Page 96 of The Succubi's Choice

Again, Katya doesn’t say anything, simply taking that information with a small tilt of the head as they walked along the clean sidewalk, next to the stores all geared towards rich middle-aged women who like pastels, next to the small diners and the cutesy coffee shops.

“I know that’s...weird, and that you warned me to not be manipulated, but...” Miri has to swallow against the lump in her throat. “I said I would tell you that. Not that you would talk to him, but that I’d say that.”

“Good. Don’t make promises on my behalf,” Katya says, brisk, and pauses in front of another dress store, with frilly concoctions of gauze and lace in the window, and her face twists at the sight. “Did he say why?”

“He wants to make peace with the ‘person’ who killed the demigod,” Miri says, light, because that’s an answer that Katya would find amusing. “Pretty sure to make sure you don’t kill him.”

Katya snorts in response. “God, that whole thing is ridiculous.” Her voice is wistful, like it sometimes is when she wishes things aren’t the way they actually are. Like when she wishes the world could change.

Miri hadn’t heard that voice in a while, and it tugs at her heartstrings a bit.

“And you’re doing what he asks, now?” Katya says, her voice sharp, as they face the pastel window of dresses. “You need to be careful.”

“I am.” Miri tries to squint in the window, see a dress that Katya would at all wear. “Do you want to just call it a no on this place? I’m not seeing anything.”

“No, I’m still going inside, they said they had non-poofy dresses in stock.” Katya wrinkles her nose at the door, but makes no movement to go inside. “Seriously, following him got you tortured, don’t get too far in.”

It’s probably too late for that, but not in any way that Miri can tell Katya.

“I’m not...” she sighs, because she can’t really say anything, so she holds the door open for Katya. “I’m just trying to figure out what’s best.”

“And you think doing his dirty work is for the best?” Katya responds, soft, not stepping inside the store. “Can we...can we just go get coffee instead?”

“He’s really not asking for much,” Miri says, just starting to walk instead of answering. “Did a bunch of...protections...for my apartment. Made peace with Gabriel.”

Katya looks at her, up from scanning for a coffee shop. “Gabriel approves?” Her voice is so outwardly skeptical that Miri wants to laugh.

“Yeah, they had a talk and everything. It’s was full of bro emotions and being overprotective.” If she puts enough jokes into this conversation, maybe Katya will stop grilling and stop with the disappointment.

“Hmm,” Katya says. “So he’s doing a good job with all the manipulation.”

“I almost don’t think he’s meaning to,” Miri blurts out, another little frisson of hurt welling up. “He seems pretty...open to me.”

“That you know.” Katya gestures at a shop with a shrug. “It’s been ages since someone tried to relationship you, you need to not fall headfirst into the extremes for the first guy who’s kind.”

“I’m not, all I’m saying is he’s asking to talk to you.” It feels like a petty defense, and it probably is. “You don’t have to, I’m just the messenger.”

“Are you though?” Katya asks, and it’s almost barbed. “Are you?”

Always one for the unconscious dramatics, she whirls her way into a coffee shop to order, leaving Miri to sit at one of the cutesy outdoor tables.

“Well I’m not stupid,” she says, more for herself than for Katya, even though she knows Katya can overhear from inside the shop.

MIRI (3:36 PM): I asked her. She’s skeptical and might not.

BLOCKED NUMBER (3:37 PM): I’ll save this text for him.

Oddly, she blushes, for no reason other than she literally made out with his body and he probably has no clue, and it feels just on this side of weird consent.

MIRI (3:38 PM): He’ll know what it means. How are you?

BLOCKED NUMBER (3:39 PM): Decent. Have finals coming up and they’re kicking my ass too much.

MIRI (3:42 PM): I saw your computer system, I’m sure you’re doing fine.

BLOCKED NUMBER (3:42 PM): He showed you??????

MIRI (3:43 PM): Yeah is that weird?

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