Page 56 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

Bella glares at me. “What are you doing? She’s the queen!”

I look at her with hatred in my eyes. When she sees it, she flinches, and I notice the flicker of guilt on her face.

“The queen? She’s not the queen. Where is Leanna?”

Bella straightens up, lifting her chin. “This is Princess Vivian, the true Princess Vivian. I imprisoned the impostor. She escaped, but I’m having people track her down. This is the woman meant to be your mate. She has royal blood—”

I slap Bella with the back of my hand, causing her to fly sideways and hit the wall. I catch Derrick flinching out of the corner of my eye, but he doesn’t say a word.

It’s the first time I’ve ever raised a hand against a woman.

“I trusted you.”

Bella gets to her feet, rubbing her jaw and groaning.

I advance on her. “I trusted you, and you betrayed me. You filthy little creature.”

She squares her shoulders, defiance in her eyes. “What are you complaining about? You said we needed the real Princess Vivian. Now, here she is. I’ve had people looking for her for a long time. There was nobody, remember? Just someone with a mark on her wrist. I tracked down the true princess and brought her here.”

My eyes widen. “So, you manufactured this entire incident?”

Bella isn’t showing an ounce of remorse. “I never betrayed you, Cedric. The Asher family has always looked out for the royal family’s best interest. The purity of the bloodline—”

“Purity?” I say mockingly, grabbing her by the back of her hair and forcing her to look at me. “Purity of the bloodline?” I drag Bella over to Vivian and throw her at the princess’s feet. “Why don’t you fuck her, then, because I will not touch this female.”

Bella pales. “You have to! You have a duty to maintain the royal bloodline.”

“I have no duty to anyone but my fated mate. Because of you, she is dead. You had her believe that I wanted her to be tortured. You had her believe that I was going to execute her. You used my seal illegitimately.”

“I did no such thing!” Bella retorts. “I was your delegate. I had the right to use the royal seal!”

“Not for an order of execution!” I snarl. “You wanted my mate to die? You’re the one who will die, Bella. In the same manner you planned for her execution.”

Vivian steps forward, shielding Bella from me. Her voice is high. “You can’t touch her. She’s my royal advisor.”

“And who the fuck do you think you are?” I grab her by the jaw and shove her aside. “Derrick, capture the traitor. Throw her in the dungeon and starve her for three weeks.”

When Derrick advances, Bella goes pale. “You can’t do this! I’m the Asher family heir.”

“You are nothing but a traitor who betrayed your king and your queen,” I say furiously.

As Derrick takes hold of Bella, she shouts, “Let me go, Derrick! Don’t you know me? Why’re you mishandling me like this? Cedric’s just pissed off for no reason!”

Derrick is silent.

“I did nothing wrong!” Bella screams, a hint of panic in her eyes now. “I was well within my rights. You can’t execute me just because you’re mad that whore of a woman died. I hope she suffered. I didn’t break any law. I did everything by the book! And if you execute me, the elders will turn against you. This kingdom will descend into chaos!”

“Take the traitor away!” I roar. “And Rothan, go release Harriet!”

Vivian bristles. “You can’t do this! I’ve chosen Bella as one of my most trusted people—”

“You are no one to make decisions in this castle!” I growl. “Edgar, strip this thief of my mate’s belongings and lock her in a cell!”

Vivian gives me a hateful look as she is dragged off. Alone now, I stand in the entrance hall, quivering with rage. Everywhere I look, Leanna’s efforts are showing.

“Your Majesty.”

A woman’s voice has me glancing over, and I see a familiar face approaching me. It takes me a second to place her as one of the maids who once assisted Bella in mocking Leanna.

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