Free Counterpart (Succubi & Incubi Assn.) by K.J. Hunter-Brown Page A

sat quietly, staring at each other. I was trying to
get her to believe me, and she was trying to think up something to say.
    “My only solution would be a rogue,” Daniel said in a much calmer
tone but with a hint of anger. “This would be the second time in one night that
they have preyed. This person seems to have a lot of power on them.”
    “Then how come I haven't sensed them?”
    “They must be releasing their demon much more than usual. It would
easily disguise their scent and make them look like a normal human being,” he
answered.
    “This is stupid,” I mumbled into my palm as I rested my chin on it.
My demon didn't like the feeling I was putting off and warned me to stop it.
    “Just keep under wraps for a week or two, Maya. You can survive up
to three weeks before things will start to go bad. If things don't die down—no
pun intended—I will come over there and help out.”
    I arched a brow at the phone and contemplated over his words. It
almost frightened me that Daniel went all mad, and I mumbled, “Thanks, Dan.”
    “It's okay.” The anger had diminished, and now he sounded like the
old Daniel. “We'll sort this out, Maya. Just... don't get into anymore
trouble.”
    It's not like I ask for it.
    I couldn't have asked for better friends though. I knew Melinda and
Daniel would both stick by me, and if the SIA got involved they would continue
taking my side.
    I just hoped it didn't come to the SIA finding out.

Six – Reality Check
    A few days had passed since we last spoke to Daniel. I didn't hear
anything about the guy in the alley and I was glad. I was expecting the
government or the CIA to come knocking on my door.
    It was safe to say, I practically made Melinda crazy.
    “Maya, you're being a paranoid cow. Will you stop looking out the
window?” Melinda moaned from the couch.
    I narrowed my eyes outside. I know they just found the body
yesterday, but my angst had grown so much that I was acting like a guard dog.
    “You never know what can happen, Melinda. They could be watching me
right now.” A lady and her dog walked past and my eyes narrowed more. “It could
be those two.”
    I felt Melinda's presence as she joined me by the window. Her head
hovered over my shoulder and she looked down on the poodle—which seemed to be
looking for somewhere to shit. “Oh, yeah, they sent an old lady with a dog,”
she said dully, heading back to the couch. “Beware of the poodle. They can be
vicious with their yelping and shitting.”
    Okay, so maybe I was overreacting a bit, but I still wasn’t moving
from the window.
    “You never know, Mel,” I said, watching the lady and her poodle
disappear around the corner. “The CIA or the FBI—or whatever other fucking cop
things there are out there—could have hidden cameras on me, waiting for me to
make my move, expecting me to attack so they can take me away.” It seemed
pretty logical in my head.
    She didn't speak for a few seconds but I could feel her eyes on me.
And without even turning around, I knew what look I was getting and what she
was about to say.
    “The mental ward will take you away before the CIA does, and that,
I'm positive about.”
    I soon realized how crazy I had gotten, and obviously I needed to
snap out of it. Plus, if I was in trouble, I was sure they would've come by
now.
    Melinda had made plans with Stuart today and even asked if I wanted
to join, but I declined. I had mentally made plans for myself, so I was heading
to the gym to see Tristan.
    I hadn't heard from him since that drunken night, and I desperately
wanted to know what the verdict was. If he couldn't fight, I would feel
guiltier about that than the guy in the alley.
    And frankly, I needed a distraction.
    It was 12PM. Lunchtime. I knew Tristan wouldn’t be at his house. He never was on a Monday,
or a Tuesday, or any other part of the weekday as it is. The gym was his second
home. The one place he seemed to always be if he wasn't at campus.
    I held two fruit smoothies