Page 54 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Leo looked down at the leather clothing he'd been given.

All that concern about Xander's clothing had been unwarranted.

Evidently, you wore leather to a fairy challenge.

Period. But what caught his eye wasn't the way the leather pants clung to his legs.

It was the heartstone of his wedding band.

Yeah, he considered it a wedding band. It helped him quell the fear that was already rising in his throat.

Leo had never felt so alone in all his life.

And yet, he was being observed by the entire Shining One Court.

Leo glanced up. Was it to help or hinder Leo's quest that the Shining One King stood at a stone railing directly before and far above Leo?

With Xander. And Zane. At least Xander had kissed Leo at the entrance to the temple.

No Zane to be seen. He had tried once more to convince Leo to leave, but Leo could hardly change his mind now. Even had he wanted to.

The temple was sunk into the bowels of the shining one castle and seemed to be built for this challenge, not worship.

Because the balcony the King stood upon with his family (and Zane) was only one portion of the viewing ledge that circled the wall above the temple.

As mentioned, the entire court was there, leaning over the continuous railing to watch the human die.

Oh yes, Leo knew that's what they expected. They didn't think he stood a chance against their realm. He glanced at his ring again, and then up, at the far end of the sunken temple, at Xander.

Even as far back as Leo was, at the entrance to the temple, he could see how Xander's hands clenched over the stone balustrade.

Xander held his stare and then nodded. There was no turning back now, and so he would support Leo.

Leovar smiled at him. He loved that about Xander.

He fought for what he believed, but when it came down to it, he would accept things he couldn't change and deal with them.

“Prince Leovar!” the Shining One King's voice boomed down to Leo. “Are you prepared to face whatever this realm challenges you with?”

“For Prince Xander, I will face anything!” Leovar shouted.

The Shining Ones cheered. Even they couldn't resist a love story. Especially a tragic one.

Leo's stare slid to just behind his lover.

Zane was holding back, waiting for Xander to need him, but he was still there.

Strangely enough, Leo didn't feel bitter about it.

He wasn't thrilled to see Zane with Xander, but something had been growing and tingling inside Leo all day—a possibility.

Love doesn't have to be one way and one way only.

“Then open the door, Prince Leovar,” the King said. “And may the realm be merciful upon you.”

“I don't need mercy,” Leovar growled as he stepped forward. “Just Xander.”

That won him another cheer, but Leo didn't care about the fairies watching him. He didn't need their approval. Only that of their realm.

As soon as Leo touched the enormous stone door—no handles to be found—he felt a vibration coming through it. He didn't have to push. The door ground open with a great thundering sound. The onlookers went silent as Leo stepped into the temple.

From where he had stood, Leo hadn't been able to see that the temple had no ceiling.

Now that he was inside, he looked up to find his audience still staring down at him.

So, that was why the balcony ringed the sunken temple.

Suddenly, Leo felt like a rabbit in a maze made for humans—confused and lost.

But not for long.

With Leo's first step, the stone entry room of the Shining One temple changed.

His audience vanished, all trace of them gone, and so did the temple.

Leo stood on a grassy hill, overlooking his father's castle.

He had never considered it his. Never wanted what was his by birth.

And when he met Xander, that feeling had only intensified.

There would be nothing holding Leo back from this realm if it chose to allow him to stay.

Or would there?

“Your Highness!” A group of men mounted on horseback stopped before him. “It's your father!”

“What about him?” Leo demanded.

“He's ill, Your Highness. It came on suddenly this morning The court physician has sent me to fetch you. You must come with me immediately.”

Leo glanced behind him. There was a faint glowing outline there—a doorway.

Similar to the way he knew things in dreams, Leo simply knew that this was the way to Xander.

But his father was ill. Even as the thought registered, the challenge vanished from Leo's mind.

He believed he was home and that his father was dying.

At the same time, he sensed that the path leading to Xander would vanish soon.

He could say goodbye to his father, but that was all.

He'd have to return as soon as possible or lose Xander forever.

“I need a horse!” Leo said.

A knight jumped off his mount and handed Leo the reins. “Take mine, Your Highness.”

Leovar jumped into the saddle and kicked his mount into a gallop. He was at the castle in what seemed like seconds, and then he raced up the stairs to the royal apartments. Leo found his father in bed, his face pale and all the vigor gone from him.

“Father!” Leo ran for the bed and sat beside his father on the mattress.

Leo's mother knelt on the other side of the massive bed, holding the King's hand as she wept.

Leo glanced at his mother and then set his stare on his father. “I love you, Father.”

“I love you, too, my son.” His father gripped his hand. “I'm so glad your mother has you to help her through this. She and the kingdom will need you.”

Leovar froze. He felt the momentousness of the words.

This wasn't a statement but a question. He had to choose.

Now . It was either duty or love. But the choice wasn't as black and white as Leo had thought.

His mother. She had always let his father handle the kingdom.

She knew nothing about ruling. Leo was expected to take the throne upon his father's death, so she hadn't bothered to learn.

Leo had been trained to take over. If he left now, the kingdom could fall, and his mother would suffer.

“Leovar?” His father's hand tightened on his. “Tell me that you will be the King we need. ”

Something clenched in Leo's stomach. He had to betray his family to love Xander. It wasn't fair. Maybe he could take the throne just long enough to train an heir. But who? Maybe he could teach his mother, and then she could find a new heir.

Leo stared at his father and saw his future roll out before him. It was unavoidable. This had been his path from birth. To forge a new one would mean destroying the old. Did Leo have the balls for that?

He looked at his mother. She seemed pitiful, but that was because her husband was dying.

It would crush her if Leo left, especially now, on his father's deathbed.

But it wouldn't destroy her. The Queen was made of stronger stuff than that.

More importantly, Leo was made of stronger stuff.

Was it selfish of him to leave and return to Xander?

Or was it a mark of his strength? No prince had ever given up the throne.

That would take balls. Maybe it was cruel to leave his parents like this.

But as he looked upon them, Leo knew that he wasn't responsible for their choices.

They had lived their lives and made their decisions. He deserved to do the same.

Leo stood up. “I love you, Father.” He looked at his mother. “And you, Mother. I love you so much.”

“We love you too, Leo,” his mother said.

“But I can't destroy my future for you. This is my life, and I have finally found the courage to choose my own path.” He bent and kissed his father's cheek. “Goodbye, Father.”

“Leo!”

“Mother, I will try to visit.” Leo went around the bed and kissed the weeping queen on the cheek. “Goodbye.”

Leo turned away, intending to ride back to the hill and take the path to Xander. But as soon as Leo faced away from his family, everything changed. For a brief moment, he realized that it was an illusion. A test. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of Xander, who nodded at him.

Leo had passed the first trial. But he wasn't out of the temple yet. Which meant there would be more to come. Much more.