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everything would be okay and Tony just ruined that.”
                  Adelaide stayed quiet, feeling paralyzed in the middle of the group. She looked to Adam for a response. He was seething from the encounter, but managed to keep his reaction under control. Unfortunately, Tony took that moment to speak again.
                  “Yea, sit Adam. After exposing us, our entire way of life, and the safety of our coven to danger, you better talk,” Tony hissed.
                  Adam stiffened and Tony went on. “You know what’s out there in the dark. You know that half the shades in the world want our coven destroyed, and you don’t think twice about wandering around with some girl. Alone, no less, in a house Angie told me you thought had a bad vibe to it.”
                  Adam suddenly spied the redhead in the back of the room. The meek wave of her hand spoke volumes about her apparent inability to keep a secret.
                  “Tony, now listen to me,” Charlotte interjected, “you could have sized her up without assaulting her. And Adam, sit down. They may drive you crazy, but an apology with nice free meal and treats will make it up to Adelaide. You need to hear them out.”
                  Adelaide was surprised that Adam took the bait. He obeyed first and Tony followed. They sat at opposite sides of the booth with the remainder of the coven providing a barrier of bodies. Adelaide perched at the very edge of the bench, closest to the exit.              
                  “I’m sorry,” Tony said and it took a moment for Adelaide to realize he spoke directly to her, “I don’t know you, but I’d like to.”
                  Adam asked the next question.
                  “Are you okay?”
                  She nodded. The table’s focus remained on her, and she remembered how to speak, though in a gravelly voice.
                  “So this is your family?” Adelaide asked, feeling nothing less than stupid.
                  “We’re called a coven, meaning we’re extended family that lives together. It’s hard to explain in…simple terms. But this is Priya and Preeti. You’ve already met Angie and, of course, Tony,” Adam explained slowly.
                  She swallowed the lump in her throat and committed the names to memory. If she could have stopped her hands from shaking, she would have been set. Charlotte brought over a vibrant some fruity drink concoction. Adelaide couldn’t smell what was in it but she took a quick swig anyway, letting it hit her stomach like a rock. She suspected that there wasn’t alcohol but nursing the liquid made her calm down a bit regardless.
                  “So are we really going to talk here?” Angie cued the conversation. Adelaide tried to prepare herself for anything, but was surprised when the questions came. No one asked her much about her personal life, but they did ask about the rockslide. They asked if she told anyone and if she’d seen a doctor. Angie did most of the questioning while Tony stayed silent. The women in the corner watched her more than listened to her. Adelaide eventually noticed that the two were twins.
    By the time the pizza came, Adelaide felt too tired to enjoy the food. When the meeting came to an end, she happily let Adam escort her out.
                  “Nice meeting you, Adelaide,” Tony said on behalf of the group. He stood apart from them in the parking lot but earned nothing but a curt nod from Adam. Only after they made it back to the highway did Adam finally open up some.
                  “I think you’re the only person I’ve ever had to apologize to this much,” he admitted.
                  “Don’t,” she said. “I mean, I’d be lying if Tony didn’t scare the hell out me but he was looking to see if I was