“You’ve told no one?”
“No.” She fast made the decision to lie. She would not bring Ben into this, not until they were confident the attack on Lox hadn’t come by a Dawson’s command.
He removed his arm from the back of the couch and shook his head. “Astounding. Bartholomew will be fascinated to hear this story.”
“I still don’t understand how it’s happening,” she reasoned. “How can I inherit Dawsonian powers when I’m not a Dawson?”
“That is something I don’t have an answer for, except to repeat what I’ve already told you. You would not have these powers unless you were of the Dawson line.”
Roanna considered the implications of his words. If there were any possibility she was a Dawson…
Again, Dr. Presnell held the answers. He had known this would happen. Why else would he have demanded her hair be kept short?
“Could it be a curse?” It had been her first fear.
Roland’s eyebrows shot up. “Doubtful. The power, or anomaly as you so aptly called it, comes by birth. It can’t be thrown around as a curse.” Roland’s eyes narrowed and he leaned toward her. “Who would have cursed you, Roanna? What gave you such an idea?”
Stupid. She shouldn’t have asked that. “I don’t know.” She thought fast. “It’s a more pleasant possibility in my mind than the alternative.”
“And what would be the alternative?”
She shifted, uncomfortable. “That my mother had an affair.”
His eyes widened and he laughed. “You know, I hadn’t even considered that.”
She frowned and drew back. “Then what have you considered?”
His laughter faded away, and he shook his head. “That is something to be discussed later and not until I’ve consulted with my brother.” He stood. “I have burdened you enough for one night. You will travel with me to Dawson’s Edge?”
Roanna kept her seat. She looked up at him, standing confidently in her bedroom. What of their engagement? He had been cold toward her since the day she left Santa Rio.
“Yes, I’ll go.”
“Excellent. Then I’ll see you at breakfast.” He strode to the door.
She should ask him about their future. Their relationship. But she kept her mouth closed. Only heaven above knew what would become of them. If she truly were some relation to the Dawson line—and her mind-reading told her she was—it meant she was related in some way to Roland Dawson. However distantly, that fact would dictate their decision.
And if this turned out to be a misunderstanding, and she wasn’t related at all, their marriage would likely go on as planned.
Roland disappeared from view a moment later, closing the door with a soft click behind him. Bette returned a while later and helped her into bed, but sleep would not come. Roanna laid in bed most of the night. She stared at the ceiling and considered all Roland had revealed.
Can it be true? I’m so confused.
She prayed silently, her prayers making no sense once again. She had powers, and they hadn’t come about by magic. They had originated from somewhere. The question was where, and what was she to do with them? If Roland’s words were to be believed, she was powerful. For the first time in her life, she felt as though she might be able to control some part of her future. It was a strange but not unwelcome feeling.
The original Dawson had been accused of going into other people’s minds and controlling them. So far, she had been unsuccessful in hearing anyone’s thoughts besides Roland’s and King Dawson’s, but could she get inside someone else’s mind without hearing their thoughts? Could she manipulate their decisions the way the old stories had said the original Dawson could? She hadn’t tried that yet.
As the first fingers of light crept into her room, she climbed from bed and showered. She hadn’t slept a single moment throughout the night.
What troubled her most was Ben. She needed to speak to him. He should know what she knew. They needed to speak to Dr. Presnell now more than ever before.
Once she’d dressed, she made the decision to find him. Most of the guests would not be up and about yet. She would go to Ben’s room and knock on the door. Surely, he wouldn’t turn her away again.
Her confidence waivered as she stepped into the hall and a servant came up from the stairway near her room.
“Can I help you, Miss?”
She smiled at the maid. “No, thank you. I want to enjoy the gardens in the early morning air.”
The girl smiled, nodded, and then hurried down the hall.
Roanna followed at a much slower pace. No one stopped her as she approached the family wing. Noise came from inside Queen Frieda’s room, and Roanna rushed past it to keep from being caught. She turned a corner to the left, and Ben’s door loomed before her.
He had rejected her last night. Brushed past her without a second glance.
But she had new information. Taking a deep breath, she knocked. No one answered, so she knocked again. He might still be asleep.
“Your Highness?” Hansen’s voice interrupted her, and she spun around. Heat filled her cheeks.
“I was looking for Prince Ben.”
Hansen had tended to her more than once over the years, but he watched her disapprovingly now. “The prince has gone to the garage, Your Highness. He is preparing to leave, to see his father.”
So early? “Oh. I see.”
“I suggest you speak with him when he returns in three days’ time.”
Roanna could try finding him at the garage, but Hansen was making it obvious he didn’t intend to help. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”
She hurried back to her room, her heart heavy. Talking to Ben would have to wait, but how long? As she turned onto her own hallway, she paused at Gregory’s door. Gregory was going with Ben!
She knocked on his door, and he opened it a moment later.
His eyes widened. “What are you doing up so early, sis?”
She pushed into his room. “I have something I need for you to do, Gregory.”
54
Roanna sat beside Roland at breakfast. Her heart felt lighter after talking to Gregory, and she ate heartily because of it. Besides, it was good she had let someone know she was headed into Dawsonian territory. It would have been foolish to go without someone in her family knowing.
