Page 47 of The Succubi's Choice

Probably a report on the house they visited, on the succubi who charmed her, on all of that.

Miri left the kiss out of her report, and she couldn’t tell you why. Maybe in hopes that they’ll miss it, maybe in hopes that the man won’t be there, maybe out of something resembling species pride. Or maybe because it sticks in her throat whenever she thinks about it.

LUNDY HANDLER (4:01 PM): That building is not safe. We have had no access for two years.

MIRI (4:02 PM): Am I just supposed to go?

LUNDY HANDLER (4:04 PM): Trying to find out. I don’t like this.

There’s a hiccup in the conference call, and she dimly hears Katya repeat, “Hello, hello?”

Her mouth dry, Miri stares at her phone, sitting innocently on her desk.

The door between them opens, and Katya pokes her head out, opening her mouth to speak before shutting it again.

They look at each other, then Katya gestures with her head into her office. “Come in?”

Shoving her phone in her pocket, Miri rises, and Katya shuts the door behind her with a click.

“Lundy just jumped on the call, and I got kicked off,” Katya says, and her beautiful face creases with concern. “I don’t think it was an error.”

Miri doesn’t know what to say, so she just shakes her head.

They sit there for a few seconds, with Katya obviously waiting for Miri to say something, and Miri waiting for Katya to actually ask. It’s horrible, like being dipped into acid or being forced to speak in public.

Katya’s expression changes, before she sits back. “They’re making you lie to me, aren’t they?” She says, and her voice isn’t angry, but instead satisfied. “They’re holding something over you and making you lie to me.”

In her pocket, her phone beeps, but Miri makes no motion to get it.

“It’s to do with the guy who teleported, obviously,” Katya continues, looking like the cat who got the cream. “I’ve thought for a while, but...” She looks sidelong at Miri, who’s close to panicking but trying really hard to not let it show on her face. “Did they tell you why?”

“They thought you’d try to save his life,” Miri blurts out. “They didn’t want that to get in the way.”

This is clearly not the answer Katya is looking for, and she hesitates for a split second longer. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah. There’s technically a human involved.” Once she said that one piece of information, the rest of the words come easy to her. “They said you’d have too much mercy.”

“And here I thought it’s because they didn’t want me to get more credit after the demigod,” Katya says, her voice subdued. “This is...much better? I think?”

Miri squints at her, because sometimes Katya’s moral compass is odd.

“I thought they were denying me a promotion, not because they thought I was too good of a person,” Katya says, and her voice is soft. Like a comforting blanket in this time of confusion.

Miri’s phone beeps again, and they both glance down at her pocket.

“Go ahead and get it?” Katya says, her voice still soft. “But they shouldn’t be putting you in danger.”

With that wonderful note, Miri digs out her phone, and her hands are even shaking.

LUNDY HANDLER (4:22 PM): There’s no way we can make it safe before tonight. We’ve been trying for two years. We cannot tell you what you will find inside.

LUNDY HANDLER (4:23 PM): Tell him you’ll be there.

She sucks in a breath under Katya’s watchful eye, before forcing a very fake smile. “They are most definitely putting me in danger.”

MIRI (4:24 PM): I get off work at 6:30.

BLOCKED NUMBER (4:24 PM): Dress formal.

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