Page 148 of The Knucker King

“Then…” He nuzzled into her throat, his soft scales caressing her so gently that it made her toes curl into the riverbed. “…take a breath. Some distance may help you figure out a way to still serve them while still doing all the things you want.”

“I think you are as sharp as I am, Lord,” she observed, trailing her fingers over his snout. “What of the Spriggan?”

Trewoofe studied her face. “We can ask for more information from the Bucca and Tall One Queen. We can try to find out where they are coming from, this ‘Green’ and put a stop to it.”

Avice’s lungs tightened at the mentioned of the Tall Ones. “I—”

“I will not let them hurt you. If you do not want to visit, I will go alone with all the questions you have for them. And the one that did hurt you, well, he will have been ground into the earth by then,” Trewoofe growled.

The vibration sent her head spinning, making her light-headed in all the right ways. Avice felt positively sinful that she was so aroused whenever Trewoofe spoke of the lengths he would go to keep her safe.

Ignoring her mounting desire, she smiled tenderly at him instead. “Thank you for talking with me about it. With these ideas, I feel more settled. I look forward to tomorrow’s twilight.” Trewoofe chuffed his approval. His hot breath skittered over her shoulders and down her back, making her bite her lip in response. “I have to ask you now. What is it you want?”

“What I want is for us four to be happy together in my Kingdom, for you to be happy and content…”

She arched an eyebrow, knowing he had more to say. “And?”

“To practice making Knuckerlings.”

Avice snorted loudly at that but was flattered by his flirting. “What do you mean by ‘practice’?”

“Practice as much as possible until you are ready for one,” he growled friskily.

Avice giggled loudly at his libidinousness. Struck by a rare playfulness – something that was becoming more natural to her the longer she spent with her Knucker – she splashed his nostrils with the cold water, making him rear and splutter. His gaze narrowed down at her. Bent on revenge, he swept his rudder-like tail around and completely soaked her. She let out a yelp, and shoved her long, dripping hair from her eyes.

“Well,” she gasped. “I am definitely not sticky anymore.”

They beamed at each other, the bond of adoration and friendship knotting ever tighter between them. The words of how she felt, the true depths of her feelings, were right on the tip of her tongue but Avice held off. When she told Trewoofe how much she loved him, she wanted it to be special. He seemed very intent on showing her his nest, and once they were there alone there, she planned on telling him.

She watched as Trewoofe lifted his head skywards and dropped his eyes back to her face. “I should get you home and return to my hunt.”

Avice nodded, and waded back to the bank with him, readying herself for the rest of the walk to her cottage.

54

Chapter 54

Trewoofe

Trewoofe passed through his thrumming protection ward just as the Sun finally dipped behind the trees.

Avice’s garden, much like the surrounding woods, had exploded with life. Rabbits munched on the herbs, birds trilled in the fruiting and flowering branches, and a badger – twice its normal size – used its long claws to root around the base of a giant mulberry tree.

That was to say nothing of the glorious smell. Trewoofe sniffed deeply as he lowered his head to the soft grass. The pollen tickled his nostrils, and he sneezed as Avice slid off him. She squeaked at the sudden jerk of his head but managed to catch herself on his horn before she fell.

“Bless you, Lord,” she said, patting him.

“Thank you,” he replied, twitching his nose, trying to rid himself of the itch.

Trewoofe watched as Avice swept over to the cottage door and unlocked it. Bramble bounded out, his ears flattened in concern and snuffled her all over.

Nature’s Blessing! he exclaimed. I was just about to slip through the shadows and scour the land for you… He paused his scolding as he looked her up and down. Where are the rest of your clothes?

Trewoofe chuckled at his fussing. Avice had used her outer dress to dry herself off and now wore only her thin under garment. She had not bothered to put on her boots and stockings for the short trip from the river to her home. To the Knucker, she was a vision with her raven tresses and cloud-white chemise. He could understand why Bramble would be bewildered to see his mistress that way. Especially as she certainly did not look so delightfully rumpled before their frisk in the cave.

“Shush,” Avice said gently, running her fingers through his wiry fur. “There was an incident, but Trewoofe saved me.”

As though Bramble had only just realised the Well King was there, he peeked his head around Avice’s legs. He ambled over to Trewoofe, wagging his tail, his eyes bright with excitement.