Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb - Lexi George Page 0,18
and feel of her to memory. Her weight was slight, but her lush curves were all woman. His treacherous body responded to her nearness. He bent his head, tempted to lick the salt from the skin of her throat.
The impulse shocked him to the core.
“What are you doing?” Sassy asked.
A salient and reasonable question; what was he doing?
“I am carrying you.” His voice was gruff. He cleared his throat. “I should think the answer evident.”
“Oh.” Was that disappointment in her voice? “For a moment, I thought you were going to kiss me.”
For a moment, he had thought so, too.
“You are human,” he said. “Under the Directive, the Dal confine their sexual appetites to the thralls.”
Some of his brothers may have forgotten their vows, a number that included their captain. He would not.
Not if it killed him.
“What’s a thrall?”
“A species created to serve the Dal. They provide us sexual release. In turn, they feed off our lust and battle rage.”
“Are they beautiful?”
“Beyond compare. The thralvahni are made for pleasure and the delights of the flesh.”
Sassy stiffened. Pinpoints of light flickered beneath her skin like summer lightning.
“Put me down,” she said. “I’d rather walk.”
“Not until we are off this roof. You are far too breakable for my taste.”
Taking care to avoid the spell line, Grim leaped off the shed with Sassy in his arms.
Duncan trotted out of the gloom.
“There you are, brother,” he said. “Is this your Sassy? Or have you acquired some other random female?”
“It is she.” Grim lowered Sassy to the ground. “Sassy, this is Duncan. He is not a bad sort, despite a lamentable tendency toward whimsy.”
“Grim does not joke. Grim is known for his unremitting solemnity.” Duncan grinned at Sassy. “The Lord of the Seventh Hell is a jester compared to him.” He looked around him, face tightening with anticipation. “There was a battle here. You slew the Hag?”
“Nay, she fled into the woods.”
“Then I must go after her.”
“She went south toward the river,” Grim said. “But have a care. There is a monstrous huge beast on her trail.”
“That’s Evan,” Sassy said. “He won’t hurt you.”
Duncan’s expression sharpened. “Evan?”
“Evan Beck,” Sassy said. “Do you know him?”
“I know of him.” Duncan looked thoughtful. “You are friends with this demonoid?”
“Demonoid?” Light pulsed beneath Sassy’s skin, indicating her agitation. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”
Grim gave Duncan a repressive glare. “He refers to a mongrel species, the offspring of demon-possessed humans.”
“Mongrel, brother?” Duncan shook his head. “You insult the lady.”
“Sassy is not a demonoid.”
“Her eyes are purple and she glows,” Duncan said. “She is clearly not human.”
Grim clenched his jaw. “Her eyes are blue and she drank fairy juice.”
“I did not—” Sassy began.
“As you say.” Duncan shrugged. “Tell me, Sassy, are you, by chance, related to the Hannah Petersons?”
“Junior Peterson was my father.” Sassy sounded wary and confused. “Trey Peterson is—was my brother.”
“Your father and brother were demonoids,” Duncan said. “That makes you a demonoid, too.”
Sassy’s hand crept to her throat. “That’s not true. It can’t be.”
“Enough,” Grim said. “You go too far, Duncan.”
“I am sorry to distress her, but I speak the truth.” Duncan met Sassy’s wide gaze. “I have seen the shade of your father, and I met your brother Trey before his death. He is a dog.”
Sassy gasped. “How dare you!”
“I meant no disrespect,” Duncan said. “For reasons unbeknownst to me, your brother prefers the shifter form he was most comfortable with in life—that of an athletic canine with a sleek, spotted black and white coat. Quite the hunter, according to Junior, but with an unfortunate tendency to stray.”
Sassy swayed. The light flickering within her grew dim.
“Spotted coat?” she said. “Mother-of-pearl, the Dalmatian.”
Grim caught her as she fell.
“Sassy?” Grim gave her a little shake. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks pale as chalk. “What ails her?”
“’Twould appear she has fainted.”
Grim lifted Sassy in his arms. “Curse your tongue, Duncan. I should wallop you.”
“Though I would welcome the challenge, I think you would be better served to take her from this place . . . unless you plan to leave her to the witch?” Duncan raised his brows. “She is demon spawn, after all, and hardly worth the trouble.”
“Shut up, Duncan, or so help me I will—”
Duncan held up his hands. “Peace, brother. Does Sassy have a home in Hannah?”
“I do not know.” With a stab of disquiet, Grim realized how little he knew about Sassy. “There was no time to ask. Come. Let us repair to your abode until she recovers.”