Page 40 of Chased By the Fairy

A sister cutting up a root pointed her knife at Sorrel and waved it up and down at him. “You should ask her on a date. I’m sure she’d love that.”

“I... don’t think I like women,” he muttered quietly.

Silence came, and he glanced away from the pot he was stirring to look around him. Everyone had stilled. Their mousy human faces appeared bewildered, and their jaws dropped to reveal their blunt two front teeth.

“Of course you do, Sorrel,” Cindy stated with a laugh, coming over to place her thin arm around his shoulder to hug him momentarily. “What kind of man doesn’t like women? And Miss Mole would be perfect for you. Don’t be shy, she really is lovely, and I’m sure you’d like her once you got to know her.”

“Yeah,” a sister agreed, her nose twitching. “Don’t be so intimidated by her power just because she’s an independent woman.”

With his admission so harshly rejected, he swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. He didn’t like how they’d so easily dismissed his feelings.

It was the truth, and he’d known it for months.

He’d seen a female flower fairy in Pond Town when he’d been with Cypress. She had not grabbed his attention. There had been something about the press of Cypress’ muscles pushing up beneath his clothing, the depth of his rich voice, and the hard facial structure behind his beard.

The feel of Cypress’ large hand wrapping around his own, and the way Sorrel’s flat torso had pressed up against his plumper one. The masculine aura around him had felt like an invisible cocoon of safety and comfort.

The female flower fairy had looked too gentle, too soft. Although he’d admired her beauty for what she was, there hadbeen no attraction to her. He’d found some of the male furry sprites here in Burrow City more attractive than her, and not a single female here had brought forth any interest.

His heart was still set on Cypress, but he’d also come to understand himself better while staying here. The burrow had allowed him to recognise that what he felt was truly love. He’d had plenty of opportunity to fall for someone else in the time he’d been here, but no one had come even a fraction as close to capturing his attention.

He wanted the flower fairy prince.

A pang squeezed his heart at the thought of him.I should forget him.

They began to cart the pot of stew on its little trolley to the centre of the city.

Long tables had been brought out, and they ran down the city’s centre path. Different silky drapes spanned across the ceiling and hung low.

All manner of sprites cheered upon their arrival and already he noticed different food items on the tables. Nuts, edible flowers, roots, and even some bugs. These were just snacks or side dishes as other stews or soups littered the tables. Somehow, they had learnt from humans how to make bread, cakes, and even cookies, and now shared those things at the celebration.

People came with their bowls so that Sorrel, Cindy, and her four sisters could each give them a scoop before they looked over the table to take something else to eat. Then they took their seats.

Sorrel greeted everyone with a smile as he used his own ladle when someone approached him.

“I hope you’re having a good night, Sorrel.” He heard the voice coming up from his right, and he turned his head to find Miss Mole approaching him. She was holding a bowl, and she gave it to him. “Would it be alright if you gave me some?”

“Of course,” he answered, before filling her bowl for her.

He felt the gentle tug of his hair being touched. When he faced her, she was holding the length of it in her clawed palms.

“Your hair is very silky. I very much like it.”

As softly as he could, he tugged it out of her grasp. “Uh... thank you?” She’d said the same thing to him before and he always chose to ignore it.

He gave her the bowl, and she took it with a warm smile. “I would like to talk to you later, if that is okay?”

Even though he internally groaned, he returned her smile. “Of course. I couldn’t say no to the mayor.”

How could he? He was an outsider in the burrow, and he’d already come to learn that was odd. The burrowing sprites were rather untrusting of outsiders. He shuddered to think that if he had wings, he likely would have been ripped apart by now.

Miss Mole nodded her head and turned away, giving Sorrel the chance to let out a pent-up breath.I hope she just wants me to help with something.

He would be happy to help out in the burrow. He could aid in repairs, sew clothing, or build new structures with them. He’d already done some of these tasks for Cindy, her sisters, and all their neighbours. His lack of claws made it easier to do some nimble tasks compared to them.

He turned to take someone else’s bowl to fill and found Cindy looking up at him with her hands on her hips. Her nose made her whiskers twitch, and they only did that when she was curious or excited.

“What did Sally ask you?”

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