in Brethren clutches. For Cara and Destiny and the many Shunned that were listed in the ledger. And for all the other sub-groups they had yet to discover.
Because there would be others. Gabriel was no longer naïve to that fact.
“It’s a start,” Maria said, firmly. “We will both find and help others—that is our calling. We both believe this to be true—”
“That’s just what I was thinking.”
Gabriel and Maria turned to find Dinah leaning against the doorway, looking around the recently refurbished space. Gabriel caught the shine in her eyes, the air of disbelief that radiated from her as she drank in the high-spec finishes and all the room the boys would have to enjoy.
Freedom. Finally.
“Dinah,” Maria said. “What do you think?”
“Exceptional,” Dinah replied through a tight throat. She pushed off the doorway and approached Gabriel and Maria. She stopped right in front of Gabriel. “You did it,” she said. “Everything you said you would, you did.”
“Of course,” Gabriel said, understanding why Dinah seemed so surprised.
“No one outside of my sisterhood has ever stayed true to their word before.” Dinah looked behind her to the kitchen. The cook they had hired had begun cooking that evening’s meal for the children.
“Come this way.” Gabriel led Dinah into a private living area off the main room. Dinah followed, shutting the door behind them. Gabriel moved before the unlit fire, Maria taking her place beside him.
Dinah assessed the room, then looked at Maria and Gabriel. “We’re stronger together. Don’t you think?” She ran her hand over the dresser that sat against the wall.
A flare of relief fired through Gabriel. He didn’t know what the Coven wanted to do in regard to staying at the manor. In regard to fighting alongside the Fallen. Long-term plans had never been decided upon.
“I do,” Gabriel said, feeling some part of God’s bigger plan for him slotting into place.
“Definitely stronger,” Maria echoed.
Dinah walked closer. “There are more children to be rescued, to be saved.”
“There are,” Gabriel agreed.
“And you will need my Coven’s help in retrieving the Shunned, in taking the Brethren down from the outside.” Dinah smirked. “Especially since we apparently have a sister covertly on the inside.”
Gabriel nodded. Priscilla. The sister who was just like his brothers. “That’s true.”
Dinah huffed a laugh. “And now that Noa and Diel are soldered to one another’s sides, it seems there’s no separating the two of them.”
“I know that feeling,” Maria said. A blush coated her cheeks.
Dinah smirked at Maria’s reaction, then said to Gabriel, “So it appears that our two worlds have permanently collided.” Gabriel nodded, knowing where this conversation was headed and instantly feeling lighter inside. Dinah took a deep breath. “It also seems like you guys need a third musketeer in your leadership group.” Dinah shrugged, but there was a playfulness to her tone. “Someone who knows what it’s like to be under Brethren control. Someone who can fight and plan and scheme.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Someone who is used to planning missions to retrieve the children stealthily and successfully.”
“That does sound exactly like what we need,” Gabriel said.
Dinah held out her hand. “Then what do you say? Shall we continue this Coven and Fallen alliance?”
Smiling, Gabriel placed his hand in Dinah’s, and they cemented the deal with a handshake. Next, Dinah shook Maria’s hand. When they broke away, Dinah seemed brighter.
“You are welcome to stay in the old housekeeper’s home,” Gabriel said. “Or there are plenty of rooms in the main house.” Gabriel thought of the two factions sharing an evening meal each night, thought of them training each day. Although their handshake had secured the alliance, he, Dinah and Maria already knew that, somewhere along the line, they had already become family found. The rest was just semantics.
“I’ll put it to my sisters,” Dinah said. “And I’ll leave a voicemail for Priscilla, so she knows that even though she’s on her own path right now, there’s a ready-made fucked-up family and safe home waiting for her whenever she’s ready to return.” Gabriel nodded in agreement, not for the first time wondering about this Priscilla, the sister who had both saved them at the meeting house and helped them when they retrieved Noa.
As Dinah went to leave, Gabriel said, “We’ll see you and our new sisters at dinner soon then, yes?”
Dinah winked, and waved as she left. “That you will, Goldilocks.”
Gabriel looked around the orphanage once more, a small victory in the hellish war that was bringing down the Brethren.