Chapter eleven

The purple hedgehog gasps softly, moving away from her king as he begins to twitch and groan. Her hands press back into a tree behind her as she watches, a stunning experience to behold. His normally composed fur fluffing out and becoming longer, teeth sharpening as he straightens. His back popping lightly before whining quietly, dropping to his knees in front of her as his point of view fades out, logically reasoning gone, only a beast resides now.

Talons tear up the ground under him, his body rearranging itself according to the necessities of the curse. His body sways lightly before he lifts his muzzle in a single loud howl. The large hedgewolf huffs, cordination not what it should be and slitted crimison eyes lock onto her. Eve squeaks, immediately trying to locate Knuckles before she was pounced upon, but it didn't seem like that was going to happen. Shadow groans softly, devil horned ears lowering as he slumps to the ground. HIs snout lifts to whine to her, wanting her closely.

"Lady Eve." The words make her jump, looking behind her to Sir Gawain who keep some distance from her, seeing the near unconscious monster in front of her. "Looks like our plan worked, we just need to move him to that shed back there." He explains, keeping his voice down as well.

"How do you expect me to do that?" The lavender female whines quietly, taking a step in his direction and earning a sharp growl and a quick body block by the infatuated beast snarling at the red echidna and not her, even in his present condition. "N-nevermind." She mumbles, blushing a bit at the unnecessary protection. Her soft hands run through his sharpened quills laced in the new fur, which amazingly doesn't hurt her.

The knight moves away from the cursed king to relieve the tension and nods to Eve for her to go to the shed. He keeps an eye on them, just as the ebony male does him. "I think you can lead him, but I'll be close by if you need me." He sighs.

"O-okay Sir Gawain." Eve stutters, feeling a brush against her neck and light rumble from the monster beside her, the cold nose making her shiver. She starts to walk slowly to the shed, glancing back at the stumbling giant as he tries to nip at her tail and dress to get her to stop moving. A whine sounding from his throat while his large paws scrape against the earth in sluggish movements. She giggles lightly, giving him some hope when her hand cups the underside of his maw, lifting his snout while he rumbles in deep purrs.

With a bit more teasing, Eve gets the lumbering lord into the shed where he leans on her and therefore pushes her down onto the ground so that he could curl around her with a happy rumble. He begins nuzzling the plum hedgie while slightly nipping at the cloth she had around her neck to hide the hickies she had gotten from him the night before. He was trying to be gentle but with his present state, he could only do so much. His large snout lets out deep throated whines as he rests it on her shoulder.

"C-come on, please. I-i'll take them off, just stop." Eve pouts, pushing his head off her and undoing the cloth, earning happy barks from the large beast as he licks up her neck before laying his head down in front of her, tail thumping softly against the wooden floorboards. She sighs lightly, her form trapped under some of his weight as a large, muscled limb was draped over her lap, curlingto keep her in one spot.

Knuckles appears in the doorway, chuckling a bit. "Never pictured you to be an animal tamer Lady Eve. Is he relaxed now?" He whispers, looking at the two, bristled fur lowering from their lord.

"He's fine Sir Gawain. B-but I can't get free from him." She answers, shifting lightly and that causes a light growl to surface from Shadow, claws kneading into the floor easily. "I'll have to stay here like this with him."

"I brought a blanket if that will ease you." The red knight tosses the blanket, a huff and soft growl coming from the midnight clad male when it lands on him. And yet, the servant giggles, pulling it off of his head an draping it around her form before laying down. "I'll keep an eye on him, so just rest for the night Lady Eve." He states, smiling. With that, Knuckles closes the door quietly, letting them be alone.

The purple hedgehog gives a small wiggle of her hips and growling whine results in her movements but a deep purr when she lays beside him, earning a wet lick on the cheek and nuzzle. his large paw curls around her to bring her closer. She smiles, rubbing the back of his ear before yawning softly, cuddling up into the furry and snow white fur of his chest. His tail thumps again, slowing down after some time so that he could sleep, taking the servant with him into the subconscious.

~x~

The cursed king awoke with a soft sweet scent coming easily to his nose, he purrs deeply, pulling the pillow closer to him and twitching when he hears a squeak. Immediately, ruby eyes snap open, seeing the plum hedgie laying under him as she softly snores. Defenseless, vulnerable and open, his memory was hazy, even more than usual with his curse. His rough, callous hand moves to her cheek, carressing it gently as she cooes, leaning into it. He relaxes, seeing as she wasn't hurt in any way.

He stretches his sore muscles, noticing the folded stacks of clothes for him to dress in and pulls away from Eve to do so. After fixing himself and seeing that the purple hedgie did not seem to be waking, he lifts her in his arms, earning a whine from her. Other than that, she stayed completely content in his arms. Knuckles caught his eye as soon as he left the broken down shed. "What was it last night that made things so easy that Lady Eve slept beside a monster?" He asks quietly, glancing at him.

"I found herbs and we used them to make you more... passive." The echidna answers, walking beside him back to the castle. Crimison eyes narrow at him, frowning in slight anger. "So I was drugged before I changed? Using my meal Knuckles, I'm disappointed with you." He growls lightly before looking down at the lavender female in his hold. "But I congratulate you for keeping me from hurting others."

"I beg for your forgiveness for not telling you, however, we weren't sure if the other side of you would know what you do. Just in case we needed to do so in the future." Knuckles answers, rubbing the back of his head lightly.

"I have no qualms Knuckles, you did right." Shadow murmurs, smiling lightly. "Please, squeak no more, lets us just return. My... guest will be talking up a storm I'm sure." He sighs, a grimace adorning his face.

"Yes my lord."