Page 43 of Chased By the Fairy

She looked at him from the corner of her lids, her doe-brown eyes bright against the light. “I thought if Sally stole your heart, I wouldn’t have to tell you, but I can see you won’t be able to let him go and marry her if I don’t tell you the truth.”

His nose crinkled, as did his brows when they drew down. He shook his head. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“The prince is marrying someone else.”

His heart seemed to still in his chest. The shock from her words stopped his shaking and trembling completely.

He tilted his head in confusion. “He’s marrying someone else?”

“Yes. It’s already been announced that he intends to marry someone in the first week of spring. The rumours from the flower fairy kingdom started from the first day of winter, before they finally settled in for hibernation.” She came forward to cup his cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to let you down.”

The hurt he felt was so deep he knew it had struck against his soul, leaving a wound that would never be healed. Coolness spread, as if Sorrel was internally bleeding out. His heart surely was.

He didn’t know why he felt betrayed, but his loss was so heavy he was drowning under its crushing weight.

He drew his lips into his mouth to bite on them, hiding the strange whine of emotion that was daring to escape. His fists clenched tightly.

I’m so stupid. I knew him for a night. Of course he’d marry someone else. It… that night… I…His shoulders slumped.It meant nothing.

“I’ll marry her,” he finally muttered quietly after a few moments of silence. “I’ll marry Miss Mole.”

Cindy gave him a gentle smile and patted his cheek as she said, “Good boy.”

I’ll marry her to save Greta.He’d been torn because he wanted to save her, but he hadn’t wanted to marry Sally because he loved Cypress. But if Cypress was marrying someone else, what was the point of holding onto his feelings?

“I’ll let her know that you’ve said yes.” She clapped her hands together with glee, her tail curling. “I’ll let her know to prepare the wedding for the last day of winter.”

She knew she’d asked me.She even knew when the wedding would be. It didn’t matter if she knew Miss Mole was going to threaten him.

His future was out of his hands, and he needed to keep any of the friends he’d made if his life underground was going to be permanent. He couldn’t confront her, couldn’t draw away from her, otherwise he’d be alone and friendless.

He couldn’t trust anyone.

Wasn’t allowed to love anyone.

Sorrel’s life was going to be bleak, empty, and so desolate that he knew he needed to accept it now.

He looked down at his palms as he faced them upwards.My heart hurts so much.

Since the day he’d learnt of his unfortunate future, Sorrel spent very little time with the rest of the sprites in the burrow.

He’d occupy his time on one of the highest dirt ridges, staring out at the city. Or in the tunnels that seemed to lead to nowhere. He just wanted to be alone as he contemplated his unfortunate life.

When he’d lived with Greta, he’d been lonely to have no one his size, but he’d been happy. His life’s purpose had been to bring her joy. He’d adored that.

Now, he was surrounded by hundreds of people, and he was miserable. He wasn’t alone, and yet he’d never felt lonelier.

The last day of winter was in less than a week and soon the world would truly start warming. Already the wedding preparations had begun.

Miss Mole was excited, and she often tried to share that with him. He was unable to give her little more than his presence, since he seemed to have lost the ability to feel anything. Sorrel had gone numb.

He kicked his leg over the ledge of the rock cliff he sat upon, contemplating his life.Fuck. I just wanted to go home. I should never have let Cypress take me.Half a fun night with someone who didn’t truly care about his wellbeing wasn’t worth the lastthree months he’d suffered.

It wasn’t worth all the pain he’d probably caused his poor mother.I was brought into her life to ease her loneliness.Now he was likely the product of her tears.

He looked up at the dirt ceiling and wondered if he’d ever see the sun again. Before he could lower his gaze, someone placed their hand over his mouth and dragged him away from the ledge.

With a gasp, he kicked his legs to get away.

---