The Gate He Closed Became My Crown Chapter 07

The Gate He Closed Became My Crown Chapter 07

Caelan’s words left Clara Shaking where she stood, the broken ring lying between us with frost spreading over its metal.

I rose with Caelan’s help, one hand still protecting my stomach. The child shifted faintly beneath my palm, and through the bond Caelan felt my fear before I could hide it.

“We are safe,” I said.

His gaze moved from me to the hall.

“Who else?”

The question was quiet, but everyone who had laughed at the gate seemed to hear judgment in it.

I pointed to Marcus first, then Clara, then the men who had mocked me outside the city gates and the noblewomen who had smiled behind their fans while I was called a thief and a stray. Some lowered their heads before my hand reached them. Others tried to hide behind relatives with higher titles.

Their faces showed no remorse, only panic at having chosen the wrong woman to harm.

A woman in a gold gown stepped out before the silence could settle. She was beautiful, richly dressed, and foolish enough to believe beauty still mattered.

“Your Majesty,” she said, lowering her head just enough to resemble respect. “These people have behaved disgracefully. Perhaps I can arrange a private chamber where you may rest while the guards remove them.”

Her hand reached for Caelan’s sleeve.

Frost stopped her fingers inches away.

The gold scales along her neck dulled to gray beneath the pressure of his power. Her smile died, and two royal guards came

forward before she could form another word.

“Remove her from court,” Caelan said.

“I will not kill you here.”

That did not comfort them.

“Under Dragon Court law, raising a hand against the Dragon Queen is treason. Publicly aiding that harm, concealing it, or encouraging it will be judged as complicity.”

A lord near the third table dropped to his knees.

“Your Majesty, mercy. I only laughed. I did not touch her.”

“You laughed while she was harmed.”

His mouth shut.

Another man began offering gold, territory, military service, anything he thought might purchase forgiveness. Caelan let him finish, then answered with one word.

“No.”

The royal guards moved through the hall, marking every person I had named with frost blue seals at the wrist. Those seals bound them to Blackthorn Keep until judgment. They could not leave, shift into dragon form, or call upon clan protection.

Clara watched the seals appear on others and finally understood that rank would not save her. She dropped to her knees.

“Your Majesty, I was misled. Marcus told us she was nothing. Everyone knew he rejected her. How could I have known she was

truly your mate?”

Caelan looked at the bruise her feel bad teft on my hand.

“You did not need to know her file to know she was pregnant.”

Clara stopped breathing.

“You did not need to know her name to know she was on the floor.”

Caelan turned to the guards.

“Hold Clara Linwood for formal judgment. Strip her of Blackthorn protection until the court rules. No clan seal, no court access, no dragon-form privilege.”

Clara reached for Marcus.

“Say something.”

Marcus did not move.

He was looking at me, but not with regret. He looked like a man staring at a throne he could have touched if he had not let go of my band three years ago.

A healer in white robes hurried forward and knelt beside me.

“Your Majesty, please allow me to treat your injuries.”

Theo planted himself between the healer and me, small fists clenched at his sides.

“Be careful,” he ordered. “If Mama hurts, I will know.”

The healer bowed deeply.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Caelan’s hand remained at my back, steady but tense.

“What happened from the beginning?” he asked.

Marcus forced himself to step forward.

“Your Majesty,” he said, voice rough with fear, “this was a misunderstanding.”