Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 169

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 169: Shadows Beneath the Celebration**

“Now he’s gone.”

The captain of the guards knelt on one knee, his head bowed low, as if the weight of his failure was too heavy to bear. Fear coursed through him, rendering him unable to meet Lucien’s icy gaze.

“We attempted to restore the surveillance feed, but it seems our adversary was exceptionally prepared. The entire system has been compromised—there’s no hope of salvaging it.”

Lucien’s expression hardened, transforming into a mask of cold determination. “Deploy two additional security teams immediately. I want every inch of the banquet hall secured. And continue the search for the Merfolk king. He must be located.”

The audacity of someone to disrupt the queen’s birthday celebration was unfathomable.

Once he issued the commands, Lucien turned his attention back to Emma, his grip on her hand gentle, yet firm. His voice softened, barely above a whisper. “Emma, I’m truly sorry. I cannot remain with you at this moment. I’ll take you to Marcus first, and then I must deal with this situation. I promise I’ll return as soon as I can, alright?”

A wave of guilt washed over him, heavy and suffocating. He had brought Emma home to share in his mother’s joyous birthday banquet, yet here he was, unable to stay by her side when she needed him most. The thought gnawed at him; he felt unworthy of being her first mate.

Emma’s gaze met his, unwavering and understanding. “I understand, Lucien. Go. I’ll be safe with Marcus.”

The disappearance of the Merfolk king amidst the festivities of Aurelia was not something they could simply overlook.

With the eldest princess absent, Amara hosting the banquet, and Aria completely disengaged from political matters, the burden of responsibility now rested squarely on Lucien’s shoulders.

“Thank you, Emma,” he murmured, pulling her into a brief yet firm embrace. He then guided her towards Marcus, his heart heavy with concern.

Until the kidnapper was apprehended, the safety of Aurelia was hanging by a thread.

Before he departed, Lucien leaned in closer to Marcus, his voice a low, urgent whisper. “Stay with her. Do not leave her side, not even for a heartbeat.”

Marcus rested his head against Emma’s shoulder, a solemn nod affirming his commitment. “You can count on me.”

Only then did Lucien allow himself to step away, the weight of his responsibilities pulling him in the opposite direction.

Marcus, despite often appearing half-asleep or exhausted, was a solid Rank 11—and with his extraordinary ability, he was a formidable protector. Emma would be safe in his presence.

Lucien also took Corvin along, determined to tackle the corrupted surveillance network.

As soon as Aria caught sight of Emma returning without Lucien, she dashed over, her excitement palpable. “Emma! I searched everywhere again and still couldn’t find Kieran—but I did notice someone new. He’s absolutely stunning. Want to check him out?”

Emma shook her head, her resolve firm. “No, thanks. I’ll pass.”

After the ordeal with Alaric earlier, she had experienced more than enough embarrassment for one evening.

“Really? Are you sure?” Aria’s voice was tinged with disappointment. “He’s from the Enchanter Clan. Those guys can charm the stars right out of the sky.”

The mention of the Enchanter Clan sparked a memory in Emma, bringing to mind the last match she hadn’t yet met—the one still wandering the outer battlefield.

Knowing that the Merfolk king was alive meant that finding him was merely a matter of time.

Corvin’s eyes sparkled with newfound excitement at her praise. “Ms. Tibarn, do you really think I’m that good?”

Emma nodded earnestly, her expression unwavering. “Absolutely.”

With a grin spreading across his face, Corvin took her hand, his soft, furred ears perking up as he tilted his head toward her. “Then… can I call you Emma?”

He shouldn’t have said that. The moment the name slipped from his lips, Emma recalled all too vividly how he and the others had been eavesdropping on her conversation with Alaric earlier.

In a playful yet firm gesture, she grabbed one of his fluffy ears and gave it a gentle tug. “We still haven’t settled the score for you sneaking around after me, have we?”

Marcus and Edric froze in their tracks, their bodies rigid as if caught in a spell. They had thought Emma had let that slip.

Trust Corvin to bring it up again at the most inopportune moment.

Once the banquet concluded, Emma released him and made her way to say goodbye to Amara.

Amara had just heard the troubling news about the Merfolk king’s abduction and was deep in conversation with her advisors. When she noticed Emma approaching with her matches, she took Emma aside, her demeanor serious yet compassionate.

“Emma, I’m entrusting Lucien to you,” Amara stated, her tone a blend of authority and warmth. “Take good care of him. Aurelia will always be your home—and regardless of what unfolds, we will stand by both of you, without hesitation.”