Page 19 of The Mad King and the False Queen

“Such as?”

“The coronation.”

“Unless Magda’s been kidnapped I don’t think the coronation ceremony is more important than a potential war between two kingdoms.”

Kidnapped. Dagmara pondered the idea. Then she shook her head suddenly. She couldn’t cause too much of a scandal.

Aleksy’s expression wavered with concern. “Where is Magda?”

“She hasn’t been kidnapped.”

“So what is going on?”

She couldn’t respond.

“Dagmara?”

She continued to remain utterly silent. Magda had entrusted her with the biggest secret of her life. What if the prince told his parents? What if others found out and stripped the princess of her title? Or worse…would the whole family be called false royals?

“I need to sabotage the coronation.”

His body tensed. “What?” He sounded like a prince again. “Why?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Aleksy let out a deep sigh, which broke off into a laugh. He stood, distancing himself from her.

“You’re going to sabotage the coronation but you can’t tell me why? I need something, Dagmara, if you don’t want me to have you locked up until the coronation is over.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Lock me up?”

“You admitted to wanting to sabotage my sister’s coronation!”

“I never said I wanted to.”

Aleksy frowned. He massaged the back of his neck, exhaling sharply. “If you can’t tell me why you plan on sabotaging it, at least tell me how you plan to.”

Dagmara hadn’t gotten that far in her plan. However, as she stared at Aleksy, suddenly it hit her. What if she didn’t need to sabotage it at all, but rather make everyone believe Magda had the gift of water? No one would be the wiser, and there wouldn’t need to be a scene.

Dagmara sat forward on the chaise, her eyes wide with revelation. “How far away can you be from a water source to use your gift?”

“I…what? Don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not, please, how far?”

“As far as I can see.”

She rose slowly. “So…?”

Aleksy’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know, a mile or two? Depends on my vantage point. I’m not a sorcerer.”

“Debatable.”

“What is this about?”

Dagmara grabbed his hand, “Come with me, and I’ll tell you.”

She tugged him along, tearing out of the room and racing toward the royal wing of the castle.

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