Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb - Lexi George Page 0,126

it is the djegrali?” Grim asked. “If so, you should inform Conall at once.”

To Sassy’s surprise, the affable Duncan snarled.

“Nay, ’tis the witch,” Duncan said. “I know well the foul stench of her spell craft.”

“The witch?” Grim’s face blazed with a terrible eagerness.

Duncan answered with a curt nod. “I tracked the disturbance to her cottage, but she escaped across the river. She cannot hide forever, not with Collier to guide us with his contrabulator. Will you join me in the hunt?”

Grim gave Sassy a swift, hard kiss and rounded on Collier. “You. Come with me.” He grabbed the startled human by the arm. “Duncan, stay with Sassy.”

“What? Nay, I must—”

Grim and Collier vanished.

Duncan slammed his fist into the wall, knocking a hole in the wood paneling. “I cannot believe it. He has left me to play nursemaid whilst he goes in pursuit of mine enemy.”

“Cool your jets,” Sassy said. “You’re going after them.”

“Truly?” Duncan’s expression fell. “But no. I cannot leave you unguarded.”

Sassy propped her hands on her hips. “Now you listen to me, Duncan Dalvahni. If something happens to Grim, it’s over for me. Do you understand?”

Duncan’s fierce expression softened. “Aye, in truth I do. Too well.”

“Then go after him. Now.”

Duncan hesitated. “Doubtless the witch is leagues distant and you are quite safe.”

“Doubtless.”

Duncan’s eyes glowed. “Thank you, Sassy. You have the heart of a warrior. My brother is fortunate to have you as his mate.”

He disappeared. The dust motes had barely settled when Lucy Barnett stuck her head in Sassy’s office.

“I’m off to Hannah for my annual checkup,” Lucy said. “Can I get you anything before I leave?”

“No, thanks.”

Lucy left and Sassy stared at her computer, unseeing. What if Grim was hurt by the witch or placed under some awful spell? How long had he been gone?

She glanced at the clock. Three minutes? Mother-of-pearl, waiting was hard.

The phone rang, jerking her from her anxious thoughts. She answered it. She was jotting down a lumber order when Trey materialized in front of her desk.

Sassy jumped to her feet. “Bad dog. Go away. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

The Dalmatian gave her a reproachful look. Tipping his head back with an eerie howl, he disappeared.

“Good riddance,” Sassy said, and burst into tears.

She was worried about the mill and Dell. She was worried about Taryn, off doing Lord knows what and in what kind of danger. She was sick at heart over what had happened to Juke and Trey.

Mostly, though, Sassy was worried about Grim. If something happened to Grim . . .

When, oh, when would he be back?

She grabbed a tissue off her desk and blew her nose. Grim would be fine. Better than fine. He was smart and skilled. Duncan and Mr. Collier were with him. She was being ridiculous.

She was drying her eyes when Eddie Furr burst into her office. He wore coveralls and he smelled of the mill: wood and sawdust and machine oil. Wiry and hyper, and maybe five foot six in work boots, Furr was seldom still. He reminded Sassy of an underfed squirrel with his nervous energy. His dark hair receded from the shoreline of his brow, a fact he took great pains to disguise with a comb-over when he wasn’t wearing a hat.

“Fire,” he yelled. “Everybody out. Mr. Houston says.”

Mr. Houston says was the mill equivalent of the Ten Commandments.

“Bunny rabbits.” Sassy made a grab for the phone. “I’ll call the fire department.”

Eddie smacked the receiver out of her hand. “No time. Fire’s spreading. Got to get out now.”

Furr yanked her to her feet and propelled her down the hall. Flinging open the main door, he shoved her outside into the yard. Men ran to and fro, their frantic shapes outlined against the orange inferno that consumed the main cutting shed. Oily black smoke rose from the burning building, striking an ugly bruise on the pale skin of the sky.

Houston stepped out of the chaos. “Taking a head count. Where’s that husband of yours?”

“He went to take care of something.”

“Good,” Houston said. “And Lucy?”

“Gone.” Sassy inhaled smoke and coughed. “Are the men all right?”

“Nobody hurt, but this is a disaster.” Houston turned to shout at one of the men. “No, Shavers, forget the shed. Save the equipment.”

“The fire department—” Sassy began.

“On their way.”

The wind shifted, engulfing them in sooty vapor.

“Get her out of here, Eddie.” Houston hacked and covered his mouth with his sleeve. “I got enough to worry about.”

“Sure, boss.”

Furr pulled Sassy across the parking lot. Thick clouds of smoke rolled behind