, it was going to kill her to find out she’d been hurting Alex.

Willow hesitated as she took the phone, scanning Alex’s face as if searching for a hint of softness. There was none. She slipped the phone into her jacket pocket, her made-up face abruptly aloof.

“Yes, all right,” she said.

She glanced down, buttoning her jacket. And then Seb saw the look she’d been waiting for flicker across Alex’s features, turning them young and vulnerable – and he knew Alex was in as much torment as she was, but too stubborn to admit it.

Willow cleared her throat. “So I guess we’d better go get a place in line,” she said. The rest of the team was standing a little apart now, talking among themselves; Seb could feel Sam’s disappointment in particular that they weren’t going in.

Alex’s face was expressionless again. “Yeah, all right. We can’t wait with you; it would look suspicious if we peeled off before we hit the metal detectors. Be careful, okay? We’ll be right outside.” Though he sounded sincere, he also sounded like he was talking to any other member of his team, and Seb longed to take a swing at him. Just apologize, you stupid jerk.

Except that it was too late for that now, wasn’t it? Studying Alex’s aura again, Seb could see more clearly than ever that he hadn’t been mistaken. His throat felt like sand. How exactly was he supposed to tell Willow this?

She nodded stiffly at Alex’s words; he could feel the depth of her hurt that he wasn’t backing down even now. “Seb, are you ready?” She turned towards him – and her expression slackened in surprise as she picked up on his anxiety.

“Yes, I’m ready,” he said, burying his thoughts as best he could. His gaze met Alex’s. A fierce look flashed in the blue-grey eyes, and Seb knew Alex was telling him to take care of Willow, to keep her safe in case some rabid Church member recognized her and raised the alarm. As if he really had to be told that.

“Okay, you’ve both got your tickets – and you know the code if you need it, right?” said Alex out loud.