Page 20 of Chased By the Fairy

“Now get on the table and dance for me. I want to see what you can do.”

“No,” he answered quietly. “Cypress will come for me.”

He’d asked Sorrel to trust him, and promised he would take him home. He was choosing to hope Cypress would realise he’d been taken and would look for him.

Mr Toad’s throat expanded as if his laugh had been so great it made him croak.

“The fairy prince? Why would he care about your wellbeing?” Mr Toad cackled a little more. “Now that you’re gone, he’s probably already left the town. I’m aware of the chatter of the hibernating sprites asking for help from the flower fairies. He’ll most likely need to help them collect their nest foods forhibernation. He’s got more important things to deal with than someone like you.”

“You’re wrong!” He had to be mistaken.

Cypress surely wouldn’t leave Sorrel to the mercy of the unfamiliar world beyond Greta’s farmlands, especially since he was the one who took him from them.

“You think you’re the first one the fairy prince has brought to Pond Town to court for his own fun?” His eyes crinkled with a mocking sneer. “I see and hear all that happens in this town. You’re not special.”

Sorrel flinched at his words. He hadn’t thought on Cypress’ past, that he may not have been the only one he’d brought here. He’d touched Sorrel so confidently and expertly it shouldn’t have come as this much of a surprise that Sorrel could perhaps mean so little to a prince.

“I’ll admit, though, I think you’re the first to give in to him so easily.” Sorrel’s heart clenched with mortification, the blood draining from his face as his mouth gaped. “One dance and you allowed him to touch you. You were easy – that’s how I knew you’d be perfect working for me.”

“Y-you watched us?”

With an annoyed sigh, Mr Toad shook his head like his answer was obvious. “You’re already a whore, allowing the prince to use you so easily, and out in the open where anyone could see you.”

Sorrel slammed his hands on the table and stood. “It wasn’t like that! What we shared was special.”

Cypress had eased Sorrel’s confusion and arousal. He’d accepted him and his desire, right into his very hand.

He wouldn’t allow this uglytoadto make him think otherwise.

Sorrel’s glare resurfaced. “And hewillcome for me.”

“Just how well do you know your little fairy prince?” The bully of a sprite gave him a sly expression, something mean andterrible in his froggy features. “Because he isn’t as gentle or kind as he pretends to be.”

Sorrel’s brows furrowed and his lips twisted. He couldn’t answer him.I’ve known him less than a day.

“If you put me on a stage, there are more chances he will find me,” he told him, desperate to say anything to get the toad to let him go. “If he’s looking for me, you’ll be making it easier for him.”

“I doubt he will be, but it doesn’t matter either way. The types of sprite fairies who come to my kind of establishment are rather hateful of the flower fairies. They also wouldn’t be stupid enough to cross me or they’ll end up at the bottom of the pond. He can ask everyone, and not even a single mouse sprite will peep that I have you here working for me.”

More and more, the chill of fear settled into his entire being. His arms shook as he continued to lean against the table, trying to hide the fact he was trembling.

“I think you need some time to digest your new status.” He waved his long, dextrous hand to the side with a flourish. “Take him to my office for the night. He can start in the morning.”

One of the towering guards grabbed his biceps. Sorrel let himself be dragged, knowing there was very little he could do besides create a scene. Glancing over the patrons covered in dim light, he realised they seemed rougher and more antisocial than the colourful, festive ones he’d seen outside.

They looked hollow on the inside, grasping mugs with dark gazes.

At the back of the ship, the guards opened a door and threw him inside a lightless room. He stumbled, just as the boat rocked and amplified his momentum, sending him smashing onto his shoulder against the ground. Blackness shrouded his vision completely when they shut the door once more.

On his hands and knees, Sorrel steadied himself. He breathed, his lungs constricting as the suffocating darkness ate at his resolve. His breaths felt like acid in his lungs, dry and burning.

Panic set in.

Sorrel was discovering the world was a lot darker than he’d ever imagined.

Fuck, what do I do?

And what about Greta?

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