The news triggered the reaction I'd expected. Once the audience had processed the information, a flurry of shouted commentary began.
"Eric Dragomir didn't have any other children, illegitimate or not!'
"This is a scam!'
"Show us the proof! Where are your tests?'
"Well ... he was kind of a flirt ...'
"He did have another daughter.'
That last one shut the crowd up, both because it was spoken with authority and because it came from Daniella Ivashkov. She had stood up, and even without a microphone, she had a voice that could carry in a room. She was also an important enough person in our society to draw attention. Many among the royals were practically conditioned to listen to her. In the now quiet room, Daniella continued speaking.
"Eric Dragomir had an illegitimate daughter, with a woman named Emily Mastrano--a dancer, if I recall correctly. He wanted it kept secret and needed certain things done-- things he couldn't do himself--to help with that. I was one of the few who helped.' An uncharacteristically bitter smile turned up her lips. "And honestly, I wouldn't have minded it staying secret either.'
Pieces clicked in my head. I knew now who had broken into the Alchemists' records. And why. In the room's silence, I didn't need a microphone to respond either.
"Enough that you'd make certain papers disappear.'
Daniella fixed that smile on me. "Yes.'
"Because if the Dragomirs faded, spirit might too. And Adrian would be safe. Spirit was getting too much attention too fast, and you needed to get rid of any evidence about Jill to kill Vasilisa's credibility.' Daniella's expression confirmed as much. I should have left it at that, but my curiosity wouldn't allow it. "Then why admit it now?'
Daniella shrugged. "Because you're right. One DNA test will show the truth.' There were gasps of awe from those who took her word as gospel and wondered what this meant. Others people refused to believe and wore looks of scorn. Daniella, undoubtedly disappointed the truth had leaked, nonetheless seemed resigned and willing to accept it. But her smile soon dropped as she studied me more closely. "What I'd like to know is: who in the world are you?'
A good portion of the audience appeared to want to know this as well. I hesitated. Sonya's charmed disguise had gotten me pretty far at this point. We had a fragile acceptance of Jill and the Dragomir line. If we let the system run its course, and if Lissa won like I now wanted--I'd have a queenly advocate to help in the case to clear me.
But staring at the crowd--full of people I'd known and respected and who had still condemned me without question--I felt anger burn within me. Spirit-induced or not, it didn't matter. I was still outraged at how easily I'd been accused and tossed away. I didn't want to wait for this to be settled in some quiet guardian office. I wanted to face them. I wanted them to know I was innocent--of killing the queen, at least.
And so, surpassing my own records for dangerous, reckless behavior, I ripped off Sonya's bracelet.
"I'm Rose Hathaway.'
Chapter Thirty-three
CRIES AND SCREAMS FROM THE audience told me my disguise was gone.
Many eyes also went to Dimitri. Adrian had dropped that illusion too, once I'd shed mine. And, as we'd been expecting, the guardians who had been gradually taking up position around us surged forward, armed with handguns. I still thought that was cheating. Fortunately, my mother and Mikhail moved quickly into place to block our attackers and deter any gunshots.
"Don't,' I snapped at Dimitri, who I knew was probably about to join our two defenders. It was crucial he and I stay perfectly still, so we weren't taken as threats. I even went as far as to hold up my arms, and--reluctantly, I suspected--Dimitri did too. "Wait. Please listen to us first.'
The guardian circle was tight, with no gaps. I was pretty sure my mom and Mikhail were the only thing keeping them from shooting us then and there. Guardians would always avoid fighting other guardians if possible. Two blockers were easy to take down, though, and these guardians wouldn't wait forever. Jill and Abe suddenly moved forward, taking positions next to us. More shields. I saw one of the looming guardians grimace. Civilians complicated things. Adrian had not moved, but the fact that he was enclosed in the circle at all still made him an obstacle.
"Haul us off later if you want,' I said. "We won't resist. But you have to let us talk first. We know who killed the queen.' "So do we,' said one of the guardians. "Now, the rest of you ... back away before you're hurt. These are dangerous fugitives.'
"They need to talk,' said Abe. "They have evidence.'
Again, he pushed forward with his case, acting confidently about things he had no clue about. He was staking it all on me. I was starting to like him. It was kind of unfortunate that our evidence wasn't as 100 percent solid as I'd hoped, but as I'd said earlier ... technicalities.
"Let them talk.'
It was a new voice, but a voice I knew by heart. Lissa pushed her way through two of the guardians. They held their tight position, the immediate concern being that we not escape. This allowed her to slip through--but only so one could grab her arm and stop her from reaching us.
"They've come this far. They were right about ... Jill.' Boy, that was not easy for her to say with a straight face, seeing as she hadn't entirely come to terms with the issue. My imminent death was probably the only thing distracting her from the earth shattering experience of learning she had a potential sibling. She too was taking a lot on faith here, confident I was telling the truth. "You've got them. They can't go anywhere. Just let them talk. I've got evidence to support their case too.'
"I'd hold off on sharing that, Liss,' I said in a low voice. Lissa still believed Daniella was the killer and wasn't going to like hearing the truth. Lissa flashed me a confused look but didn't protest.