Seb glanced back at Alex. Finally he gave a shrug. “Yes, all right. I’ll try.” He closed his eyes for a moment, seeming to centre himself with a few slow breaths. Then he opened his eyes and held out his hand; his gaze met Alex’s impassively.

Alex put his hand in Seb’s. It felt warm and dry, slightly rough; fleetingly, he thought how weird it was to be sitting here holding another guy’s hand. No one spoke as Seb concentrated; the only sound was the low crackle of the fire, and Sam’s steady snores. Alex watched Seb’s face, hoping for some hint of what he was picking up – what he was going to say.

At last Seb let go of his hand. He gave Alex a considering look, as if he was thinking how to choose his words, and Alex felt his heart drop. “So...what did you get?”

Seb rested his forearm over his knee. “Your father had migraines too,” he said. “So did his father. The men in your family, they’ve all been leaders and they all care very much – it makes them too tense.”

Alex remembered now his father telling him that his grandfather had had migraines, though he’d forgotten this. “Yeah, okay, but—”

“I tried to look at your future, and see what might happen to you,” went on Seb. “I didn’t get very much, because I think I’m there too.” Alex’s pulse beat faster: surely Seb wouldn’t be there if Willow wasn’t? He glanced at Willow; she sat watching Seb, her expression taut. Seb went on, “But I saw your aura looking healthy again, then looking sick after a hunt. And you keep getting migraines. You should take better care of yourself,” he added mildly. “Look for ways to not be so tense – long walks, meditation, these things would help.”

Alex suddenly felt like Seb was his therapist; he had to resist the urge to shake him. Before he could say anything, Willow cleared her throat. “What does all that mean, exactly?”

Seb’s expression was gentle. “I don’t think his migraines are anything to do with you, querida. And his aura looks bad, but his father’s often looked worse. It got better – his will too. I don’t think you’re causing him angel burn.”

I don’t think. Alex winced; he knew Willow wouldn’t be convinced by this. Sure enough, she bit her lip as she stared at Seb. “You don’t know for sure though?”