Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 202

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 202: Late-Night Discovery**

Corvin leaned against the wall, his gaze lingering on Marcus as he ambled down the dimly lit corridor, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance. With a sigh, he redirected his attention to the message that Silas had just sent, the word “technique” glaring back at him from the screen. His brow furrowed in confusion, and he glanced from the lightcore in his hand to his own reflection, contemplating the implications.

A wave of nostalgia washed over him, dragging him back to that rugged little cabin at the Interstellar Hunter Alliance, a place steeped in memories both good and bad.

He recalled a moment, filled with youthful bravado, when he had attempted to impress Ms. Tibarn. Yet, to his dismay, she had remained utterly unfazed—not a flicker of amusement, not even a blink of acknowledgment.

Perhaps the flaw lay not in the move itself, but in my own shortcomings…

With a quiet sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension knotting there. Fantastic. Maybe I just lack the necessary spark to ignite interest.

What on earth am I meant to do now?

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Emma had already slipped into her cozy pajamas, the fabric soft against her skin. She nestled beneath the covers beside Edric, her heart racing from the day’s events. As she scrolled through her messages, she stumbled upon the link that Aria had sent earlier, her curiosity piqued.

With a swift motion, she muted the volume, her heart pounding in anticipation.

The video began to load, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Oh my God… what on earth am I watching right now? Is this even legal? Seriously?

Aria, you are absolutely insane. Every time she uncovers something outrageous, she feels the need to share it with the world.

This is way too spicy for a weeknight, Emma thought, a mixture of embarrassment and intrigue swirling within her.

So engrossed in the screen, she failed to notice Edric stirring beside her.

His fingers twitched, rousing him from the depths of sleep, and his lashes fluttered as he adjusted to the darkness around them. The only illumination came from Emma’s lightcore, casting a soft glow that danced across her cheekbones in hues of blue and gold.

It took his groggy mind a moment to catch up with reality. Then he heard it—a soft, breathy sound that shattered the stillness of the night, a noise that felt entirely out of place in their tranquil bedroom.

He blinked twice, his focus sharpening, and then he heard Emma’s whisper break through the silence, her voice laced with curiosity.

“So he’s from the Ophidian male…”

There was a brief pause before she continued, “I heard Obsidian is supposed to have two. Is that real?”

Her tone was innocent, filled with a thirst for knowledge. She had only ever heard whispers—Edric had never revealed such secrets to her.

He lay still for a moment, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he fought to suppress it.

Then, with deliberate slowness, his hand found its way to her waist, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly murmur against her ear. “If you really want to know, Emma, I’ll show you.”

In that instant, her lightcore slipped from her fingers, landing on the bed with a soft thud, the video suddenly bursting to life, its sounds echoing through the room like some cosmic jest.

Emma felt her blood run hot and cold all at once, a wave of embarrassment crashing over her.

Her eyes flicked to the dark reflection on the screen, and she felt the heat rising in her cheeks, so intense it could have melted steel.

“E-Edric… when did you wake up?”

His breath warmed her neck, a cool, sharp scent enveloping her, intoxicating her senses.

His lips brushed against her earlobe, a featherlight touch that sent shivers cascading down her spine, igniting a fire within her.

“Emma…” His voice cracked on her name, strained with the effort of restraint.

His hand slid up her side, fingertips igniting a slow fire along her spine through the thin fabric of her top. Each inch he traversed left her breathless, yearning for more.

Without thinking, her fingers clenched in his shirt, and he captured her hand effortlessly, intertwining their fingers, his grip both firm and tender.

His breath fanned down her throat as his lips traced along her collarbone, leaving a faint red mark—something intimate, something that claimed her.

Her back arched involuntarily, her pulse racing as if it sought escape from the confines of her body.

Edric pressed his forehead against hers, his voice low and wrecked. “Emma… I’ve waited so damn long for this.”

His hand slid upwards, tugging gently at the hem of her top. His palm met her bare skin, hot and electric, igniting every nerve ending in her body.

Her breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut as the tension between them snapped tight, an unbreakable bond forming in the air.

His mouth hovered just above hers, so close that she could feel every shaky exhale, the anticipation hanging between them. He didn’t rush; he wanted her to savor it—the pause, the pull, the promise of what was to come.

“Edric…” Emma’s voice trembled, soft and yearning, his name slipping from her lips like a secret she could no longer contain.