Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 206

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 206: Too Many Hearts, One Emma**

Emma found herself in an impossible situation, one that felt like an intricate puzzle with pieces that refused to fit together. How could she possibly divide herself among these three men? Each choice she made would inevitably lead to someone feeling neglected or hurt, as if she were juggling live grenades, each one threatening to explode at the slightest misstep.

Great. Just what I needed, she thought bitterly. A hot potato, and it’s sizzling in my hands.

With a practiced smile, she decided to play it safe, hoping to diffuse the tension in the air. “You know what? I think I’ll head back to my room first and take my time checking out your places later. No rush at all, okay? Seriously, no rush.” Her voice was light, but the weight of her words hung heavily in the air.

Lucien, ever observant, caught the flicker of unease that crossed her features. Before anyone else could interject, he stepped forward, his voice steady and reassuring. “I’ll walk you back, Emma.”

She nodded, grateful for his support. “Okay.” The word felt like a lifeline amidst the chaos swirling around her.

Silas, leaning against the wall with an air of casual confidence, wasn’t surprised by Lucien’s protective instinct. He had seen this coming from a mile away; Lucien was nothing if not predictable. What did catch him off guard, however, was Marcus suddenly throwing his hat into the ring, as if they were all unwitting players in a game with no clear rules.

He pondered, When did Marcus start vying for attention like this?

Silas’ gaze shifted to the small rabbit cradled in Emma’s arms. A sly grin crept onto his face. “Then I’ll take care of the little one for you, Emma. It’s adorable, but let’s be honest—it could use a little pizzazz. Allow me to work my magic.”

Emma looked down at Cotton Candy, her fluffy pink companion, who blinked up at her with innocent, wide eyes. Fine, she thought reluctantly. The little furball is utterly adorable. A touch of glam wouldn’t hurt.

With a reluctant sigh, she handed Cotton Candy to Silas, but not without a firm warning. “Just keep it normal. No weird stuff, okay? I still have to take him out in public.”

Silas flashed her a disarming smile, one that should have put her at ease. “Relax,” he assured her, confidence radiating from him. “I’ll watch some pet-styling videos and make him look fantastic.”

That grin, however, should have sent alarm bells ringing for Malrik, who was currently trapped in the form of a bunny. To him, it felt like a death sentence lurking just around the corner.

“Squeak!”

His fur bristled as Silas’ hand inched closer. Every instinct in his tiny body screamed danger.

Marcus is already a walking red flag… and this guy? He’s even worse.

“Squeak…”

Ms. Tibarn, please… don’t do this. Don’t leave me with this freak!

“Behave,” Silas said, tucking the squirming bunny against his chest with an unsettling calmness. He watched as Emma and Lucien ascended the stairs, his expression unreadable.

Silas was not one to coo over animals. The moment Emma was out of sight, he would show that little creature who was in charge.

Once Lucien and Emma disappeared around the corner of the third-floor landing, Silas turned to face Marcus, who remained rooted in place, a statue caught in a moment of indecision. “Marcus, did you suddenly lose your fear of dying?” he asked, his voice laced with a challenge.

Marcus glanced back at him, silence hanging thick in the air, before he turned to walk away, clearly unsettled.

Silas didn’t let him escape that easily. “Remember when you told Emma that once you bonded, she could cut your beast mark and you’d die? Now you’re backing out? When she finds out, what do you think she’ll believe? You know how much she despises liars.”

Silas blinked, caught off guard.

He hadn’t even wanted the thing; he had just been fishing for leverage. Now, refusing it would make him look awkward.

Great. Now I come off as the greedy one, he mused, feeling the weight of the core in his palm.

Upstairs, Lucien quietly shut the bedroom door behind them, the soft click echoing in the stillness that enveloped them. Before Emma could gather her thoughts or move away, he gently grasped her waist, drawing her close and pressing her softly against the door.

His kiss was tender—warm and fleeting, yet it carried a weight of unspoken emotions that filled the space between them. The hand resting on her waist was firm yet trembling, as if he longed to pull her closer and hold her forever, to shield her from the world outside.

Emma’s breath quickened, her heart racing in response to the intensity of the moment. The faint red glow in his eyes made her chest tighten with a mixture of exhilaration and apprehension. She had never seen him like this—calm on the outside, yet visibly unraveling inside.

Before she even realized it, her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, feeling the heat radiating from his body. His muscles were coiled beneath her palms—taut and trembling, like an arrow pulled back, ready to snap free at any moment.

“Lucien… you… You need to breathe,” Emma finally managed to whisper, her voice shaky as she took a deep, shaky inhale. He leaned back slightly, but his tone remained soft, like velvet smoothing over raw nerves.

He chuckled softly, the sound husky and subdued, as his forehead rested against hers. The intensity in his eyes remained, growing fiercer and more sincere with each passing second.

“Emma, I’m scared,” he confessed, his voice rough and filled with raw emotion as he held her tightly.

“I’m constantly working. I lack charm. I’m not Edric, who brings you warmth when you need it. I’m not Silas, who knows how to make you laugh. And I’m not Corvin, who stays by your side every single day.”