Page 20 of The Knucker King

“Hmmm?” she replied distractedly, pulling a filled water bag and food wrapped in linens from her basket.

“I like it when you smile. It reminds me of when I have been underground too long, and I feel the Sun on my scales again.”

Avice looked at him curiously. “Thank you, King Trewoofe. I appreciate the kind words.”

“Not just kind words. I mean them.”

She rewarded him with another dazzling smile. There was a small gap between her two front teeth, and somehow it made her grin all the wider. He watched as she poured the still-hot tea into a large wooden bowl she had also stashed in the basket. Trewoofe snuffed contentedly at the scent: elderflower and chamomile. He lapped at the liquid, the sweetness spreading through him all the way to his toes. The Knucker had not realised he had a sweet tooth until Avice started bringing the treats as offerings, but now the thought of honey cakes and tea made him drool with anticipation.

“Delicious as always,” he complimented, before drinking more.

Avice gave a satisfied nod before spreading out a cloth and placing honey cakes and cold, fried bread on them.

“Please eat,” she beckoned, gesturing a hand over the display.

“Not before you have poured yourself a cup and had one or two yourself. I am a large Knucker, and my appetite matches my size.”

“Of course.”

She settled herself next to him, steaming cup in one hand and two cakes in the other. Between bites and sips, she enquired about Hope.

“I am happy to report…” Trewoofe paused as his tongue reached out and chomped down a tiny cake in one bite. “…the Piskies took her; they are confident that she could be saved with their magic.”

Avice let out breath. “I am relieved to hear that.”

“If you would like, between now and your next visit, I can check in on her,” Trewoofe offered.

“That would be wonderful.” Avice grinned up at him, and the Knucker swished his tail in response. She looked up at the Sun, the light catching her face in a way Trewoofe would not forget, before turning her gaze back to the King. “I should not delay too long here.”

Trewoofe’s tongue swept out for the last honey cake and lapped the dregs of his delicious tea. He savoured the flavour, letting it melt in his mouth in a sticky sweetness.

“You are under no obligation to stay,” he replied, already feeling the loss of her presence.

Then, Avice did something the Knucker did not expect. She had been sitting by his elbow while they ate, drank, and spoke together. She leaned her now-healed temple against his bicep, her skin warm against his cool scales. His tail curled, and claws dug into the moss beneath his paws.

“I want to stay, but… duty,” she yawned, eyes closing.

“Yes, duty,” he replied, drowsy in the Sunshine.

Trewoofe curled his head around and brushed his tongue over her, gently licking the point of touch between skin and scale. She whimpered at his caress. The sweet noises sent a bolt of desire through his long, sinuous body. He admired her as she drifted off into a nap.

He yawned and settled his head next to her sprawling legs. The Knucker noticed her skirt had folded up to just above her knees as she had settled against his scales. He could not help but ogle the pretty, red ribbons that were elaborately tied to hold her stockings in place. His crest fluttered behind his horns when he noticed the tiniest sliver of thigh exposed to the cool air, goosebumps on her skin.

Trewoofe’s tongue flicked, and he wondered what she would taste like there. As he retracted it back into his mouth, he clamped his jaw shut with a snap so it could not escape again. Instead, he used the point of his chin to tug the skirt down, so Avice was covered once again. With a chuff, he resettled his head next to the midwife and basked in the sunshine while she napped.

9

Chapter 9

Avice

Avice jolted awake as something cold and wet touched her warm cheek.

…wake up!

Blinking away her drowsiness, she looked up into Bramble’s muzzle.

Avice!