Chapter 74 Imposter - Aleksandr’s POV
The manipulation was so blatant, so crude, that I almost laughed. Did they truly believe I wouldn't recognise the difference between this impostor and Amelia? My Amelia? That I wouldn't feel it in my very bones that this was not my mate?
"The resemblance is indeed striking," I said, keeping my tone neutral even as Skoll raged within me. "Miss Serena, welcome to the royal court."
The girl curtseyed, her movements too polished, too rehearsed. "Thank you, Your Highness. My aunt has told me so much about you."
"Has she?" I allowed myself the smallest hint of a smile, one that didn't reach my eyes. "And what exactly did she tell you?"
A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face before she recovered. "That you're seeking a true queen. Someone worthy of standing beside the Alpha King."
I heard what she didn't say – that Amelia had been deemed unworthy, lacking, inferior. The rage I'd been containing throughout the night threatened to boil over, the curse seizing the opportunity to push forward.
"A true queen," I repeated, the words tasting bitter. "And what qualities do you believe make a true queen, Miss Serena?"
She blinked, clearly not expecting to be questioned. "Strong bloodlines," she answered, reciting what had obviously been drilled into her. "Political connections. A powerful wolf. Beauty and grace, of course."
'Wrong,' Skoll growled. 'All wrong. Strength. Courage. Kindness. Amelia. Kaela. Our true Queen.'
"Interesting perspective," I said, maintaining the façade even as I felt my canines lengthening slightly behind my closed lips. "Would you excuse me? I believe I'm needed elsewhere."
I didn't wait for their response, turning away before my control slipped further. As I moved through the crowd, I caught sight of Kane watching the interaction with obvious disappointment. He had clearly hoped Elena's "niece" would trigger something in me – either rage that would expose my instability, or interest that would indicate I was truly moving on from Amelia. He had miscalculated on both counts.
Throughout the remainder of the evening, I continued the performance – dancing with candidates, engaging in meaningless conversation, playing the part of the king considering his options. But my attention never wavered from Kane and Blackstone, noting how they whispered together, how their eyes followed my every move.
'Reject all,' Skoll insisted after each new introduction. 'Amelia is mate. Kaela is mate. Only them.'
'I know,' I responded silently. 'We'll find them. Soon.'
By the time midnight approached, my control was hanging by a thread. The combined stress of Amelia's absence, the curse's strengthening hold, and the parade of imposters had left me dangerously close to shifting in the middle of the royal ballroom. I could feel my bones aching for release, my skin too tight across muscles that wanted to reform into something larger, more powerful.
I made my way to a balcony, needing a moment of fresh air away from the suffocating scents of perfume and desperation. The night air was cool against my overheated skin, the distant lights of the city spreading out below like fallen stars. Somewhere out there, Amelia was being held. Waiting for me to find her.
"Your Highness." Kane's voice came from behind me, his scent giving him away before he spoke. "The ball appears to be a success. Several of the candidates have expressed particular interest in further meetings."
I didn't turn to face him, not trusting my expression to maintain the deception. "Have they?"
"Indeed." He moved to stand beside me, his posture relaxed, confident. The stance of a man who believed victory was within his grasp. "The daughter of Alpha Thornwood seems particularly promising. Those eyes of hers – quite remarkable, wouldn't you say? Almost like—"
"Like Amelia's," I finished for him, my voice dangerously soft. "Yes, I noticed the resemblance. Just as I noticed it in at least six other candidates tonight."
Kane stiffened slightly, though his expression remained pleasant. "Merely a coincidence, I assure you."
"Is it?" I finally turned to face him, allowing just a hint of my true feelings to show. "Strange coincidence, that so many young women with dark hair and slight builds would be invited. That one would even have heterochromatic eyes like hers."
"You're reading too much into simple physical traits, Your Highness," Kane replied smoothly. "Though I understand your sensitivity, given the circumstances of Miss Lovelace's departure."
I stepped closer to him, just enough to remind him of our significant difference in size and strength. "What I find most interesting, Councillor, is how convenient this all has been for you. Amelia's sudden departure. Blackthorn's mysterious illness. This parade of lookalikes designed to... what? Remind me of what I've lost? Or push me toward choosing someone – anyone – to replace her?"
A flicker of unease crossed his face, quickly masked. "I believe the curse may be affecting your perspective, Your Highness. These paranoid suspicions—"
"Are they paranoid?" I interrupted, my voice still calm despite the rage boiling beneath. "Or have I simply been playing along with this charade long enough to see it for what it is?"
For a moment, genuine alarm flashed in his eyes before he recovered his composure. "I'm concerned for your wellbeing, Your Highness. Perhaps you should retire for the evening. We can discuss potential second meetings with candidates tomorrow, when you're feeling more... yourself."
I smiled, a cold baring of teeth that made him take an instinctive step back. "An excellent suggestion, Councillor. I find I've had quite enough... entertainment for one night."
I left him on the balcony, making my way back through the ballroom with purposeful strides. Guests parted before me, sensing the barely contained power and rage simmering just beneath my skin. I acknowledged no one, spoke to no one, focused only on maintaining control until I could reach the privacy of my chambers.
'Reject all,' Skoll repeated as we passed the final group of potential candidates. 'Only Amelia. Only Kaela. Our true Queen.'
'Yes,' I agreed silently, the word both acknowledgment and promise. 'Only them.'