From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Three minutes later, thundering hoofbeats approached through the trees. Caelan’s black stallion burst through the brush. He leaped down before his horse fully stopped.

“Blair!”

He slid to his knees beside her, his voice raw with panic.

Scarlett, Leon, and Peter arrived seconds later. Shock painted their faces. Scarlett immediately moved to my side, her arm wrapping around my shoulders.

The medical team’s ATV roared up behind them, equipment rattling in the back.

Caelan carefully cradled Blair’s head, afraid to move her too much.

‘Blair? Blair, it’s me, Caelan. Can you hear me? Open your eyes and look at me…”

“Sir, please step back.” The paramedic knelt beside Blair. ‘Let us assess her condition.”

Caelan rose slowly. Blood stained his hands.

When he lifted his head, his eyes locked onto mine.

No anger. No shouting. Just cold, penetrating judgment.

My chest felt like someone had driven a sledgehammer into my ribs. Breathing became difficult.

I opened my mouth to explain. “Caelan, this was an accident. The horse spooked suddenly-

‘Pupils responding sluggishly,” the paramedic interrupted. “Possible intracranial pressure. We need immediate hospital transport for CT scan.”

Two medics transferred Blair carefully to a stretcher.

‘I’m going with her to the hospital,” Caelan told them. “She’s my sister.

He followed the stretcher toward the ambulance without looking back.

I stood alone as the vehicle disappeared through the trees, carrying Caelan and Blair away from me.

Sable. Scarlett gripped my cold hand. “What happened?”

“Blair asked me to teach her to ride. Then she wanted to go faster. I told her not to rush, but suddenly the horse spooked and threw her.”

“That’s strange. We’ve been riding these trails for years without incidents like this. These horses are professionally trained, gentle temperaments.”

I nodded, my mind replaying every detail of the accident.

Why did Blair deliberately create this situation? She was willing to hurt herself just to frame me. She wanted Caelan to blame me, to drive a wedge between us.

She’s completely unhinged.

“But regardless,” Scarlett continued fiercely, ‘Caelan shouldn’t have blamed you without asking a single question.”

Leon cleared his throat nervously. “Caelan was just worried. He didn’t really blame her. In that situation, any brother would-

“Shut up, Leon!” Scarlett whirled on him. “Did you see his expression? That wasn’t worry!”

Peter tried to calm the situation. “Scarlett, you’re getting too worked up-

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“Blair’s horse lost control! How is that Sable’s fault?”

I caught Scarlett’s hand, stopping her from continuing the argument. “I need to go to the hospital. To check on Blair.”

Caelan’s POV

The sharp scent of antiseptic stung my nostrils as I sat in the chair beside Blair’s hospital bed. A bandage wrapped around her head where they’d stitched the gash closed.

The doctor had been optimistic. “Superficial head trauma,’ he’d explained. “The wound looks worse than it is. She’ll need overnight observation, but she should be fine to go home tomorrow.”

Relief had flooded through me then. But now, watching Blair sleep peacefully, other thoughts crept in.

Something doesn’t add up.

Blair was one of my most skilled warriors. How does someone with her experience just… fall off?

Her eyelids fluttered. Then opened slowly, revealing violet eyes clouded with confusion.

“Caelan?” Her voice came out small and weak.

I leaned forward. “I’m here. How are you feeling?”

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Tears gathered in her eyes. “My head… it hurts so much…”

“The doctor said that’s normal. You hit it pretty hard.”

Her lower lip trembled. “I was so scared. When I felt myself falling… I thought I was going to die. I thought I’d never see you again.”

C

The raw fear in her voice twisted something in my chest. This was Blair – the girl who’d learned to fight beside me, who’d earned her position as Gamma through pure determination.

“Hey. I reached out to squeeze her hand briefly, then pulled back. “You’re okay. The doctors took good care of you.”

Blair struggled to sit up, wincing with the movement. “I ruined everyone’s day, didn’t I? God, I’m so stupid. I should have listened to Sable…”

‘It was an accident. These things happen.

She pressed her palm against the bandage, tears spilling over. “I just wanted to impress you. To show you I could handle a faster pace.”

“Blair-”

‘I know, I know. I was being reckless.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “It’s just… sometimes I feel like I have to prove myself constantly. Like I don’t really belong.”

Something cold settled in my stomach. I’d heard variations of this speech before. Blair’s insecurities about her place in our family weren’t new.

“Blair.” I kept my voice gentle but firm. “You know I care about you. You’re family.”

She smiled through her tears. ‘Could you… could you help me eat something? My hands are shaking. I think it’s from the concussion.”

‘I can call for a nurse to help-”

‘Please, Caelan. Nurses don’t know how to be gentle. And I only trust you.”

She tugged on my sleeve. “Just this once? I promise I won’t ask for anything else.”

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The request set off alarm bells in my head. Blair was perfectly capable of feeding herself. This was manipulation, pure and simple.

I gently extracted my arm from her grip. “Blair, you’re not a child anymore.”

‘I know, but-

“I’m getting married. I have a fiancée now.” My voice hardened. “We need to maintain appropriate boundaries.”

Sable’s POV

I paused outside the partially open door when I heard voices inside.

-need to maintain appropriate boundaries.”

Caelan’s voice, firm and resolute.

“Boundaries? Between family?” Blair’s response carried hurt and confusion.

“Between a man and a woman who aren’t married to each other. That’s just how it has to be.”

My chest tightened with unexpected warmth. Even with Blair injured and vulnerable, Caelan was establishing clear limits. Protecting the integrity of our relationship.

Then Blair’s tone sharpened. “If Sable is so insecure that she’d be jealous of you helping an injured family member…”

My nails dug into my palms.

“This isn’t about Sable’s feelings,” Caelan replied.

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