Jegudiel (Deadly Virtues 2)

Their decision to turn their murderous intents on the men who’d wronged them was the beginning of the Brethren’s end of days. Kingdoms would rise against kingdoms—the kingdom of the Brethren-abused versus the Brethren themselves. But right now, the Fallen were a motley crew of too many different styles to be effective as a battalion.

“A viper on its own can easily be captured,” Noa said, sauntering back to the others. She sat down, smelling the brandy as she ran the glass under her nose. She loved that smell, that burn. “But a den of vipers—no, a nest of differing venomous snakes, all working in concert?” She shrugged. “No one could stop them. They would cut down anyone in their path.”

Noa glanced at Dinah. Her sister was nodding in agreement. “We may be physically smaller than your men, but we ‘witches’ are organized. We can anticipate every move each other will make, even in battle. My sisters and I are a motherfucking synchronized death squad. The Fallen wouldn’t stand a chance against us. Physical strength and a lust for killing mean nothing if they can’t use their talents cohesively.”

Gabriel sat back in his chair, interlacing his hands over his stomach. Noa could see the apprehension on his face. But she was right. He knew it. They were brothers. A codependent little group, just like the Coven. They were all each other knew. But they killed separately. They were super-soldiers without a unit, or even a commander.

“You gave them a life they could thrive in,” Dinah said, appeasing Gabriel and taking up the mantle of Coven leader once more. “But you’ve only just turned onto a new path from the one you traveled when you escaped Purgatory. And you need to retrain, completely shift your MO if you’re going to succeed.” Excitement flashed across Dinah’s face. She was a born leader and loved a challenge. “Give your brothers to me in regard to fighting. By the time we’re ready for the attack against the Brethren, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with. The Brethren will never see us coming.”

Gabriel closed his eyes, and his mouth moved in prayer. The key and remote to Diel’s collar burned in Noa’s pocket. She glanced at the clock on the wall. She was getting closer to meeting him in the folly, and she could hardly fucking wait.

Gabriel opened his eyes, then at a subtle nod from Maria, he said to Dinah, “Make them unstoppable.” Gabriel swallowed, and to Noa’s eyes it looked almost painful, like everything within him was trying to stop him from speaking his next words. “If the only way to stop the Brethren is to see them dead, then may it be them who meets God first, not my brothers. I won’t see us destroyed. Not after everything we’ve fought to have.”

Noa felt a pull in her gut at the strain on Gabriel’s face. She glanced between Dinah, Maria and Gabriel and, in that moment, saw them as one and the same. Gabriel then addressed Noa. “I know you believe them inferior fighters to yourselves. That may be so, but please be careful tomorrow. Some of them are more violent than I think you know.”

Noa smiled wide. “Oh, I hope so.” She leaned forward. “I want to see them all for exactly who they are. Every fang and drip of poison they possess—the cobras, the vipers, the mambas and the taipans. All the toxic venom they can bring.”

Noa’s thoughts immediately drifted to Diel. She wanted him unleashed most of all. She wanted to see her pretty blue-eyed monster in all his deadly glory. After tonight, she never wanted him to hide any part of himself ever again.

“And you?” Dinah asked Gabriel, bringing Noa back into the here and now.

Gabriel sighed. He seemed to understand the vague but loaded question. He shifted his legs, like something had just bitten into his thigh. His spine was rigid and his mouth grew tight as if his body was working through the pain. “I will fight too.” Gabriel’s hands were white-knuckled on the arm of the chair as he spoke. Maria’s hand gently covered his, and he seemed to pull himself together. The priest was hiding something. Noa knew it. She didn’t know what. But it brought him pain. Whatever it was, it caused the priest to be in the utmost discomfort. “If my brothers fight, I will be fighting right beside them. That has always been our way. I will train with you all tomorrow. And I will also yield to your instruction.”

Dinah nodded. Gabriel drank the rest of his brandy in one quick swallow. When he placed the glass back down on the table, he spoke to Dinah. “Let me take you to the old groundskeeper’s home. If you think it would be big enough for the children, we can start making arrangements for the renovations, and their permanent move here.”