Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 23

**Chapter 23: The Naive Violet Obsidian**

“Is there anything more?” Emma asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Drake’s gaze, relaxed yet perceptive, settled on her face. In that moment, he found himself captivated not by any extravagant scent from advanced interstellar skincare products, but by the pure, natural aroma that enveloped her—a clean, fresh fragrance that was unexpectedly delightful.

Just standing near her, he could catch a hint of that scent wafting through the air, and it was utterly enchanting.

What is the source of this lovely fragrance? he wondered, his mind drifting to thoughts of her essence.

Turning his focus back to the conversation, he leaned in slightly, his brow furrowing with intrigue. “Do you have any idea what kind of therian Damian is?” he asked, his voice steady.

Emma nodded, her expression earnest. “He mentioned he belongs to the Ashenflame Fox,” she replied, her tone revealing a mix of admiration and curiosity.

Drake felt a twinge of unease at the thought of Damian being so close to Emma. It wasn’t his usual nature to interfere, but something about the way Damian hovered around her stirred a protective instinct within him.

“Do you know the status of the Ashenflame Fox clan within the Empire?” he pressed, his tone firm yet gentle.

Emma shook her head, a hint of confusion crossing her features. “Aren’t they all just therian?” she asked, her innocence shining through.

The lightcore merely illuminated the different species, but it said nothing about their ranks or influence—a fact Emma truly seemed to overlook.

Drake studied her for a moment, and then a subtle smile broke through his typically sharp demeanor. “Allow me to enlighten you,” he said, his voice smooth. “The Ashenflame Fox is known as the financial powerhouse of the Empire. They possess considerable wealth. Even the least favored members of their family are affluent.”

He felt a sense of relief wash over him; he had ensured that Damian wouldn’t reveal his true identity. This information was merely a glimpse into the workings of the Interstellar Empire, not a breach of trust.

Emma’s eyes widened as she processed his words. “Thank you. That’s really helpful,” she said, her gratitude evident.

Regardless of his motives for sharing this, I appreciate it, she thought, her mind racing. So, Damian is just pretending to be poor, then.

Meanwhile, Damian found himself entangled in his own thoughts, trying to keep Edric on the line when a sudden sneeze interrupted his concentration.

Who’s talking bad about me? he mused, annoyance flickering through him.

“Ugh, it must be those envious beasts,” he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes at the thought.

Shifting back into a comfortable position, he resumed messaging Edric, eager to keep the conversation going.

‘Damian: Buddy, did you just try to video call our lady? She didn’t pick up, right?’

‘Edric: How did you know?’

Of course, Damian was well aware. Emma had been preoccupied, comforting Drake just moments before, and during that intimate exchange, no one could interrupt her. Her lightcore had to be switched off, rendering her unable to answer Edric’s call.

‘Damian: Of course I know. I’m an Ashenflame Fox. You should recognize how much females admire us. Out of everyone, I’m the one she seems to prefer.’

‘Damian: My lady desires my company every night from now on!’

‘Damian: I’ve spent several days with our lady. I know her likes and dislikes perfectly. I guarantee she’ll love what I choose.’

Testing the waters, he began with a request for one million star coins, unsure of Edric’s wealth.

Moments later, a notification pinged on his device.

‘Edric transferred 10 million star coins.’

‘Edric: Buddy, make sure to get her something really nice for me!’

Damian’s eyes widened in shock as he leaped from his bed. Well, well—looks like he has deep pockets.

‘Damian: No problem. I’ll go ahead and put in a good word for you right away. Our lady will be the one calling you soon.’

Once Emma finishes comforting Drake and notices Edric’s missed call, she’ll definitely get back to him.

With a grin stretching across his face, Damian glanced at the 10 million star coins now comfortably nestled in his account. He quickly messaged his assistant.

‘Damian: Go find me a decent-looking stone—something worth around two star coins, no more.’

Regardless of the time, it’s always the naive who are the easiest to take advantage of, he thought, a sly smile creeping onto his lips.

With the task assigned, Damian returned to messaging Edric, his mind racing with possibilities.