The Gate He Closed Became My Crown Chapter 06

The Gate He Closed Became My Crown Chapter 06

Caelan Frost stood at the entrance of the hall.`

He wore formal black trimmed in silver, the Frost Dragon crest embroidered across his chest. In his arms was a little boy with the same ice-blue eyes, one hand hooked around his father’s collar as he studied the room.

Every lord in the hall bowed at once.

It was instinct. Caelan’s power rolled through the room like winter breaking over the mountains, forcing heads down and knees weak. Even the stronger dragon lords lowered their eyes.

Clara was the first to move.

She arranged her face into a smile and hurried toward him, still clutching the broken band of the ring.

“You- Majesty, forgive the disturbance. We caught a thief near the royal dais. This woman stole the Dragon Queen’s ring and tried to pass herself off as your mate.”

She turned slightly, pointing toward me as if presenting proof of her loyalty.

“I stopped her before she could disgrace the throne.”

The little boy in Caelan’s arms went still.

His bright eyes found me on the floor, taking in the swelling across my cheek, the blood at the corner of my mouth, and the torn skin on my hand.

Then he struggled out of Caelan’s hold and ran.

“Mama”

That one word destroyed every lie in the hall.

Theo threw himself against me with a sob, careful of my stomach even in his panic. His small hands hovered over my bruised face, too frightened to touch.

“Mama, who hurt you?”

The nobles who had mocked me minutes ago began lowering their eyes. The truth settled over them piece by piece.

I was the Dragon King’s mate. The child in my belly was his. The ring Clara had broken was real

Someone whispered, “She is the Dragon Queen”

Another voice answered, thin with fear, “Then what did we just do?”

Marcus had not moved since Theacalled me Mama All the color had left his face

Clara shook her head

“Boo, that is impossible. The child is confused She must have taught him to say that

Theo turned toward tuu

“She is my mother”

His voice was snail, but frost gathered along the martie at his teet

Carlan crossed the hall, and the crowd parted before him

He knelt beside me His fury changed when he saw my injuries up close, and his hand touched my cheek with impossible care

“Does it hurt?”

That almost undid me-not the slap or the broken ring, but the way his voice shook over a question he should never have

needed to ask.

“I am all right,” I said.

His gaze dropped to my hand.

The mark of Clara’s heel had already darkened across the skin. Broken ruby fragments lay scattered near my knees, bright as blood on the marble.

Caelan picked up one shard.

The temperature in the hall fell.

Candies guttered. Breath turned white. Frost climbed the goblets and spread across the tables.

“Who touched her?”

No one spoke.

“Answer me.”

The old dragon lord who had recognized the crest bent his head.

“Your Majesty, Lady Clara accused Her Majesty of theft. She stepped on her hand and broke the ring. Lord Marcus struck her earlier at the gate, and again today she was struck before the court.”

“Your Majesty, I did not know,” Marcus said. “She never told us-

“She told you.”

Caelan cut him off.

“She wore my mark. She spoke my name. She stood before my throne.”

Marcus dropped to one knee.

“I thought she was lying.”

“No,” Caelan said. “You hoped she was.”

Marcus lowered his head, unable to answer.

Clara tried one last time.

“Your Majesty, I only meant to protect the Dragon Queen’s honor. Anyone would have doubted her. She came alone, dressed plainly, and she never announced

“She owed you nothing”

Caelan rose with the broken ruby in his palm.

“My queen does not need to prove herself to those beneath her.”

Clara went silent.

Theo pressed closer to me, his little body shaking with anger and fear. I gathered him against my side as Caelan’s power tightened around us like a wall of ice.

His eyes swept across the hall.

“Every person who raised a hand against her, mocked her, or stood by while she was harmed will answer under Dragon Court

law.”

A few nobles began to tremble. Sonieone near the back dropped to their knees.

Caelan looked at Clara last.

“As for you,” he said, “you broke the ring I placed on my mate’s hand.”

The broken band in Clara’s fingers turned white with frost

She cried out and released it too late. The metal shattered against the floor.

Caelan’s voice remained cold and steady.

“You will learn what it means to touch what is mine.”