Page 62 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

“Care to explain that?” the dark queen asked.

Ella peered down at her foot, then at Malvina’s as her heartbeat quickened. The shoe, it seemed, did not want to fit Malvina’s foot. Perhaps the magical properties of it had something to do with that. Alice’s words came tumbling back to her.

It is said they can only be worn by the person they’re meant for.

Ella’s mouth went dry. She swallowed hard as the realization came. The slippers, it seemed, were meant for her.

The slippers led her to her true love.Nicholas. It took all her willpower not to cut him a glance.

The slippers were connected to the emotions of the wearer.Heremotions. Right now, her emotions were erratic as they pounded through her. From fear to uncertainty to a glimmer of hope she and her friends had a chance to get out of Malvina’s fortress alive.

“Well?” Malvina prompted when she didn’t answer.

“Legend says they can only be worn by the person they’re meant for,” Ella said, her voice strong and sure.

“Legend!” she scoffed. She pulled off the shoe and shoved back from the chair and started to pace, the slipper clutched in her hand. “Do you expect me to believe that fairy tale?”

Despite her quivering gut, Ella remained strong. “Why does the slipper not fit you then if it’s not true?”

She halted, spinning to face her with narrowed eyes. “Who are you? And how did you get these slippers?” She shook the shoe at her.

“I told you. Someone gifted them to me.”

“Ha! And that someone was Noella Fairchild, that meddlesome fairy, I’ll wager.”

Heat swarmed up Ella’s neck as she clenched her jaw. Malvina flung herself around and headed for a tapestry on a nearby wall. She pulled it back to reveal the massive mirror in an ornate gold frame. Fog floated through the mirror and then a face with nothing but round holes for eyes, nose, and a mouth appeared.

“Dark Mirror, tell me what I seek. Who gifted the girl the slippers?”

“Noella Fairchild, my dark and beautiful queen,” the mirror said.

Malvina turned back to Ella. “The mirror never lies.” She took slow, methodical steps toward her. “But you do. Do you know what I do to those who lie to me?”

Ella remained silent. Her stomach clenched.

The queen chuckled, a sound deep in her throat. “I kill them. But you…you’re special, aren’t you?” She stood in front of Ella now and bent down, placing a long, slender finger under her chin and tipped her face upward so she stared right into those dark, depthless, terrifying eyes. “Noella chose you. What, then, will she do to make sure no harm comes to you, hm?”

“Enough, Malvina,” Nicholas snapped in a raspy voice. “Get away from her.”

Ella snapped her head in his direction. Somehow, he had managed to remove the gag to under his chin. Their eyes met. His were full of apology, as though he blamed himself for their capture.

Malvina straightened and pinned him with her best glare.

“Quite resourceful, aren’t you? But you are in no position to make demands, prince.” She tapped the ball of the shoe against the palm of her hand as she peered down at Ella. “Let’s put this other slipper on you, shall we?”

She bent and slipped the shoe on her foot. It was a perfect fit.

The moment the slipper was on her other foot, Ella felt a strong surge of what she assumed was magic shooting through her. It was as if the magic only worked when she had on both shoes.

Malvina pressed her fingertips together, tapping her forefingers in a rhythmic way as she considered Ella. She glanced from the slippers to her face and back again.

“Now, here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to use those slippers to get what I want.”

“And what is that?” Ella asked.

“Why, Rovenheim’s throne, of course,” she replied.

“No,” Nicholas said. “You willneverget that.”

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