Page 97 of The Succubi's Choice

Because it would mean a lot less if he did it to everyone. It would mean a lot less risk on his end and a lot more gullibility on hers.

The three dots show up, then disappear, then show up again.

BLOCKED NUMBER (3:55 PM): Yeah I think so. I could get in a shit ton of trouble, please don’t tell anyone.

MIRI (3:56 PM): This phone isn’t tracked anymore so you’re fine.

BLOCKED NUMBER (3:56 PM): Your phone was tracked?

And, despite literally being a host for an Archdemon, he’s so innocent. So very innocent.

MIRI (3:57 PM): Yeah.

BLOCKED NUMBER (3:58 PM): What the fuck.

MIRI (3:59 PM): I agree.

Katya comes out with a table number, rubbing her shoulder reflexively, before sitting next to Miri. “Do you know what happened last time an Archdemon was identified?” She asks, whispering, but her voice carries a level of urgency. “We don’t know which one it was, but did they ever tell you?”

Slow, Miri shakes her head.

Katya leans in closer, and to the outside, they must look like friends sharing a gossip. “It was at the beginning of us keeping hard records, 1920s, but we didn’t find out for years after. An entire Russian village was wiped off the map by whatever explosion it caused.”

Miri’s brow furrows, at how vague a statement that was. “Wouldn’t that be in the history books?”

“A lot of Russian villages went missing around that time, they aren’t in any books.” Katya looks down at her hands in a moment of uncharacteristic self-doubt. “That village had the largest population of banshee, Golem, and selkie living knowingly with humans in our records.”

“I didn’t know there was a place like that.”

“Historically, they have an issue with humans in others spaces, and...others in human spaces,” she says, stretching her legs out, as if going to try on more dresses is actively taking athletic measures for her. “And now, after the demigod thing...it would be easy for him to do something about it.” She makes like she’s going to push herself up, but can’t quite make herself do it. “Seriously, Miri, be careful. You’re my friend, I don’t...I don’t want that to go away.” Her voice falls quiet, and Miri knows how much that means.

Katya isn’t someone who makes friends easy, and when she finds someone, she usually clings too tight, so the person ends up detaching themselves out of a mistaken sense of privacy. Over knowing Katya for so many years, Miri’s seen it several times, and each time is more heartbreaking for Katya than the last.

Which is probably why Katya’s putting so much effort into finding a good dress for a wedding in Europe, despite all her inclinations that dresses are awful. Which is probably why Katya’s having this conversation with her in the first place, instead of noping out of it and hoping for the best.

“Well,” Miri starts, slow, because now she needs to say something. “He’s said, several times, that he thinks that people like me are unfairly treated.”

Katya immediately looks down at Miri’s arm. “You are.”

“And he wants to provide some sort of alternative.” This is all in the many reports she has given, it’s not a new betrayal of him, but it feels like it. “Said that the demigod was saying he was offering that in exchange for help—"

Katya snorts, cause that’s demonstrably not true.

“—but that’s why the demigod was moderately successful.”

“And it feels so perfectly designed to make you trust him,” she says, and her voice is pleading, a tone Miri doesn’t hear too much. “We can’t know if that’s what he wants, that’s just what he’s said to you.” She grips her hand, close to the injury. “Just, please. Be careful.”

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