Page 9 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

“Can't you do anything right?” Duchess Vesmalden slapped Xander across the face.

As his stepbrothers chuckled, Xander straightened out of his lean. He'd been pouring tea into cups for their afternoon refreshment and had spilled a little into her saucer. He knew what was coming, so he didn't drop the teapot as he'd once done.

Xander just set it down as he stood. “Sorry, Stepmother.”

“Don't call me that.” She grimaced at him and waved at the tray. “Well? Finish making my cup. And I'll have two scones with jam and cream.”

Xander loved scones with jam and cream. At least he used to, but he hadn't eaten one in years.

His mouth watered even to smell the buttery delights, but he couldn't have them, and he didn't like dwelling on what he couldn't have.

So he focused on pouring a little milk into his stepmother's cup, then spooned in some sugar.

He didn't dare hand the cup to her. She'd only use it as a chance to trick him into spilling more tea so she could abuse him.

Instead, he used the little silver tongs to set two little scones on her plate, then smeared jam and clotted cream over them with a silver knife.

“Fine,” she sounded disappointed. “Now, see to my sons.”

Xander reached for the teapot, and as he did, Hubben kicked his leg, causing Xander to fall forward and knock the teapot over.

Duchess Vesmalden screeched and backhanded Xander.

He fell to the floor. Hubben set his boot on Xander's hair and stood up, placing his significant weight on it.

Xander gritted his teeth to keep from screaming as some of his hair was torn out.

“You bumbling fool!” Duchess Vesmalden kicked Xander in the stomach.

That blow was like a horn sounding at the start of a hunt.

Xander's family descended upon him—kicking, slapping, and punching him as they laughed.

Elmer finished the beating by dumping the teapot over Xander's head.

And then, with Xander offering no resistance or even sounds of pain, the trio gave up, collapsing into their chairs to pant as if the beating had been hard on them.

Xander waited a moment to see if they'd get a second wind, then slowly stood up. He picked up the tray, ignoring the aches everywhere on him, and headed out of the room. “I'll fetch more tea.”

“Be quick about it!” Duchess Vesmalden bit into her scone, chewed, swallowed, and added, “You've already delayed our refreshments with your brutish clumsiness.”

“Yes, . . . Your Grace.” Once he was out of the room, Xander gave a broken breath, but he refused to cry.

He was bleeding in several places, but he didn't think anything was broken.

No, he knew what broken bones felt like.

He had miraculously made it through their torture unbroken.

Bleeding but still mostly whole. That felt like a win.

He lifted his chin and hobbled down the hallway to the kitchen.