Page 168 of The Knucker King

She closed her eyes, her mind turning like a spinning wheel. She recalled that her magic had dived down into the earth to will the vines to save John and herself. She had used her voice, but it was not just her voice.

It was another’s as well.

The same voice that had buzzed inside the church. She could understand it better now. The voice had been calling for her aid and helping her while she bled out in the cage.

Avice opened her eyes and looked up at Trewoofe. “What time is it above?”

A line appeared between his brows. “It is halfway between Sunset and Sunrise. Why do you ask?”

She clenched her pendant. Whoever was calling for her help, would get it in the morning. She owed the voice that much. Without their aid, John would have died, and she may well have bled out.

“You will be cross with me,” Avice warned.

“I already promised myself I would not be cross with you again,” Trewoofe said. “Why are you worried you will anger me?”

She took a deep breath. “When the Sun is up, I need you to take me to Lamorna.”

Avice watched as his eye twitched, and jaw clenched at the same time. Trewoofe said nothing, but Bramble was not feeling as gracious.

Nature’s blessing, Avice! Why would you want to go back?

“Because… I think there is a Faerie trapped inside the church. They helped me, they added their magic to my own, so I could summon the vines. They have been calling for my help, at least since Trewoofe and the Underneath were poisoned. It took me this long to understand them, to hear their words.” She paused to sip some healing waters from her cup. “I cannot abandon them now.”

Trewoofe let out a heavy sigh. “If you wish it, I will take you to the church.”

“Lord!” Ashling protested. “Bramble cannot travel that far yet, and my magic has been drained.”

“You do not have to come,” Avice interjected. “I must go to them, but I will not risk you two.”

Can it not wait? Bramble whined, looking up at her with sorrowful eyes.

She traced the cuts on his muzzle with her fingertips. “My darling…” She scratched behind his ears. “It cannot, they have already been waiting long enough. I just think, what if it was me who was trapped inside that infernal place? What if I had been screaming for help and no one came for me?”

“Boys,” Trewoofe interjected. “I will make sure she is safe.”

“She is right here,” Avice grumbled. She snatched up her plate, and Bramble removed his head from her knee with a huff. “I am not helpless. Nor I am a damsel. I fought the men, I killed one, I summoned the vines, I saved John…” She paused, in the chaos, she had forgotten. “Is John still alive?”

Trewoofe nodded. “The Morgowr King came for him.”

Her eyes widened. “You did not—”

“I did not kill him,” Trewoofe chuckled. “The need to save you outweighed my instincts to slay him.”

Avice stuffed a large piece of meat in her mouth. She chewed slowly. She did not know what would happen when they went above, but she felt in her gut it was the right course of action. There was one thing she wished to do first.

She ran her gaze over Trewoofe’s profile: tall, slim, with sharp features. He truly was perfect for her. She suppressed the urge to lick her lips. Trewoofe met her eyes, and she gave him a sultry look through her eyelashes. His lip twitched in response, and he returned a flirtatious smile.

“I have a gift for you,” Avice announced.

She balanced her half-eaten plate on her lap and rifled through her medical satchel. Avice was sure she had stuffed the amulet inside before the men had taken her. She grinned as she felt the smooth shells and drew it out from the bag. She had not expected to see tears lining Trewoofe’s eyes as she presented it to him.

“You do not like it?” Avice asked.

“The opposite,” he murmured. “I love it.”

As though it were a holy object, he gently took the shell amulet from her. His claws brushed against her palm, and her skin sung from the delicate contact.

“It is for your horn,” she clarified.