And Gregory had agreed to pass along a letter for Ben.
Once breakfast ended, Roland pulled her aside. “We leave in an hour.”
“I’ll be ready.” She raced upstairs to give Bette the news.
Bette’s eyes widened. “Do you think that’s wise, Miss? We don’t know who attacked King Neville, and Roland threatened me barely a week ago.”
Roanna wasn’t sure her plans were at all wise. She swallowed her fears and lifted her chin. “I believe the Dawsons are innocent, as does Prince Benjamin. I spoke with Gregory, and he approves. Besides,” she fidgeted with her dress, hoping she was right. “I believe he was only asking you those questions to determine whether we were aiding the Dawsonian rebels.” Or whether a hidden Dawson royal was coming to take their throne.
Gregory’s approval seemed to satisfy Bette, and she got to work packing up all of Roanna’s belongings. Roanna worked beside her, arranging hair brushes and makeup. In just under an hour, they had hauled Roanna’s bags downstairs. Roland’s man was there to load the bags into an auto.
Roland eyed Bette. “You’ll be bringing along your maid?”
Roanna shifted and glanced at Bette. She might be willing to risk herself, but she wasn’t willing to risk her friend. “No. You’ll be heading home, Bette.”
Bette’s eyes widened with fear, but she didn’t argue.
Roanna bid her good-bye and promised to see her again. At last, they were on their way to the Loxian air station. They would arrive in Dawson’s Edge within a few hours, and then she would meet with King Dawson. The king would have his own answers to her questions, and he would likely have several questions of his own.
That thought made her
squirm. What would he want to know?
A wave of icy chill washed over her, and she shivered. She threw a look at Roland, and he grinned. She would have to be careful with her thoughts from now on.
“Did you need something?” she asked.
“Just trying to figure out what was causing that lovely frown.”
She managed a small smile, but his use of the word lovely troubled her. “I see I’ll have to be more careful to guard my privacy now.”
“Nonsense. I was only teasing. We don’t make a practice of spying on each other.” His smile seemed genuine.
Roanna bit her lip. Should she ask what was on her mind? “Roland? May I ask you a question? It may offend you.”
“Be my guest.”
“You seem different now. Happier.”
“I’m not hiding anything.”
His answer was so simple. So honest. He wasn’t hiding anything. He could be himself.
And that…made him happy? Sudden pity washed over her. “I’m sorry, Roland.”
“You don’t need to be. It’s always been this way, and I’m neither ashamed nor embarrassed.”
That made sense. “One more question?”
He nodded, so she went on. “What does this mean for our engagement?”
He took in her words and looked away. Finally, he sighed. “That is a harder question to answer.” He took her hand. “I do find you lovely. And I felt a pull for you from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
His words did nothing but fill her with discomfort, but she didn’t dare pull her hand away.
“But now I realize that pull may have been from the powers. If you are, indeed, Dawsonian, we will need to find out how close to the line you fall.”
“And what if I am Dawsonian? What does that mean for my parents? And for our peace treaty?”
Roland shook his head. “Those are questions for my brother, the king. He will decide.”
Roanna accepted his answer, but as they boarded the airship and headed toward Dawson’s Edge, her shoulders grew tense. Her kingdom’s fate rested in her hands. She’d thought of it half the night as she laid sleepless in bed.
But how could Dawson’s Edge attack Chester’s Wake if one of their own daughters worked peaceably between them? On the other hand, they might accuse Chester’s Wake of taking her as an infant.
Stealing? Mother and Father had record of her birth. They couldn’t have stolen her.
The knots in her stomach tightened further, and she prayed for the flight to pass quickly.
At last, they reached Dawson’s Edge. The auto met them at the air station and drove them to the palace. The trip was long and uneventful.
King Dawson met them at the palace entrance. Queen Katherine was not at his side. Did she not know Roland and Roanna were arriving?
“Ah, the mysterious Princess Roanna.” King Dawson kissed her hand. “Lovely to see you again so soon.”
Warmth spread through her at his words. Trust, the same feeling she’d had from him the first time she’d met him. Perhaps their powers drew them together as Roland had mentioned.
“Come.” King Dawson took her arm and urged her forward. “We have much to discuss.”
Roland trailed them as they maneuvered through the palace, which was such a stark contrast to the Loxian palace. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Where Lox was bright, Dawson’s Edge was dim. Where Lox had windows, Dawson’s Edge had tapestries. Lanterns. Paintings.
The state offices, however, were alive with activity. The kingdoms truly did seem to be working together to figure out who was responsible for King Neville’s attack.
Inside King Dawson’s office, Roland shut the door behind them and they all sat. “I’m going to try speaking to your mind now,” King Dawson said.
Roanna shifted in her seat. So soon?
But she nodded. “I’m ready.”
I’m sorry you’re going through this. It must be quite the shock.
His words took her by surprise, but drawing on her royal training, she recouped quickly.
Thank you. It is very gracious of you to help me.
