Page 90 of The Knucker King

He purred and leant into her soothing touch. “Shortly after I left the clearing, I heard their screams. I galloped through the woods, but by the time I returned—” His voice cracked. “I was too late.”

“Who did it?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

“Men.” He dropped his forehead to her shoulder and wept. “I killed them all, and they nearly gutted me.”

Avice stilled under his raking sobs. Each gasp sent his body shuddering. The reverberations rattled her bones.

“Let it out,” she encouraged, continuing her soothing strokes. “Let it all out.”

Trewoofe tugged her into his lap, squeezing her tightly, as he continued to weep rivers down her back. Her heart shattered for him, each piece a massive weight in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

“When I speak of them, it is like the briars around my chest tighten, stabbing me with thousands of thorns. I do not know how I can hurt so much and still live,” he gasped.

“My King.” She pulled back from him so she could see his stricken face. “My heart breaks for all you have lost.” She wiped his tears away with the back of her hand, staining her skin silver. “You loved them so much, and it was not your fault. It was men.”

“I—”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “Let me finish.” Trewoofe nodded, and she lowered her hand. “Grief is what is left of love. Lindana, Dalinda, and Branna, they will live on because you love them so.”

“How?”

“They will always live here.” Avice patted his chest, right above his broken heart. “You can speak to me about them whenever you wish. A fond memory, an anecdote, or of how much it hurts.”

He pressed his forehead to hers, his nose brushing her cheek. “You are gift, Avice. A gift from Nature herself.”

His lips were close, so close.

Ashling chimed, snagging their attention.

We are here for you too, Lord, the Grim said, wagging his tail weakly.

Trewoofe smiled through his tears and waved for them to come to him.

Her familiar bounded up into the hug, wedging himself between them, and Ashling landed on his shoulder.

“Careful, Bramble!” Avice scolded, his wiry fur tickling her nose. “The Well King has only just recovered.”

Does that mean he will be returning soon? he whimpered.

“Yes.”

Her own words made her gut twist. She did not want him to leave. Trewoofe pulled back from their embrace, his face pinched.

“What is it?” she asked, her lungs tight. Does he want to stay? It would be selfish if I asked him to.

“I worry,” he admitted. “I barely survived the last poisoning. What if they do it again? What if I cannot save my Faeries? What if you come to help me again, and I am thrashing in a fit and I hurt you?”

Avice understood now why Trewoofe fussed so much over her wellbeing. He had been devastated by grief and he did not want to lose her as well, because he cared deeply for her. She rubbed her temple at the realisation. She was worn, wrung out like a cleaning cloth that had been used one too many times.

“A solution may present itself. For now, we should rest,” she ordered with a firm nod.

35

Chapter 35

Avice

Sleep eluded Avice later that night. She tossed and turned in Trewoofe’s arms, fidgeting under the furs as his question spiralled in her mind.