Page 48 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Xander sat on the couch in his main living room, his hands in his lap and his gaze set forward.

Before him, on either side, stood the only men he had ever made love to.

One of them he had just been with for the second time that evening.

After their first experience the night before—and all the times they came together before morning, Xander had slept peacefully with Zane in his arms throughout that morning.

When he woke with Zane beside him that afternoon, he was happy.

Ready to move on. He spent the entire day in bed with Zane, getting up only to eat or see to other bodily needs. It was incredible.

Then, Zane had decided to take another shower—they'd had one earlier together—and Xander had wandered into his closet to get dressed.

He wanted to escort Zane to the dining room.

Xander was ready to make their relationship official, maybe even announce that he'd chosen Zane as his .

. . what was the word? Ah, yes—consort. He had decided to take Zane as his consort.

But as he finished tying his wrap tunic, his gaze landed on the shoe—that damned crystal slipper that refused to return to its true form.

Xander picked it up and took it out into the bedroom with him, strangely fascinated by it.

And that's when Leo appeared. Just appeared in the chair near the window. Holding the other shoe.

“The other shoe,” Xander whispered as the men he cared about shouted at him and each other. They were both so angry. So hurt. Xander hated to see them like that .

“What did you say?” Leo asked.

“The other shoe.” Xander waved at the pair of crystal slippers, discarded on the rug. “We were both holding one of them. Nevan said that one of the ways to cross into this realm is with two connected objects. One can exert a pull on the other.”

“Yes, that's true,” Zane said. “But the objects must be magical in nature.”

“Oh, those shoes are magical all right,” Xander muttered. “Nevan made them for . . .” he trailed off as he looked at Leo.

“I've already figured out that you were Cinderella.” Leo crossed his arms. “All your accusations against me, and I haven't hurled any back at you. I want you to think about that.”

“Leo,” Xander whispered. “It was the only way for you to remain Prince and still be with me. I wanted to tell you, but—”

“But you didn't. Still, I trust you, Xander. I know you. So, I absolutely believe that you're telling me the truth right now. You saw it as a way to be with me. I love you for doing that.” He went to kneel before Xander and set his hand on Xander's leg. “Can't you trust me and love me back?”

“You betrayed him!” Zane pointed at Leo. “He told me everything. Damn fickle humans! Inconstant and untrue! You couldn't even last a day.”

“I did not betray him!” Leo shot back to his feet.

And then they were shouting again.

“Enough!” Xander roared and surged to his feet.

The men went silent, their wide stares shifting to Xander.

“Zane, you have been exactly what I needed, and I think we have a future together.”

Zane smiled. It wasn't smug, just tender. “I do too, my Prince.”

“Xander!” Leo snarled. “I never betrayed you!”

Xander turned to face Leo. “Leo, I still love you, and I believe you. I've missed you every minute I've been gone. Seeing you again feels like a dream. But we can't be together. We were never meant to be.”

“I'm here. Why can't we be together?”

“You have to go home. Humans aren't allowed—”

Before Xander could finish speaking, a group of guards poured into his suite, swords brandished. They surrounded Leo, and one of them fastened manacles on Leo's wrists.

“Stop!” Xander shouted. “What are you doing?”

“I'm sorry, Your Highness, but the King sensed a human in the realm. A full-blooded human.” The soldier looked at Leo as if he were a strange insect. “We have been ordered to apprehend him.”

“He's with me. He's a human prince.”

“It doesn't matter who he is. He has no status here. And it's against the law for him to be here.”

Xander spun at the sound of his grandfather's voice. He hadn't seen him since their argument. But his grandfather didn't seem upset with Xander. No, his fury was focused on Leo.

The King strode over to the invading Prince and demanded, “How did you get into this realm?”

“He had a shoe!” Xander stepped between them .

His grandfather stepped back. “A shoe?”

“Your Majesty, if I may?” Zane approached and bowed.

“The Prince and his mentor fashioned an illusion to fool this human. Part of the illusion was that pair of shoes over there.” He motioned at the glittering slippers.

“I don't know why, but the pair was separated, and each prince had one. When they held those shoes tonight, at the very same moment, it summoned the human prince to our realm. I do not believe he came here on purpose. It was an accident, Sire.”

The King looked at his grandson.

“That's it precisely,” Xander said. “It's not Leovar's fault that he was pulled here.”

“Very well.” The King motioned to the guards. “Release him.”

“Your Majesty?” the main guard asked.

“I will send him back myself. I don't believe punishment is necessary. Not in the case of an accident.”

“I'm not leaving.” Leovar lifted his chin. “I don't know how I got here, but now that I am, I won't leave without Xander.”

“Xander is my grandson.” The King leaned over Xander's shoulder.

“I have waited eighteen years to meet him. At last, I was able to allow him entry, and I will not allow anyone to take him from us. This is his true home. This is where he belongs.” He lifted his gaze to meet Xander's.

“I have things to tell you, Xander. You didn't give me or your mother a chance to speak the other night.”

“What things?” Xander asked.

“An explanation.” The King glanced at the other shining ones. “We will talk after I see your ex-lover home. ”

“I am not his ex -lover!” Leovar shook his manacled wrists; the metal clanged as if in agreement. “I am his lover. No past tense. We're in love. And if he can't return with me, I'm staying here with him.”