King Dawson smiled and looked to Roland.
Roland chuckled. “What did I tell you?”
King Dawson looked back to Roanna. “I am stunned. I’ve never heard of a lost family member being found. I wonder if there are more.” He raised an eyebrow, lost in thought for a moment. “Never mind that. We need to trace your origins. Figure out where you come from.”
Roanna frowned. “I come from Chester’s Wake, as a princess, no less. I will not be treated like some science experiment.”
“I apologize, Princess. You are right. We should treat this in a different manner.”
She nodded, accepting his apology. And she was very interested to know what manner that would be.
55
“Would you allow a genetic test?” King Dawson sat close to her in a chair at her side. Roland sat directly beside her on the opposite side of the couch.
Genetic testing. It was part of the technology that allowed scientists to test for anomalies. To see the threads of a person’s make up. The tests that determined if a fetus was to go through the Termination process.
“That will tell you how I’m able to do these things?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.” But his eyes said there was more.
She narrowed her eyes. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Well, the test will tell us whose line you hail from. Our father had four sons, with I being the eldest and Roland being the youngest. Then, there is our grandfather’s line which included our father and his siblings.”
“And don’t forget our own sister,” Roland said.
Realization dawned on Roanna. “Lady Gretchen.”
“That’s correct, though it’s more likely you hail from a male line rather than female. If you were Gretchen’s heir, she would surely be aware of it.” He smiled as if this were funny, but Roanna didn’t join him in the mirth.
They were speaking against Mother and Father, discrediting her upbringing with them. Couldn’t it be just as likely that Father was the one who hailed from the Dawsonian line?
But no, it had to be her alone. She was the one with the magical hair.
“Fine.” She nodded. “I will do the test, but I want to know my family will be safe from any form of attack.”
King Dawson’s demeanor changed. He leaned away from her, and his gaze became lofty. “I will make no such promise, Princess. You must watch yourself as it sounds as if you mean to accuse me of something.”
Roanna’s insides twisted, but she held her ground. “I accuse you of nothing, Your Highness. Prince Benjamin assured me that he believed in your innocence regarding the attack at the Loxian border. I believe in it as well. But if my genetic test gives you some sort of unfavorable result, I mean to protect those I love against retaliation without explanation.” Mainly, if they got it in their minds that her parents had kidnapped her from them.
Her words seemed to satisfy him. “Very well. You have my word, at least until we get to the bottom of things.”
She couldn’t ask for more than that. “When do we start?”
King Dawson stood and walked to his desk. “There is nothing to it. You stay put.” He pressed a button on his Messenger, and a woman’s face filled the screen.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Send for Dr. Jacobs.”
“Right away, Your Highness.”
King Dawson dropped into his desk chair and propped his feet up. “Roland tells me you overheard us the night of the engagement party.”
Roanna studied his face, which was decidedly neutral. What was he asking? “I sensed you.” She stumbled over the word sensed. “I had a strange sensation, something I’d never felt. When I found you, I heard a few words. Nothing that made sense to me. I had only realized that it was your voices I was hearing, when a third voice warned you to be quiet. I was afraid someone had heard my footsteps
, and I hurried away. The entire thing was very confusing.”
Roland and King Dawson looked to each other. “Stefan.” They said it in unison.
Prince Stefan Dawson? He had been the third voice?
“He must have sensed your mind,” King Dawson said. “We didn’t think to include him in this conversation.”
“No need.” Roland shook his head. “It’s not as if she could be from his line.”
“True.” They spoke of her as if she weren’t sitting in front of them.
When the door opened, relief filled her.
A short man hurried inside.
“Ah, Dr. Jacobs. Princess Roanna needs a genetic test.”
The doctor’s eyes popped. “Of course, Your Highness.” He glanced at Roland then finally to her. “If you’ll follow me.”
Roanna swallowed her nerves and stood. She looked to King Dawson for instruction.
“Roland will accompany you. He can show you to your room when you’re finished.”
Roanna nodded, and Roland joined her. She had no idea what to expect.
Dr. Jacobs led them through the halls of the palace. Roanna leaned close to Roland. “What will this entail?”
“A simple cheek swab.” Roland squeezed her hand. “Perhaps a few drops of blood. The test goes quickly, though it takes a bit longer to get the results.”
The doctor’s office was a clean, simple room. White walls, with silver countertops, tables, and instruments. Shelves along one wall held colorful vials and bottles of liquids and herbs.
Dr. Jacobs nodded toward a cushioned patient’s bed in the middle of the room. “If you’ll have a seat there, we will begin.”
He used a long cotton swab to wipe the inside of her cheek. Then he pricked her finger with a sharp instrument and collected the blood drops in a small medical tube. He took the swab and blood sample to a contraption on the metal countertop. There were beakers, tubes, and burners.
“How does it work?” she asked.
Dr. Jacobs gave her a tight smile. He was a nervous sort of fellow. “Leave the science to us, my dear.” He turned to Roland. “Against whom I am running these samples?” He sounded scared. Timid.
“The males of the royal family for the last two generations.”
The Rejected Princess Page 20