Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb - Lexi George Page 0,99

stupid little Pop-Tart.”

“Then haunt someplace else, because I don’t like you, either.” Sassy swelled. “I abjure you, Meredith Starr Peterson. You are not welcome here. Leave this place and never return.”

Meredith evaporated with a howl of rage.

Chapter Thirty

Wednesday afternoon

Sassy clapped her hand over her mouth in shock. Marshmallows. She’d used her fairy cobbler powers to make ugly shoes. That was fifty shades of wrong.

Junior appeared. He looked country club casual in a pair of light gray seersucker pants in a Prince of Wales pattern and a white cotton dress shirt. A black belt and matching loafers completed his outfit.

“Nice work.” He adjusted his buttoned barrel cuffs. “She won’t be back.”

“There was nothing nice about it,” Sassy said. “I was mean.”

“Forsooth,” Grim said. “I, for one, am glad she is gone. ’Twas a malignant spirit with an unnatural obsession with my posterior.”

Not unnatural. The man was all kinds of fine. His tush was the first thing Sassy had noticed about him. Hanging upside down over his shoulder at that.

So much had happened. It seemed a lifetime ago.

“She’s a raving bitch,” Junior said, nodding in agreement. “She’s the reason Trey stays in dog form.” He looked Sassy up and down. “What on earth are you wearing?”

“A coverall. I’ve been touring the mill.”

“Did they pull you around by a rope? You’re covered in dirt and you have wood chips in your hair.”

Blushing, Sassy plucked a shred of wood from her curls.

“There was a mishap at the mill.” Grim’s expression was forbidding.

“What?” Junior looked startled. “What happened?”

“A log loader went crazy,” Sassy said. “I think Aunt Susan is responsible. She’s in town. She was the buyer for the mill.”

“Why on earth would she want that grimy old mill?” Junior shook his head in wonder. “Aunt Susan’s lived all over the world. She’ll be bored to tears in Hannah.”

“Daddy issues,” Sassy confided. “She as much as told me she resents your grandfather Cole for playing favorites with her and Blake. She’s angry and she wants the mill. I think she staged the recent accidents at the plant to force me to sell.”

“Could be, I guess.” Junior shrugged. “Can’t say for sure. She was never around much. Too busy burying a husband or marrying a new one. She married two brothers in succession—Robert and John Gordan. Planted both of them before moving on to Reginald Cherry. What number’s she on now?”

“Gordan Gordan Cherry Woody Harwood.” Sassy ticked the names off on her fingers. “Five.”

“Do tell,” Junior said.

The Dalmatian materialized.

“There you are, Trey.” Junior patted the dog on the head. “Good news. Your sister has given Meredith her marching orders. She won’t be back.”

The dog wagged his tail and barked.

“Did you know he hangs out at the mill?” Sassy asked Junior. “He was there today. I saw him.”

Junior wagged his finger at the Dalmatian. “Again? How many times have I told you to stay away from that place?”

Trey hung his head and slunk into the ether.

“I’d better go after him.” Junior sighed. “He hates to be scolded.”

Junior vanished.

The front door slammed and Taryn sailed into the living room. The woman moved like she was on wheels. Evan was with her. His expression was sullen, and his hands were jammed in his jeans pockets.

“I found this one walking down the road.” Taryn indicated Evan with a toss of her head. “He is in a foul mood because we did not return for him.”

“His mood is about to get worse.” Grim crossed the room in two strides and slammed Evan against the wall. “You were supposed to stay with Sassy,” he said through his teeth. “Had Dell not warned me, she would be dead.”

“Grim. Stop it.” Sassy hurried over and grabbed him by the arm. His muscles were flesh-covered steel. “His eyes are turning black. If he monsters out, there’ll be nothing left of the house. I am not staying at the Hannah Inn.”

Evan’s eyes were black as raisins. “If you were so worried about Sassy, why’d you run off to look for the rogue?”

Grim snarled and tossed Evan to the floor then stalked to the other side of the room.

“Rogue?” Sassy looked from Evan to Grim. “What’s he talking about?”

Grim glanced at Taryn. The huntress inclined her head a fraction.

“Arta, the leader of the Kirvahni, sent word by Taryn that one of our brothers has taken up with the enemy.” Grim’s mouth tightened. “For the first time in the history of our race, a Dalvahni warrior is foresworn. Conall sounded the alarm among our ranks to find the