Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 178

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**

**Chapter 178: The Twin’s Deception**

Malrik had been conspicuously silent since his unexpected arrival the previous night. Not a single message had graced her lightcore from him. So why, of all times, were these two sending her messages now? The tone of their words suggested they had been penned long before he had crossed her threshold.

Was there a possibility of a delay in the lightcore transmission? It seemed improbable, especially since her device had been functioning seamlessly.

With a furrowed brow, she angled the screen toward Silas and Lucien. “What do you think of this? Why would he suddenly reach out to me with these?”

Silas leaned closer, his brow furrowing in concentration as he scanned the messages. A sudden realization sparked in his mind. “What if Malrik is simply trying to cover all his bases?”

Both Lucien and Emma turned their gazes toward him, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and confusion. “What do you mean by that?” Emma asked, her tone edged with intrigue.

Silas explained, “He’s been here for such a short time, but he’s clearly eager to establish a connection with you, Emy. It’s almost as if he orchestrated my involvement from day one to present himself in a favorable light. But what if I hadn’t bought into it? He might have realized that he acted too quickly and risked revealing his true intentions. So, perhaps he concocted a backup story.”

Turning to Lucien, he continued, “Do you recall that incident with the soldier a couple of years back? The one who infuriated his huntress? When she sought to end their match, he claimed it was his twin brother who had upset her.”

Lucien’s memory flickered to life. “Yes, I remember. The case landed on my desk, and I ordered an investigation. Initially, the huntress believed him. But eventually, one of her other mates discovered the truth—he had no twin whatsoever. It was merely a fabrication he spun to save himself from the consequences of his actions.”

Emma’s jaw dropped in astonishment. “What is this, some sort of live-action soap opera drama?!”

“So, you’re suggesting,” she pressed, “that Malrik might attempt the same ruse on me?”

Silas shrugged, a wry smile playing on his lips. “I can’t say for certain, but the idea is amusing, isn’t it? How about we put him to the test?”

“How would we do that?” Emma inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Merlin had spent countless years striving to prove himself worthy to the clan, desperate to usurp Malrik and claim the title of heir. Yet Malrik had never desired that conflict, which was why he had distanced himself from their world for so long.

He knew his brother all too well—brooding, envious, and ruthless, willing to go to any lengths to achieve his desires.

If he has done something to offend my huntress…

Malrik felt a surge of protectiveness and quickly typed another message. ‘Ms. Tibarn, if Merlin has caused you any distress, please feel free to punish him in whatever manner you see fit. I am your suitor, your beast, and I will not defend him.’

Silas let out a low whistle at the sight of Malrik’s response. “Well, well, his tricks are as clumsy as his feigned charm.”

Lucien turned his attention to Emma. “Emma, it’s true that the Enchanter Clan has ancient tales about twins being considered unlucky. But Malrik—”

“Say no more,” Emma interrupted, her expression turning icy as she navigated to the Beastmate System interface. With a single, decisive tap, she dissolved their match. “Whether his brother is real or not is irrelevant. Anyone who dares to manipulate Silas into using something like that against me doesn’t deserve to remain in my life.”