witch. Rocks, small trees, and clods of dirt zinged through the air with deadly force. The witch brushed the missiles aside with a flick of her hand.
Grunting and growling with rage, he grabbed a handful of mud and packed it into a large, hard ball. The fairies swept in for another attack. Evan roared and let the glob of muck fly. It struck the beleaguered witch square in the kisser. Her arms pinwheeled. She lost her balance and splashed into the river.
A large shape surfaced nearby, a slick island of gray and yellow.
“Gilbert.” The witch floundered in the water. “Come to Mama. There’s a good boy.”
Gilbert rolled an eye in Sassy’s direction.
“No, Gilbert,” Sassy cried. “Don’t do it. She’ll give you a bellyache.”
The giant catfish bore down on the witch like a frigate.
“Gilbert?” The witch backpedaled in the water. “Gilbert, it’s me. It’s Mama. Gilbert.”
Gilbert opened his huge maw and swallowed the witch whole. With a loud burp and a flip of his tail, Gilbert swam away.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The next morning, Sassy stirred and opened her eyes. She and Grim were lying in the big bed at the river house. She was naked, except for a sexy pair of black sandals with thigh-high straps. She smiled in secret delight and stretched across her husband’s broad, muscular chest.
Grim really liked the purple whatzit’s shoes. The things they’d done the night before . . .
Sassy shivered at the sensual memories.
The doorbell rang, and Sassy sat up and scooted to the side of the bed.
Grim snaked a hand out, stopping her. “Where are you going?”
“Someone’s here.”
He pulled her close and, leaning over, nuzzled her mouth with his lips. “Ignore them. With any luck, they will go away.”
He kissed her, and Sassy’s thoughts disintegrated. She sighed and gave herself up to the searing caress.
Grim slid his hand from her bare bottom to the sandal strap around her thigh. Her skin tingled at his touch.
He brushed his fingers across the thin leather tie. “Have I mentioned how much I like your footwear?”
“Once or twice, last night.” She peeped at him through her lashes. “You don’t find them impractical?”
Grim’s clever fingers followed the path of the strap to her sensitive inner thigh.
“For running, perhaps.” He stroked the throbbing spot between her legs. “Eminently practical for . . . other things.”
“Grim,” Sassy breathed. “That feels so—”
“Ahem. Sorry to disturb.”
The deep cough came from the end of the bed.
Grim cursed and whipped the sheet over Sassy.
“Captain.” Grim sat up to greet the interloper. “What brings you here?”
“I heard you vanquished the Hag.”
“You heard wrong. Sassy vanquished the witch, not I. She summoned the fairies. They, in turn, routed the Hag.”
“Indeed?” The dark-haired captain looked at Sassy in his icy, measuring way.
“Yes.” Honesty compelled Sassy to add, “Although I’m not sure how I did it, or if I could do it again. And I had a lot of help. The fairies did most of it, along with Evan and Gilbert. Mea, too.”
Conall’s brows rose. “Beck came to your aid?”
“Yes.”
“Extraordinary.”
“Not at all.” Sassy looked him in the eye. “Evan’s a good guy. You and your wife should give him another chance.”
Conall’s hard mouth twitched. “Who are Gilbert and Mea?”
“Mea’s my car,” Sassy said. “She’s magic. Grim brought her to life, like he did—”
Grim cut her off.
“Gilbert is a giant fish,” Grim said. “The creature is fond of Sassy. Evan hit the witch with a ball of mud, and she went into the river. The catfish swallowed her. ’Tis my belief Gilbert swallowed the witch to protect Sassy.”
“I see,” Conall said. “I am impressed, Grimford. Your lady wife seems capable.”
“Aye, Captain. Quite capable.”
“I should stay on her good side, were I you.”
“I will do my best, sir.”
“A Dalvahni warrior gives his all,” Conall said. “You seemed to be making an effort when I arrived.”
Grim flushed. “Yes, Captain.”
“Later, we will discuss the magical car. For now, I wish you both a good day.”
“Wait.” Clutching the sheet around her, Sassy sat up. “What about Taryn? Have you heard from her?”
“No.”
“Nothing?” Sassy pleated a fold of the sheet. “I’m worried about her. She might need help.”
“She is Kir,” Conall said. “She asks not for quarter, nor does she give it.”
Conall disappeared.
The doorbell sounded again.
“We might as well see who it is,” Sassy said. “They’re obviously not going away.”
She got up and threw on her robe. Grim climbed out of bed in a lithe movement, more than six feet of lean, delectable Dalvahni. Naked Dalvahni. Sassy drank in the sight of him, though not for long.