Chapter 1, Part 2 - Excerpt from The Reluctant Incubus

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 it, you can read Part 1 here!)

Estimated reading time: 3-4 minutes.

If you want to see what the intimidating elven knight does next and how it will affect Alvin, let me know in the comments!

Chapter 1, Part 2

“Alvin Alonso,” he says, his voice smooth as silk. “I need you to do something for me.”

My back’s on fire. The wind’s knocked out of me. He’s literally choking my throat. And he’s talking to me like I’m his secretary and it’s just another Friday morning. Of course, I’d be delighted to help you, Mr. Big-Strong-Fae—how can I offer you excellent service today?

Did I mention elves are notorious assholes?

I try to speak, and nothing but click-like choking noises come out of my mouth. It’s only then that he realizes his hand is stopping actual air from reaching my lungs.

“Oh. Yes. Of course,” he says, pouting like he’s just noticed gum on his shoe.

He releases my throat and drops that hand to my chest, letting my feet hit the ground. He’s still pinning me, but at least I can speak again. If I were Ms. Stryker, I’d be asking how the hell he knows my name. I mean, I’ve never met the dude, and that’s kind of a big deal, right? But the police station is just across the street. There are even three cops walking to the parking lot right this second. So instead, I yell my head off.

“Help! Help! Someone help! I’m being attacked! Help me!”

The police don’t look over. They don’t even slow their steps. The fae must have glamoured us both so tight, I could spontaneously combust and no one would notice. But the moment I start yelling, Elf Boy rears back his head and loosens his grip.

Well, heck, those pointy ears of his must be sensitive.

So I belt out full-blast, right in his face. “Get OFF me, you big fat jerk!” Then I knee him right in the balls.

Or, at least, I try to. I miss by at least several inches, and he has a codpiece anyway, but I am still able to get out from under him.

I start to run, but four steps in, he grabs me by the back of my khakis and yanks me up against the wall again. Wham! Then he’s on me, pinning me against the rough red brick with his whole body. You’d think that would really hurt, but it turns out elven plate mail is actually not pokey at all. I swear I can feel his muscles flexing through it. Just like I can feel his sweet, cool breath against my ear when he says, “Stop that.”

Despite being born a literal sex demon, I’m short and thick, with a moonlike face. He’s got the sleek silver hair, chiseled jaw, and drop-dead, conventionally gorgeous movie-star features of all the Winter fae. (Because there is no justice in this world.) This is as close as I’ve gotten to an attractive man in a long time, or ever, and I’m honestly so desperate it might be possible to find this whole thing kinda hot.

If he didn’t have a dagger pressed against my throat, that is.

He cocks his head to the side. “You’re very weak, even for an incubus, aren’t you?”

Nice.

Ignoring my glare, he continues. “I need you to get something for me. A watch. And I need you to do it tonight.”

“Oh, yeah? Why don’t you go get it yourself?!” (This is me trying to act tough.)

“I’m elven nobility, and that presents an insurmountable challenge for this task. My beauty and power attract notice wherever I go. If I were captured, the bounty my kidnappers could ask for would be immense, which makes me a constant target. The sheer power of my aura would set off the wards before I even reached the front door. Not to mention the fact that the current owner of this watch likely hid it in some deep hole that would be physically difficult for someone of my frame to navigate.”

My eyes narrow. “Wait. Are you saying you’re just too handsome, rich, powerful, and tall to do this?”

The elf smiles, pleased. “Yes. Exactly! And I need someone who is none of those things.”

“Screw you, Lord of the Rings! I’m not a hobbit!”

I try to twist out from under him without nicking my throat on his dagger and have as much success with that as you’d think I would.

Whatever. If what Mom’s goblin friend told me is right (and he wasn’t just making fun of me—real possibility), I should have a get-out-of-magical-bullshit-free card. One that even the fae are bound to obey.

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.”

END OF EXCERPT

So what do you think?

Any theories on what this mysterious watch is and why it's so important? How do you feel about the dynamic between Alvin and our unnamed elf? And what do you think about Alvin's reactions and thoughts, his "voice"?

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 one week 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 second excerpt. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on how Alvin's handling his first close encounter with a big, scary fae warrior!