Page 9 of Monster Mishap

“What?” His surly tone makes me bristle.

Maybe he’s the Grumpy Green Giant.

Ignoring the rush of annoyance, I ask, “Are there any cities in this territory?”

“Cities,” he tests the word out.

“Towns? Villages? Mounds with fairies?”

“Fairies aren’t real,” he says, looking at me like I’m crazy.

I’m getting a little tired of being the strange one. He’s a monster, and on Earth, monsters aren’t real.He’sthe weird one, not me.

I swallow my frustration and keep my tone light. “Will you take me to a village?”

“No.”

“No?” I sputter. “But you said—”

“Changed my mind,” he interrupts, glaring at me like I’m the one being difficult. “It’s too far.” He shrugs.

Too far? Is he serious? Couldn’t he take one giant leap for ogre kind and get us there?

I take a fortifying breath and infuse some of that happiness from earlier into the bond. “Will you please take me to a village so I can find a way home?”

He grunts at the wallop of goodness I launched at him. “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” I smile and bat my eyelashes.

“Whatever you’re doing to the bond. It makes me want to… be nice.” He finishes with a grimace.

I plant my hands on my hips. “And that would be so bad?”

“I’m not nice.” His mouth pulls back, like it’s physically painful to even say the word out loud.

“Really? I never noticed.”

He blinks and furrows his brow. “You haven’t known me long enough.”

He missed the joke. I sigh. “I need your help, Orcus. I don’t know anything about this world or where to go, but I do know that I need to get back to Edgar before he realizes I’m missing.”

His face darkens at the mention of my roommate. “You’d rather return to him than stay with me?” Disappointment suddenly grips me.

“I hardly know you,” I say softly, not wanting to hurt his feelings more than I already have.

“You’re my mate.” The tether between us yanks tight and I’m forced to take a step toward him.

“First, and I cannot say this enough, I’mnotyour mate.” Denial for the win. The bond tugs and I stumble forward. “Second, stop doing that!” I growl, trying to find my footing.

He scoops me up, both hands wrapping around my waist, and tosses me over his shoulder. The towel shifts ever so slightly, but the important bits are covered. “You’ll stay.”

“Put me down.” I smack his back, but he doesn’t even flinch. My feet flail as he turns and ducks into the cave. “This is no way to treat a lady.”

“You aremylady and I will treat you how I want.”

I put my all into trying to escape his hold, but it doesn’t work. He’s too strong. He’s too stubborn. I wished for a prince. Not an ogre who wouldn’t listen. Is he really going to keep me here?

FOUR

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