Page 194 of The Knucker King

By the time Trewoofe returned to the hollow – carrying a large branch laden with plums in his jaws – Avice had made their shelter positively cosy. Somehow, she managed to get a merry fire going. She wore only her chemise, and draped her dress, stockings and borrowed cloak over a notch in the rough wood. Her boots and medical satchel steamed by the fire as they dried. She was wringing her hair out by the time Trewoofe deposited the branch inside.

“How in Albion did you manage to get a fire going with all this damp?” he asked, hauling himself out of the rain.

“A little Wisp ash, it encourages everything to burn. Luckily, the contents of my satchel were dry, and I had a tinderbox in there.”

“My little witch is clever,” Trewoofe purred proudly. He sent a roll down his coils, ridding himself of the worst of the drops that clung to him. “I bring you the spoils of my gathering.”

Her face brightened as she took in huge purple plums. “Those look amazing! Thank you, Lord.”

“You are most welcome.”

Trewoofe flicked his tongue out, grabbed a plum, and chomped it down. He let out a satisfied murmur as it melted easily in his mouth. The juices reminded him of honey and Summertime. He eyed the fire and longed to warm his paws by it, but not before he ensured Avice had something to eat. Using a talon, he cut several of them free of the branch and rolled them over to her with a nudge of his snout.

He chuckled as she gathered them up eagerly. Avice plucked one from the leaf litter, brushed it off, and bit into it. Trewoofe’s crest fluttered pink and purple at the delighted noises she made as it slid down her throat. They were identical to the ones he had her making the previous night. Now, for the life of him, he could not wipe the image of rutting her beneath him from his mind.

Not the time or place! he scolded himself, hunching over so he could curl up by the fire.

Avice plonked herself next to him and pressed her back against his scarred belly. Her arms were full of huge plums, each larger than her balled fist. Trewoofe snatched one with his tongue and chomped it down. She munched at her second serving of the fruit and let out a satisfied sigh as she tossed away the stone. She deposited the rest beside her, and Trewoofe helped himself to a few more as Avice wiggled her toes in front of the fire.

Once he had enough of the fruit to satiate his hunger, he curled his head around so he could admire his lovely soul-bound. She had not spoken for a while and he wondered why. When he eyed her expression – her face scrunched in thoughtfulness – he knew Avice was thinking about something.

Curiosity niggled at him. “I can hear your mind turning,” Trewoofe quipped. “I would love to know your thoughts.”

“There are some mysteries not yet answered,” Avice mused. “But that is not what I am thinking about. What I am thinking about, is how much I love you” – Trewoofe purred so loudly, it rustled the leaf litter – “and how lucky I am to have you in my life—”

“I am the fortunate one, little witch,” he interrupted.

Avice nudged him playfully. “I have not finished telling you what I was thinking.” Trewoofe pricked his ears, eager to hear more as she continued. “You know I will never marry.”

“I would not ask you to do something that makes you lesser than me,” he agreed.

He had been thoroughly disgusted at the concept of human marriage after he had learnt about it from Avice. He would never ask her to submit, or to be a less than what she was.

“I had been thinking. Is there a Knucker custom? One where we can show our love and commitment to one another?” she asked.

Trewoofe blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. His pupil contracted on her. Mud was smeared across her chin, and her hair was a tangled mess, but he could not love her more, and she had never been lovelier than she was at that very moment – all wild and witching, using the woods itself as her home. Her skin glowed in the flickering firelight, and her brown eyes were deeper than even the roots of ancient trees could dig.

“There is. We call it a Tail Tie,” Trewoofe replied. “Knuckers wind their tails together and declare their love. It can be done in front of others, or just between themselves. When the statement is made, it is understood that the partnership will be one that will last until the death of one or both.”

Avice nodded approvingly. “Simple, practical, and effective.” She grinned at him. “I love it…” A line appeared between her brows. “Though, I do not have a tail.”

Trewoofe snorted at that. “I can change, and we could tie our hands?” he offered playfully, before the magnitude of her words reached him. “My mind has only just caught up to what you were saying. You wish to Tail Tie with me?”

Avice rolled her eyes at him. “Yes, Lord.” She let out a jaw cracking yawn, laid on her side, and pressed her back to his belly. “I thought that much was obvious.”

Trewoofe curled around his soul-bound further and watched as her eyes closed. He had never been happier. He had never dreamed that Avice may tail – or hand – tie with him. Excitement buzzed through his scales, and he did not think he would get a wink of sleep that night.

72

Chapter 72

Avice

Avice awoke to the cacophony of Trewoofe’s deep, rumbling snores. The fire had died overnight, and the morning light illuminated the hollow. A tapestry of wildflowers had rolled out from them as they slept, covering the wood and decaying leaves with their vibrant hues. She resisted the urge to nudge Trewoofe awake. Instead, she decided to take some time for herself. She smacked her dry lips to together, trying to remember the last time she had drunk something.

I would commit crimes for a cup of chamomile tea. When we get home, I am setting up a small hearth in the nest. I cannot face the day without a cup of something hot.

She stood and tiptoed over to her medical satchel. There was one bottle of healing water left inside. She gulped down the contents, sating her thirst. After tucking the bottle away, she touched her outer dress and cloak, finding they were still damp. Wondering what to do next, she retrieved and munched on a plum. Avice glanced over to the opening; it was bright outside, and the rain had stopped.