mean.”
Sassy hopped off the bar stool. “There, you see? He explained everything. Put the sword away, Grim. Please, before I have hysterics.”
Grim growled—he actually growled—but the sword vanished.
“Thanks, Lollipop,” Evan said. “How’s the ankle?”
“Her ankle is fine,” Grim said. “I healed her.”
Evan shrugged. “Don’t thump yourself on the back too hard. Most supers heal fast.”
“I am not—” Sassy began.
“Yeah, babe. You are. Deal.”
Deal with it how? Sassy shoved the thought aside. “How did you know where to find us?”
“Didn’t—came here once with Trey. Figured it was empty and thought I’d crash for a while. I wasn’t thinking too clearly, to tell you the truth. Running on rage, mostly.” Evan looked around the kitchen and sniffed. “Something smells good. What’s for eats?”
“It is called ‘Hamburger Helper.’” Grim’s tone was surly. “Though, in truth, the label is a misnomer, for it was no help at all.”
Evan rubbed his hands together. “Perfect. I’m starved.”
“Alas, I fear the sting of hunger is doomed to sharpen, for you will not be staying.”
“That so?” Evan smirked. “How ’bout it, Sweet Cheeks? He calling the shots around here, or you?”
“You can stay.”
“Sassy, you know nothing of this man,” Grim said with a glower.
“I know he came back for me. He could have left me for the witch.”
“Yeah,” Evan chimed in. “I could’ve left—”
“No,” Grim said. “He is dangerous.”
“So are you,” Sassy shot back. “At least I know what to expect from him. You—not so much.”
Grim’s expression tightened. “I am Dalvahni, a defender of the Light. I have sworn to protect you. What more do you need to know?”
“I know I wouldn’t be in this fix in the first place if you hadn’t left me.”
“He is demon bred.” Grim stepped closer, his golden eyes ablaze. “You cannot trust him. You have seen what he can do.”
“According to your brother, I’m part demon, too.”
“Perhaps, but you are no monster.”
“You don’t know what I am.”
“Sassy, I do not—”
She turned to Evan. “You’re welcome to spend the night . . . unless you’d rather stay with your sister?”
Evan shook his head. “Things with the fam are awkward right now. I’ll stay here.”
“Then it’s settled.” Sassy held up her hand as Grim started to speak. “I understand if you want to leave, Grim. Things being the way they are.”
“What things?”
Evan gave Grim a mocking smile. “She’s saying you’re a demon hunter, bro, and we’re demonoids. Dogs and cats, living together, know what I mean? If anyone goes, it ought to be you.”
“What of the witch? Is she dead?”
“Nah, your brother screwed the pooch on that one. One look at him, and she took off. I got the impression the two of them go way back, if you catch my drift.” Evan’s face tightened. “But the witch and I aren’t done, not by a long shot.”
“And Sassy?”
“Sassy will be fine,” Sassy said. “It’s one night.” She was starting to sound like a broken record. “As soon as I reschedule my meeting with the lawyer, I am out of here.”
“Perhaps you are right.” Grim walked over to the stove and lifted the lid from the skillet. “Shall we eat?”
Grim was leaving? Sure, she’d said Evan could stay, but would it kill the guy to protest a little? What if Evan morphed out again? And the witch was still out there somewhere. Didn’t Grim care?
Apparently not. Feeling decidedly cross, she dumped some of the noodle concoction into a bowl and took a seat at the farm table in the breakfast nook.
Grim handed her a glass and straddled one of the chairs. “I fear there is naught to drink in this abode but water.”
It was clear from his tone he considered this a sorry state of affairs.
“Too bad.” Evan opened the empty fridge and peered inside. “I could use a beer.”
Grim grunted in agreement and turned his attention to his food. He’d bypassed the regular soup bowls for a two-quart mixing bowl. He was a big guy with a large appetite.
Evan was digging around in the freezer drawer. With a shout of triumph, he held up a gallon plastic container by the handle.
“Vanilla ice cream for the masses,” he announced. “People, we have dessert.”
Setting the carton on the counter, he disappeared into the walk-in pantry and started moving things around on the shelves.
“Canned peaches, tuna, and Spam,” he said, his voice muffled. “Ha, chocolate syrup. Now we’re talking.”
Strolling out of the pantry, Evan plunked a family-size bottle of Hershey’s syrup on the counter. He ladled a mound of casserole onto a plate and scraped a chair