Page 108 of The Sinner and the Gunslinger
“And Snuggles.” Zeke points to the toy sitting at the table’s edge, watching us.
We all startle in surprise.
“Bloody hell, he really keeps doing that. Popping up.” Wesley’s eyes widen with alarm.
A clicking dolphin sound comes from beneath the table. Zeke’s cheeks flush, and he drops his hand to pat the ex-demon clawing at his legs for treats. “And Jinx.”
I look at Mercy. Here goes. “And I want to apologize. Firstly, for lying to you about my history with Zeke. Secondly, for lying about the part of the prophecy that predicts the merger of this team... romantically. I didn’t know for long, but the lie almost cost us the relic, so I figured, better out than in.”
Zeke puts up his hand. “My fault too. Sorry.”
I look at our redheaded team leader. “Mercy, we should have told you the instant we saw you on the doorstep, but... there’s been concern that some of us won’t take the news well.”
Thea and Wesley gasp. Someone drops a spoon, clattering loudly.
Mercy blinks at me, then Cisco, and then back at me as she asks, “The teams need to merge romantically? Like an orgy?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No. Just one Sinner and one Saint. Isn’t that right, Thea?”
Her cheeks brighten. She knows they have to tell the truth now. She clenches her jaw but then nods. “It’s not like we enjoyed withholding the truth. We weren’t one hundred percent confident. But after Wes and I fell in love, and now Zeke and Leila have kindled an old friendship into something more... it’s definitely part of Mary’s prophecy. Five SinnersforSaints.”
No one speaks. The silence is deafening. Dominic’s brown skin looks greenish. Raven rubs her eyes. Tawny frowns.
“Wait,” she says, counting us. “The math doesn’t add up. Are we getting a new member of Team Saint?”
We all study each other. Cisco slides guilty eyes away.
Wes sees it and blurts, “They’re coming, aren’t they?”
“Who’s coming?” Mercy asks, her voice tightening.
The priest doesn’t answer, but Zeke does with bleak eyes. “The Entity—the Vatican.”
“When?” Mercy stands suddenly, glaring at the priest with accusation. “They’re coming to dismantle us? To condemn us?”
“Maybe the prophecy is wrong,” I suggest. “Maybe we can refuse the Entity entry.”
“It’s not wrong.” Wes taps his finger on the table. “Too much is right.”
“Maybe they’ll see the light,” I suggest weakly.
“Can we eat yet?” Tawny whines, eyes already back on her cake. “I’m seriously hungry.”
I sigh. “Guess the cake is going cold. We won’t solve these problems at the dinner table. And I’m kinda starving still.”
“Me too,” Zeke mumbles.
A chorus of agreement rumbles around the table.
“Let’s eat then.”
I devour the cake and cream, but it tastes like cardboard. My emotions are too frayed right now. I probably should have dropped my bomb after we ate. After a few moments, Tawny looks at me with nervous pity.
“Leila, I don’t mean to be rude, but this tastes like ash.”
“What?” My blood runs cold. I thought it was just me who couldn’t taste it. “Is everyone’s bad?”
“Sorry.” Mercy pushes her plate forward.
