Page 179 of The Knucker King

“See something you like?” she teased.

He flashed her a grin. “I do. Every curve of your body is my heart’s delight.”

Avice tutted at his shameless flirting. “Out of the water, we need to get ready to go above.” Trewoofe pouted. Instead of leaving the river to dry and get dressed, he swam further out, cutting through it as effortlessly as an otter. “Lord, we need to—”

Her words switched to a gasp as Trewoofe changed. The air around him seemed to bend and stretch, preparing to make room for his much larger Knucker body. Avice watched in wonder as his magic burst from him in cascading waves. He folded out, filling the space the air had made for him. Swapping skin for scales and claws for talons. As his transformation completed, he sent a roll down his coils and twitched the very tip of his tail.

Trewoofe paddled back to Avice, cocking his head playfully at her. “Little witch, I know I cannot convince you not to go to the church—”

She pinched her face up at him. “Trewoofe, I will not abandon—"

Her Knucker dropped his snout to her and puffed. His hot, sweet breath blasted the remaining water that dripped from her hair. Avice squeezed her eyes shut against the heat and opened them again as he finished.

She patted her head. “Bone-dry.”

“Yes,” he rumbled. “I will go to the village like this, Avice. I will not risk anyone hurting you.”

She had not considered this. Here she was again, putting another’s wellbeing above her own; not thinking about the risk to herself. Doubt churned her stomach. They had tried to kill her, but many more had tried to stop them. Avice also knew that if any of the men involved in her kidnapping, imprisonment, and attempted hanging still lived, Trewoofe would sweep them from the land as easily as the wind swirled the leaves.

She swallowed down her fear and kissed her Knucker’s snout. “When is Sunrise?”

His gaze flicked up and back to her. “Imminent.”

Avice nodded and braced herself. “Let me get dressed, fetch my things, and then…” She gestured up as guilt pricked at her. “…we can finally help this poor Faerie that I have abandoned for so long.”

“It is not your fault,” Trewoofe comforted, following her as she made her way up to their nest. “With the younglings, the Winter, saving me, and the Equinox, it is understandable you did not return to the church.”

Avice appreciated his efforts to comfort her. “Thank you.”

She beamed up at him before entering the nest and preparing to return to the place that scared her the most.

67

Chapter 67

Avice

Avice recoiled at the glare of Sunrise as they emerged at the top of Knucker Hill. She slowly opened her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the light. Awestruck at the change on the summit, Avice gripped Trewoofe’s horn, steadying herself at the back of his handsome head. She looked up at grey clouds that blotted out the Spring Sunshine.

Avice scrunched her nose at the gentle rain. “It seems Knucker Hill has also been affected by whatever happened on Equinox.”

Life had exploded across the hilltop: towering trees laden with unnaturally large fruit, flowers and leaves larger than Avice’s hands, and even the ancient flagstones were covered in thick rugs of blossoming moss. The smell was gorgeous, a delicious combination of sweet apples, petrichor, and pollen. The rain continued its soft smatter, so she swept her hair back and knotted it at the nape of her neck to keep any wet strands from slipping into her eyes.

“Yes.”

Trewoofe did not move. Avice could sense his apprehension. The last time he had left his Kingdom was to save her, and now he was bringing her back to Lamorna – the very place where she had nearly died; where she would have likely met her end if it was not for the Faerie trapped inside the church. Avice hoped she would comprehend whoever was inside. That by stepping into herself and her power, she would be able to understand what had happened, and what they needed. Avice shifted her medical satchel out of the way and ran her fingers over his shell amulet. She had been right; the vine they hung on grew as Trewoofe had grown.

“Lord, will you take me to central Lamorna?” She felt his pulse thrum up through her. It made her pearlescent scars hum. His heart was galloping. She realised that Trewoofe was not just apprehensive, he was terrified. “I promise, I will be safe.”

“How can you know that?” he asked.

“Because I have my magic, and I have you. We will be careful, and if it gets too dangerous, we will leave,” she promised, rubbing soothing circles between his horns.

Trewoofe huffed. “To Lamorna then.”

With how quickly her Knucker could move across the land – and how the plants bent to allow them through the woods – they arrived in central Lamorna before the Sun had even brushed the canopy. As they entered the square, light filtered through the cloud and delicate raindrops kissed her skin and his scales. Trewoofe lowered his head so Avice could dismount. She slipped down easily and landed neatly on the balls of her feet. Readjusting the strap of her medical satchel, she took a moment to survey the village.

Nothing was the same.