Page 27 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Cinderella danced with his prince to celebrate their engagement. The party continued even though its main goal had been reached. It would be rude to leave just because the next princess had been chosen. And the soon-to-be princess was the focus of everyone's attention.

Cinderella just wanted to go home. He had never felt such an urge before.

His home wasn't all that comforting normally.

To long for it while twirling beneath crystal chandeliers in Leovar's arms seemed ludicrous.

But that was how horrible he felt about fooling Leo.

Cinderella didn't know how much longer he could take being Cinderella.

“All right, we've done our duty and danced once,” Leovar said as he led Cinderella away from the dancing area. “What do you say we sit out the rest of them?”

“I say, that could only be better if there was a drink involved.” Cinderella winked at the Prince.

“I shall make it better!” Leovar spun away.

“It's time,” Nevan whispered in Cinderella's ear. “And he just gave you the perfect opportunity.”

Cinderella flinched. “Now?”

“They are already clearing the room. You see? You must slip out with the crowd.”

“The crowd knows me. ”

“Yes, but they don't know Xander.”

“I can't transform right here.”

“I've cleared a room for you. Go now while Leovar is distracted. It's just down that corridor on your right. Second door. I will follow.”

Cinderella snuck down a corridor, pausing when Nevan hissed at him to stop and moving when urged to make haste. Then he was in the privacy of an empty room.

“At last!” Cinderella declared. “Remove this stupid glamour and change my clothes back.”

Nevan suddenly appeared, hands on his hips. “You need to learn how to do this yourself. You watched me. Give it a try.”

“Now is not the time for a lesson!”

“I know you can do this. Go on.”

“Damn it all!” Cinderella went to stand before a wall mirror, closed his eyes, and focused on who he wanted to be.

Nevan giggled.

Cinderella's eyes popped open. He grimaced at his reflection. He was back to being Xander, but he still wore the dress. The glamour was gone, showing the truth of it all—Xander in a dress and crystal shoes fitted to him.

Now, for the transformed items.

This time, when Xander opened his eyes, his clothing was back to its normal self as well. “Thank goodness.”

“Uh, you forgot something.” Nevan pointed down.

Xander knew what he'd find before he followed Nevan's finger to look down at his shoes. He could feel the crystal. “Well, shit. I swear I included them.” He tried once more and then declared, “You need to do it. They're resisting me.”

“How odd. Give them to me.” Nevan motioned.

Xander removed the shoes and handed them over. Nevan focused on them. Nothing happened.

“What is wrong with these stupid shoes?”

“Why won't they change back?” Xander asked.

“I don't know. Here, you try again.”

Xander reclaimed the crystal shoes and focused on them, imagining what they used to be—an old pair of shoes with holes in the bottoms. They remained as they were. He closed his eyes. Opened them. Still crystal.

“It doesn't matter.” Nevan waved him toward the window. “You've got to go. We can work on the shoes later.”

Xander went to the window and set the shoes on the sill as he opened the latch and pushed the double panels open. Night air rushed in, cooling his cheeks.

“I'll meet you down there.” Nevan deftly leapt through the opening.

“Show off,” Xander muttered as he flung a leg over the sill.

Just as he was about to jump the few feet to the ground, he heard the doorknob rattle. Someone was coming into the room.

Xander panicked, lost his balance, and tumbled out of the window. At the last second, he remembered the shoes. He grabbed a heel, but as he fell, the shoe he held knocked into the other, sending it flying back into the castle. With a huff of expressed air, Xander landed on his back.

“You left the other one?!” Nevan hissed .

“It was an accident!” He got up. “Here, hold this.” He handed Nevan the shoe. “I'll go back for it.”

Nevan shoved the shoe back at him. “Shh! Can't you hear them? They're looking for you. For her! And they found that damn shoe! We've got to go!” Nevan vanished. “Make yourself invisible!”

“Damn you! You know I haven't mastered that yet!”

“Try!”

Xander ran for the castle gate as he tried to make himself invisible.

First, only his legs vanished. Then, his head.

Anxiety must have sharpened his focus because just before he reached the gate, he finally got the trick of it.

There was only one problem—that stupid shoe.

It wouldn't go invisible. It was as if the thing were immune to magic.

Which was ridiculous since magic had given it its new form.

Maybe the old shoe liked being a shiny crystal heel so much that it refused to go back. He didn't blame it.

But it left Xander in an awkward situation.

Luckily, the guards were distracted by the guests leaving the castle. Xander snuck behind them, keeping the shiny shoe in the shadows until he made it past.

“Is that a floating shoe?” a guard suddenly asked.

“Where?”

“Damn it!” Xander hissed and ran for the trees.