“According to Luis, they’re going to be coming in early January and then staying for three weeks at the Nikko Hotel,” said Kara. “It’s one of the most exclusive hotels in the city – the whole top floor is reserved for them. Security’s going to be tight, but there’s a reception planned for the last day they’re here – and apparently the Council are going to be holding private audiences then, so that selected people can worship them in their angel forms. I’m trying to convince Luis that me and some of my friends should be on that list.” She gave a hard smile. “Because I’m so devout, don’cha know?”

Alex nodded. It definitely sounded like the best time to do it, if the Council were going to be in their angel forms with their vulnerable halos on display.

“And hopefully we can pull it off with as little damage to us as possible – I really don’t want this to be a suicide mission.” Kara rested her chin on her palm, her face tight with worry. “But everything depends on the team being able to take out the Council – because this is probably the only chance we’ll ever get at them. If we fail...” She shrugged. “Well, I doubt they’ll let us get away to try again later.”

“I think you’re right – this is our only chance,” said Willow in a steady voice. She told Kara about her dream; Alex watched Kara go still.

“So it’s sort of...fated for you two to be here,” she said.

“Looks that way,” said Alex, playing with his fork. His mind was ticking over everything Kara had said. Depending on Luis the assistant to get the team into the reception sounded a little too flimsy for comfort to him. But even if everything went to plan, the hardest part was going to be escaping after the Council was killed, once people figured out what they’d done. There were almost certainly going to be casualties.

He rapped the fork against the table, and left aside the logistic difficulties for the moment. “Okay, so this reception is around eleven weeks away. If you need your team trained for then, what are you doing sending them out on hunts now, before they’re ready? Are you trying to get them killed, or what?” He explained what had happened at the Zócalo; as he’d already surmised, Kara had been the lone gunman who’d actually been hitting the angels, at the other end of the square.

“Sounds like the others all stayed together,” said Kara morosely. “Damn it – I told them to fan out.”

“You shouldn’t have sent them out there in the first place! God, you should have seen them out back just now, when those three angels were attacking – it was complete chaos. What did you think you were doing?”