I woke up alone in the attic room at the Tavern inn.  In a panic, I quickly dressed myself wondering if Grimalkin had left me.  I opened the door to run after her and nearly knocked into her.  

"What are you doing?" 

"I thought you had left me."

"I wouldn't go without you.  You're my husband."  She smiled at me and pulled me in for a hot kiss pushing me against the stone wall leaving me breathless. The memory of our intimate night igniting my desire for her but too quickly she let me go.

"Get your things. We are boarding soon."  We descended the stairs into the tavern and tucked into our breakfast of eggs and bacon.  The room was full of travelers that thankfully paid no mind to us.  We looked like a married couple and after last night, I understandably felt a lot closer to her. 

I stuffed my face with buttered bread and asked, "Grimalkin, I thought witches can't cross water.  Will this be difficult for you?"

"No.  I can, so long as the saltwater doesn't touch me.  I will be okay."  She watched me eat with an amused smirk on her face. "You shouldn't eat so much. If you don't have your sea legs, you may get sick."

I paused my chewing and swallowed.  I found what she said amusing, a little smile graced my features as I said, "I'll be okay, honey."   I thought to myself, so this is how it feels to have a wife. 

"Boy, watch yourself."  She threatened with a squint to her eyes.

"Why do you call me boy?  I'm your husband."

"To me, you are still a boy.  A pretty green-haired boy."

I got close to her ear and whispered, "I wasn't a boy last night." 

Grimalkin smiled with mischief in her eyes rubbing her foot intimately against my leg.  I loved the playfulness that I brought out in her, but now we have to face the perils of the next part of our journey.

»»——⍟——««

James carried the sack with their clothes over one shoulder and the Fiend's head in the other hand.  Grimalkin wrapped her cloak around her to protect her from the salty sea air.  The bay was calm, but as they approach the mouth of the inlet the sea got rougher.   As she stood there staring out to sea, she couldn't help thinking of the fight ahead.  How would they convince the people of the county of the new threat?  If all the inhabitants did not band together against this new enemy, there would be no country to come back to. 

Grimalkin was not too attached to her home in Pendle, but her baby was buried there, and although she was constantly traveling, it was the only home she had ever known. She hated the witches of her clan especially those that groveled at the Fiend's feet.  She hated him even before the pact that doomed her. She had tried to rid herself of his attention and interference but it had backfired.  Although he could not come for her, he had taken something more precious to her than her soul.  He had taken her perfect human baby boy.  What more could life take from her?  She was hard and unfeeling.  All that was soft in her had died with that child. She was Grimalkin, the assassin of the Malkin Clan, the oldest and most powerful clan in Pendle. She could take an enemy's life without any remorse. She could face anything and she would fight for her friend's freedom. 

 Grimalkin turned her face to look at James.  His sweet eyes met hers instantly.  She marveled at how much he looked like his brother Tom, but Tom did not bring out these protective feelings in her.  He smiled at her despite their predicament.  He trusted her.  She could see the admiration in his eyes.  If he could see what she was capable of, or the dangers he would have to face with her, he would not look at her like that.  She couldn't lead him on.  She lived alone and she would die alone.  The Fiend made sure of that.  Anyone she might love would be at great risk from those that served him.  She must keep James safe as well.

James was so scared.  He couldn't help thinking of his poor brother and what he must be going through.  He wondered if they were torturing him or worse was he already dead.  As they got closer to their target, he wondered how Grimalkin could be so calm in the face of danger.  She was amazing.  Last night she showed him her many weapons that she crafted herself.  She was a talented blacksmith.  He could see the pride in her eyes as she showed him.  He had praised her skill and helped her sharpen the blades while they talked shop.  They shared the same interest and this made him happy.  He knew he could learn a lot from her and he could help her in turn.  

He thought about how beautiful she looked last night and how she gave herself to him.  The beauty and softness of her skin marred by the scars of her trade.  He never wanted to leave her side.  He wanted to sleep wrapped in her arms forever and give her the child and the life she should have had.

"Every time I see her, I freak out
Surprisingly, I keep gasping and it's weird, maybe
This is the emotion they call love
Because from the very beginning, my heart runs to you"

   ... BTS