Chapter 1, Part 3 - Excerpt from The Reluctant Incubus

Your comments are super-helpful and encouraging. I'm really glad you're enjoying these. Thank you so much for your kind words on the previous excerpt!

So, by popular demand, I'm posting up the next 25% of Chapter 1. (For those who missed them, you can read Part 1 here and you can read Part 2 here.)

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.

If you want to find out what happens next, please let me know in the comments and I'll post up the final part of this chapter on Tuesday!

Chapter 1, Part 3

I glare at the elf and try to sound like I mean business. “I don’t have to do anything for you. I’ve chosen to live a human life.”

The elf cocks a skeptical eyebrow. “You’ve chosen to become a wizard. For money.”

Huh. So he knows I’m interning for Ms. Stryker. I haven’t even told Mom about that. I should probably find out how he knows so much, but I’m still hoping to talk my way out of this.

“Humans can use magic! A few, anyway!” I protest. “And it doesn’t matter. By royal decree, you aren’t allowed to mess with me.”

He smirks like I’m an amusing child, his green irises literally twinkling with mischief. “Your objection is noted. I’ll be sure to pass that on to the Dragon King the next time I see him.” He then presses his body harder against mine. “But I’m afraid my needs can’t wait.”

“Let go of me, you—you—!” I fumble for the biggest insult I can think of, but even though I might talk big in my head, the last time I actually swore out loud was, like, six years ago when I broke my toe against the bathroom scale.

“Or you’ll do what?” he asks, bringing his icy lips next to my ear, practically cooing.

He has me completely trapped. And even if he didn’t, he’s a million times stronger, and he knows it. I don’t need to speculate what a fae warrior like him thinks he’s entitled to do with an incubus like me to know how bad this could go.

My cheeks start to burn, and hot water stings my eyes. But I’ll be damned if I give him the satisfaction of bursting into tears.

Instead, I look away and mumble helplessly, “But I’ve chosen a human life…” The words choke against the rawness of my throat, barely a whine.

The elf’s tone is cool. “And I’ve chosen something better for you.”

He steps back, releasing me. I guess he knows I won’t run away now. What’s the point?

I stare down at my shoes, defeated. “I’m not a thief. I can’t actually cast any spells, not yet. I have no real training, even as just a PI. I don’t know why you think I can get anything from anyone.”

“The watch is at a private residence, and the owner is… distracted. He will not be there tonight, and the doors will be unlocked. The only wards are noisemakers, and they are designed for big fish. Someone of your level won’t trigger them. To accomplish this task, all that is needed is an ability to detect magic, and my understanding is you are quite good at that. The enchantment in this watch is very special. You won’t have any trouble tracking it down.”

“What does it do?”

“It solves problems well above your station. You would be wise not to trouble yourself with such details.”

Right.

God, elves really are assholes.

“And what if I say no?” I gesture at the dagger in his hand. “You kill me?”

He chuckles and holsters the dagger in its scabbard at his waist. “Stars, no! I’m not a monster.” He glances over at the police station. “I’d merely turn you in to the authorities as a ‘malignant paranormal.’ My understanding is they’ve become quite thorough nowadays when it comes to locking down supernatural threats.”

Yeah, that would completely screw me over, all right. Until recently, governments didn’t know paranormals even existed, but about ten years ago that changed, and they aren’t happy about it. I haven’t dared to tell Ms. Stryker or any other human what I am. Even if I could convince the Feds I wasn’t an actual demon from hell—and that’s a big if—I’m sure I’d be kept on a short leash my entire life. I’d never be able to get a real human job. Best-case scenario, I’d have to work for them or something, locked away. More likely, considering how weak I am, they’d just use me for some kind of lab experiment, the kind where you dispose of the bodies after.

I don’t even bother asking him how he would turn me in and not get caught himself. He’s in full armor, assaulting someone in front of a police station. He’s not going to have any trouble staying off their radar.

I must look as miserable as I feel because he says, “There, there, Alvin. That’s merely the stick. Of course, if you’re successful, I will compensate you. When you bring me the watch, I will pay you thirty thousand US dollars. Nothing glamoured—real currency. Enough, I imagine, to get you that camera you’ve had your eye on, along with a fair amount of independence from your mother. At least for a time.”

Okay. Wow. I’m flat broke and my internship with Ms. Stryker is unpaid, so thirty thousand dollars would be a life-changing amount of money for me. There’s a lot that I’d do for thirty thousand dollars. Even though my boss thinks I’m too weak-sauce to teach any spells to, she did say that if I had my own camera, I might be able to help with the more normal PI cases. And that kind of cash could definitely get me out from under my mother’s thumb, which would be an even bigger deal. But how does he know all that?

“How do you know so much about me?”

END OF EXCERPT

So what do you think?

Do you think Alvin should take the deal? Is thirty thousand dollars worth the risk?

How do you think the elf knows so much about Alvin's life—his job, his financial situation, even what kind of his camera he wants?

What's your theory on this mysterious watch and why it's worth all this trouble?

I'd love to hear your thoughts below!

Read the whole book for free!

Both books from Alvin Alonso's Secret Files will be released simultaneously on November 10 on Amazon which will give readers the complete duet to binge right away.

And if you're interested in reading the full story and leaving a review, I still have advance review copies available through two options:

For immediate reading: Get advance copies on NetGalley here (limited spots available—only a couple days left!): https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/699191

For polished final versions: If you'd prefer to review the publication-ready editions available in October, you can join my official ARC Team here: https://alexwoolfson.com/arc-sign-up

Anyway, that's the third excerpt. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the elf's deal, their interaction, and what Alvin should do!