Chapter 78

Naomi

Elio grabs my hand and pulls me down narrow, dimly lit alleys before pushing me through the heavy wooden door of a dingy bar. The pungent scent of old beer and unwashed bodies hits me like a wave as I step inside. The patrons are a mix of rowdy drunks and slumped over figures, eyeing us warily. I know with a sinking feeling that we’re back at the same place Cal had dragged me to before.

The bartender looks at us as we walk in, but one snarl from Elio has everyone going silent, looking away. They don’t care that he is dragging in a heavily pregnant lady with him. He kicks through the back door until we reach a dimly lit corner. The table he finds is small and wobbly, tucked away where the flickering lightbulb casts an eerie glow. “Sit,” he commands, and I quickly sink into the rickety chair. As I watch him he wants to know about the chaos of the coven. A sly smirk forms on my lips - perhaps I can use his reputation to my advantage.

I clear my throat and ask nonchalantly, “So, how