“You cannot stay here. You are human,” the King said. “I couldn't bring my own grandson here because he is merely part human. And yet you think I will give in to the demands of a spoiled little prince who is completely human? Go throw your temper tantrum elsewhere.”

“I'm not leaving.” Leo held his wrists out to the guard.

The guard looked at the King.

The King nodded, but then he said, “You don't have a choice.”

“There must be a way,” Leovar said as the guard unlocked his manacles. “I will do anything.”

“You nearly got him killed!” The King pointed at Leovar.

“I had nothing to do with that! It was that terrible woman—the one you left him to be abused by. She attacked my father, and Xander saved his life.” Leo paused to look at Xander. “You were amazing, love. My father is in your debt. And that means he would allow us to be together.”

“Grandfather, please.” Xander ignored what Leo said about his father—he couldn't think about that yet.

One hurdle at a time. “Leo is right. He wasn't responsible for the attack.

It was my stepmother who attacked the King, and I decided to defend him.

But the reason she was there, the reason she attacked the King, was because of me.

Because she wanted my inheritance. So, if anyone is responsible for my getting hurt, it's my mother and you.”

The King stepped back, his eyes wide. “Xander, you don't understand. ”

“Yes, you say you have an explanation for me. Fine. I'll listen. But you will show Leovar more respect. For me.”

“Respect has nothing to do with this. It is the law of this realm. He cannot stay.”

“There must be something I can do. Just give me a chance!” Leovar held out his hand to the King. “I love him, and he loves me. That must count for something.”

The King looked from Leo to Xander. “Do you love him?”

Xander glanced apologetically at Zane before saying, “Yes.”

With a joyous look, Leo stepped up beside Xander and took his hand. But then Zane came forward and took Xander's other hand.

“It seems you have two lovers, Grandson.” The King lifted his brow. “Interesting. Very well, Prince Leovar. I will allow the realm to decide whether she will accept you or not. It is her law after all. Only she may break it.”

“What does that mean?” Xander asked.

“No,” Zane whispered simultaneously. “Your Majesty, if the Prince dies here, it could mean war.”

“It is his choice,” the King said. “He has asked for a chance, and this is the only one I can give him.”

“Go home, Prince Leovar,” Zane urged. “You will not survive the realm's challenges.”

Xander met Zane's stare. “Tell me.”

“No one knows what the realm will require of him,” the King answered instead of Zane. “It is different for each challenger. If you truly love him, Grandson, I urge you to send him home. I agree with Lord Zane—the odds of his survival are low.”

“Then give him another challenge. You're the King. Test him, but make it fair.”

“This is the only way.”

“What is the only way?!” Xander hunched his shoulders forward even as he continued to hold the hands of his lovers. “What will Leo have to do?”

“Run the course,” Zane whispered. “And survive it.”

“Deep underground, beneath this castle, stands an ancient temple.

There, magic is condensed. It lies above the Source and is where the realm's sentience stems from. It is there that your lover will walk a course of multiple challenges. Tests determined by Source. Made specifically for him. If he can make it through the temple, to the other side, the realm has accepted him, and he will be allowed to stay.”

“What will happen to Leo in the temple?”

“Maybe nothing.” The King shrugged. “As I said, it's different for every challenger. This test hasn't been undertaken for over a thousand years. Before I was even alive. So, I don't know what happened to those that went before him.”

“He will die, Xander.” Zane squeezed his hand. “Send him home. Take him yourself. Isn't it better to miss him than watch him die?”

“Zane,” Xander whispered and bent his head to nuzzle his face. “You're a good man. Thank you for being so generous about this.”

“It is not generosity. I'm being selfish. If you watch him die, you will mourn him for years.” Zane smirked. “I don't want to wait that long for you to love me back. ”

“You're a sweet liar.” Xander kissed his cheek.

“I'll do it,” Leovar said.

Xander let go of Zane to swing around and face Leo. “What? No! No, Leo. I believe him. I believe them both. You will die if you do this.”

“I won't die.” Leo lifted his chin. “Something brought us together, Xander. And when you were taken from me, it brought me here. To you. I have to trust in that. And in us.”

“What if your trust is misplaced? What if we aren't meant for each other?”

“I'd rather die here than go back to my world without you.”

“No. I can't watch you die, Leo.”

“If I do, don't mourn me. Well, not for long.” Leo winked at Xander. “Move on. With him. He seems nice, even though I kind of hate him.” He grimaced. “His hair is pretty.”

Xander snorted a laugh.

“You two are insane!” Zane exclaimed. “He will die, Xander. Don't let him do this.”

Glancing at Zane, Xander said, “It's Leo's choice. All I can do is support him.”

Leo cupped Xander's cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, you stubborn man.”

Leo looked at the King. “If I survive this, I can stay?”

“Yes,” the King said. “And if you don't, I will take your body back to your father.”

“I'll write him a letter first. You can take it back with my body so he'll know that I did this willingly. ”

The King's brows went up. “That is gracious of you, Prince Leovar.”

“Maybe I'm not so spoiled after all?”

The King chuckled and looked at his grandson. “I understand why he fascinates you. But prepare yourself, Grandson. This will not be easy for either of you.”