Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 230

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

**Chapter 230: I Don’t Dare Sleep Here**

As the massive warship began to pull away from the dock, Lucien and Silas exchanged a fleeting glance with Emma. A shared understanding passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of the weight of the moment. They hurriedly stepped aboard, urgency propelling them forward. They feared that if they lingered for even a heartbeat longer, the impulse to stay would overwhelm them, chaining them to the shore.

Once the ship was well into the darkening sky, they turned to watch it fade into the abyss. The silhouette of the vessel became a mere shadow against the stars, a reminder of the battle that lay ahead.

Edric approached Emma, his presence a comforting balm in the midst of her turmoil. “Emma,” he said softly, his voice steady and reassuring, “they will return. I promise you that. Once the fighting subsides, Corvin, Marcus, and I will take you to see them again.”

Nearby, Marcus, who had been listening intently, added his voice to the conversation. “Ms. Tibarn,” he said, his tone warm, “if you ever feel the ache of missing them, just let me know. I can take you anytime you wish. I’d love to show you Frostveil, the place where I grew up. It’s truly magnificent.”

In his heart, however, Marcus felt a twinge of reluctance. The truth was, he didn’t have a strong desire to return; he feared his people might not welcome him back with open arms.

Emma, determined to shake off her melancholy, took a deep breath and forced a bright smile onto her face. “Then it’s settled! I’ll work hard and train diligently. Once the war is over and the Four Domains are safe, if they haven’t returned by then, we’ll sneak out and surprise them!”

She was acutely aware that Lucien and Silas harbored concerns about her venturing into perilous territories. Thus, until the conflict was resolved, she resolved to prioritize her safety and not distract them from their mission.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Emma decided to focus her energy on honing her skills within the confines of the manor.

At Rank 6, she had moved beyond the realm of weakness, now capable of defeating beasts that were above her rank. Yet, when she compared herself to the high-ranking males in her household, she realized just how much further she had to go.

Seeing that Emma was regaining her composure, Edric released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Emma,” he suggested, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice, “you must be starving. I’ve prepared dinner already. Let’s go eat.”

“Absolutely, let’s go!” Emma replied, her stomach growling in agreement.

She knew she needed to fuel her body to have the energy for her training. As she turned and made her way toward the dining room, she felt a sense of determination wash over her.

This time, Marcus chose not to retreat to his room for solitude. Instead, he followed Emma to the dining area, hoping that his presence might lift her spirits, even if he couldn’t savor the food himself.

Meanwhile, aboard the warship, Lucien stared in astonishment at the array of Rank 11 insect cores that Silas had laid out before him.

“Where on earth did you acquire so many Rank 11 cores?” Lucien asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“Marcus gave them to me, actually!” Silas replied, a hint of pride in his tone.

He nudged a few of the cores closer to Lucien. “He specifically sought me out after I left the study. Knowing we’re heading toward the Four Domains, he asked us to keep an eye out for Frostveil and to bring back a little extra.”

“Then why do you avoid sleeping in your own room? Why retreat to the one next door?” Emma pressed, her gaze penetrating as she sought to understand. She could sense the bravado he was attempting to project.

At her words, the tail around Emma’s waist tightened, and Marcus lowered his voice, revealing a vulnerability she hadn’t expected. “I don’t dare sleep here. When I sleep here, I dream.”

He paused, his eyes darkening as he continued, “Ever since the room was redecorated, I’ve been plagued by dreams. I see you beside me, and in those dreams, I lose control—always wanting to do things I can’t even begin to describe.”

Emma’s heart raced, and she instinctively placed a hand over his mouth, her cheeks flushing. “Stop, don’t say another word!”

Couldn’t he have a single innocent dream?

She shot him a stern look, her voice firm and resolute. “I don’t like this room. Not one bit. You just wait right here. I’m going to redecorate it for you in the next couple of days.”

She also realized that Corvin’s room needed a makeover, too.

Emma felt a surge of indignation at how Silas had completely tarnished her reputation. When he returned, she would certainly have a word with him about it.

Once she exited Marcus’ room, Emma wasted no time and sent a message to Corvin, informing him of her plans to spruce up his room as well.