Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 223

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live**
**by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 223: Aetherwing Newborns**

As Emma stood there, memories of her time on F-268 flooded back. It was hard to believe that just a short while ago, Laura had appeared completely unbothered by the weight of impending motherhood.

Yet now, a miraculous transformation had taken place; Laura had already welcomed her little ones into the world.

Corvin, emerging from the kitchen with a steaming plate of freshly prepared lunch, caught Emma mid-sentence. “Corvin, let’s skip shopping this afternoon. Let’s stop by the hospital first. I—”

Her words hung in the air, unfinished and heavy with meaning. The moment Corvin heard the word “hospital,” a wave of panic washed over him. He quickly set the food down, his heart racing as he rushed to her side, gripping her hand with a mix of concern and urgency.

“Emma, what’s wrong? Are you in pain? Should I call Silas back immediately?” His voice was laced with worry as he searched her face for signs of distress.

That morning, Silas and Lucien had left early for work, and Edric was nowhere to be found—his absence a mystery that only added to Corvin’s anxiety. In the quiet of their home, it was just him and Marcus, and the thought of being alone with Emma’s potential crisis was unsettling.

“Please, don’t panic. I’m perfectly fine,” Emma quickly reassured him, noticing the alarm in his eyes. “My friend just gave birth. She’s at a hospital on the Central Planet, and I want to visit her.”

Relief washed over Corvin like a cool breeze on a sweltering day.

“Alright then,” he said, his voice steadier now. “Let’s eat first, and then we’ll head out. I’ll grab Marcus to join us.”

He turned to Marcus’ room, only to find it eerily empty. A frown creased his brow as he wondered if Marcus had slipped out without anyone noticing. Just as he was about to send a quick message, the door to the side room creaked open, and Marcus stepped out, a faint chill lingering around him.

“Were you looking for me?” Marcus asked, his tone casual, though he could sense the urgency in Corvin’s demeanor.

Corvin blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Why are you in that room and not your own?”

With a resigned expression, Marcus replied, “I can’t sleep in that room.”

Corvin stared at him in confusion. Not being able to sleep in his own room? That was certainly an unusual quirk.

Marcus, however, didn’t want to delve into the topic of sleeping arrangements. If the female preferred her space a certain way, he wasn’t about to dismantle it just to satisfy his own discomfort. Instead, he shifted the conversation. “What’s going on?”

“Emma wants to visit a friend at the hospital,” Corvin stated plainly. “I’d like you to come with us.”

After all, Marcus was a Rank 11—a significant asset in terms of safety.

“Sure,” Marcus agreed with a nod, his curiosity piqued.

Once they finished lunch, the trio departed from the estate, making their way to the hospital. Emma took a moment to stop by a store, purchasing an array of thoughtful gifts for Laura and her newborns.

The pieces began to click in her mind. No wonder the pregnancy had seemed to pass in the blink of an eye—Aetherwing gestation was remarkably brief, lasting just over ten days, as she had read in the lightcore.

Laura beamed and nodded. “Yes, that’s right! They’re my new mate Rowan Aether’s cubs.”

“Laura, that’s incredible!” Emma exclaimed, her fingers reaching out to gently poke one of the cubs. It was so soft and squishy that a giggle escaped her lips.

Noticing Emma’s delight, Laura couldn’t help but tease, “You’ve got mates now too. Have you ever thought about when you’ll have cubs?”

The question caught Emma off guard. In all honesty, she hadn’t given it much thought. After bonding with Edric, he had taken precautions to ensure they wouldn’t rush into parenthood.

She chuckled lightly, “No rush for me. My level is still low—I want to level up more first. Cubs can wait.”

The truth was, Etherians lived long lives, and Emma had no desire to become a mother too soon. She had discussed her plans with Lucien and the others, and none of them seemed to mind.

Especially Silas—he had sounded almost relieved at the prospect of postponing parenthood for a while longer.

Laura understood Emma’s perspective. She refrained from pressing the issue or gushing excessively about how adorable cubs could be. Instead, she simply smiled, knowing that her friend had her own path to follow.