Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb by Lexi George Page A

others. ’Twas not mine intent to leave you in danger.”
    â€œWell, you did. That’s why I went into the woods.” Her voice rose; bits of light dusted the air around her, like ice crystals.
    He held out his hand. “Come, I grow weary of bickering. Let us quit this place.”
    â€œI can’t.” Her mouth trembled. The light emanating from her went out, as if someone had snuffed a candle. “I think I broke my ankle.”
    Grim swore and knelt on the roof beside her. “You are hurt? Why did you not tell me so at once?”
    â€œStop fussing.” She swiped her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing her face with dirt. “I don’t like it when people fuss. I want people to be happy a-and kind to one another.”
    â€œAs I suppose you were being kind to me when you struck me in the nose?” Grim murmured, examining her ankle.
    â€œOw. That hurts.” Sassy tried to jerk her foot from his grasp. “That’s different. You deserved it.”
    â€œBe still.” He concentrated, pouring his heat and energy into Sassy. “So, humans deserve your forbearance, but I do not?”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œNo, you let your fist do the talking. And most eloquently, I might add. You are stronger than you look.”
    â€œMixed martial arts and kickboxing. I take classes.”
    â€œFisticuffs?”
    â€œSort of, I guess. It keeps me in shape. My stepfather wanted me to be able to protect myself.”
    â€œYou are an apt pupil, as my nose can attest. As for your desire to make others happy, I wish you luck. Humans, in my experience, are mercurial and seldom worth the trouble.”
    â€œPeople rise to your expectations,” Sassy said with a little of her former vigor. “I expect them to be kind, and they almost always are.”
    â€œAnd I expect them to be a sorry lot and they rarely disappoint.”
    â€œYou get what you look for.” Sassy flexed her foot. “Hey, the swelling’s gone. My foot doesn’t hurt anymore. How’d you do that?”
    â€œSurely you do not expect me to tell you all my secrets.”
    â€œYou haven’t told me anything. I don’t even know your name.”
    â€œI am Grimford.”
    Sassy got to her feet. “Thank you, Grimford, for healing my foot, but I think you should leave now. There’s a witch after me.”
    She was trying to protect him. The notion was amusing and, at the same time, oddly touching. Danger, duty, and the hunt were the Dalvahni way. The Dal were extremely powerful and death came seldom to them.
    It came for Gryff. Unbidden, the thought drifted through Grim’s head. Had you been there, he would not have died.
    He had failed his brother. The knowledge settled in Grim’s bones, a familiar, leaden weight he had carried for years. He pushed it away. Gryff was beyond help, slain in a djegrali ambush centuries ago. This female was not.
    â€œI do not fear this witch.”
    â€œI do. She’s horrible .”
    â€œI did not see—” Grim paused. “Hold. Are you saying the witch and the Howling Hag are one and the same?”
    â€œThe Howling Hag—is that what she’s called?”
    â€œAccording to my brother Duncan. Legend has it she craves human flesh.”
    â€œIt’s not a legend. It’s true. She was fattening Evan up to eat him.”
    Grim’s amusement fled. “Who is Evan?”
    â€œThe big guy on the roof.”
    â€œYou know that monster by name?”
    â€œHe’s not a monster.” Sassy paused. “Or at least, he wasn’t until the witch showed up. I don’t think it’s his fault. I think it’s something he ate.”
    â€œYou helped him escape.” Things were becoming clear. “That is why the Hag is wroth with you.”
    â€œY-e-e-s, although, to be honest, I don’t think she’s exactly thrilled about the