the bond between Grim and Gryff was special. They were inseparable. Though the Dal mourned Gryff’s passing, Grim took his twin’s death hard. He has remained aloof from his brothers out of guilt. Single-minded in his dedication to avenge Gryff’s death upon the djegrali.
How many brothers does Grim have?
The Dal were once some two hundred strong until Kell was beheaded by a demon in the form of a giant. Thorkall fell into the Never-ending Chasm of Yarth, and Gryffin was slain in battle.
Two hundred? That’s not—
Sassy caught herself.
Possible? The Provider chuckled. The Dalvahni are not a family in the human sense. They were created for a single purpose, to hunt the djegrali. Their task has spanned thousands of years.
Thousands of years? Goodness me, I can’t imagine doing anything that long, not even shopping.
The Dalvahni take pride in a job well done. They do not know boredom, for their emotional spectrum is limited, the Provider said. Their courage and loyalty know no bounds. Their sense of honor and commitment to duty is unswerving. They take pride in the hunt. They have endless patience when it comes to completing an appointed task. Rage, sexual desire, battle lust... These are emotions they know, but not guilt.
In an impassive race, Grim’s guilt set him apart. Guilt Sassy understood. Guilt kept her tied to her mother’s apron strings. Guilt was the reason she’d gone to college in Mobile, close to home, rather than in Tuscaloosa, like she’d wanted.
Guilt was the reason she still managed the pickle factory gift shop.
Grim’s loneliness is what forged our unique bond, the Provider said.
The other guys don’t talk to you?
We do not converse. They access my data and move on.
Sassy digested this. Grim had been alone for centuries with only a nameless, formless voice inside his head for comfort.
That’s Harry and the Hendersons sad.
I do not understand the reference.
It’s a movie about a Sasquatch.
The Provider was quiet; Sassy could almost hear the wheels clicking as he cross-referenced the strange term.
You refer to a large, hairy, humanoid beast that inhabits the deep wild. Correct?
He didn’t say a large, hairy mythical beast. Holy smokarooneys, Bigfoot was real.
Um, yes.
This Harry and the Hendersons is a tragic tale?
The worst. Harry is taken in by humans. They learn to love one another, in spite of their differences. At the end of the movie, Harry has to leave and go back to the forest and the other Sasquatches. I cried for three days. After that, I wasn’t allowed to watch sad movies anymore.
Your tender heart does you credit. I am glad Grim found you, Sassy Peterson. You will be good for him.
Grim and I are not a couple.
Grim is attracted to you. You are attracted to him as well.
I most certainly am no—
Denial is pointless. I have seen your thoughts.
Oh, gosh, how embarrassing.
Why? Sexual attraction between two healthy specimens is perfectly natural. If I were corporeal, I should find it vastly interesting. I anticipate with great relish the opportunity to study you and Grim when you engage in sexual congress.
I’m not having sex with Grim. If I did—which I am SO not, because I’m engaged and—well, I’m not. Besides, he hasn’t offered. Even if we did—you know—you would not be watching. That would be aco-taco.
Why? I expect the experience to be highly enlightening.
No, absolutely not. Grim and I are not having sex.
You are certain?
Positive. What’s more, if we’re going to be friends, you can’t spy on me anymore.
I would like to be your friend, Sassy Peterson. Must I refrain from reading your thoughts? I find you intriguing.
No peeking. Stay out of my head unless invited. Deal?
Agreed, the Provider said with obvious reluctance.
Good. I could use a friend around here.
Hannah is a remarkable place, is it not?
Oh, yes. I thought fairies and wicked witches were nothing but stories.
Most stories have some basis in reality.
I suppose so. Guess I missed the one about the giant glowing deer.
Giant deer? Was this before or after the fairies?
So he hadn’t seen all of her memories. Yay. Sassy tried to stay upbeat, but there were a few not-so-sparkly thoughts floating around inside her head she’d rather keep to herself.
Before, Sassy said. He was big as a horse and white, and there were these clever little lights floating around his antlers. Birds and flowers, and fuzzy whirly things . . . and, oh, the most beautiful butterfly. It landed on my palm and melted into my skin.
I see. Grim is presently intoxicated on something called chocolate.
Chocolate, really? I thought maybe it was the