Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 235

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 235: The Bite**

Patches of pink fur lay strewn across Marcus, a stark contrast against his otherwise pristine coat. The most alarming sight was around his neck, where three wounds were still oozing crimson, a testament to the recent chaos.

Emma couldn’t help but click her tongue in disapproval, her thoughts racing. The Threefold Backlash certainly lived up to its notorious reputation, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in her gut.

Marcus reclined on the couch, his demeanor languid, yet the disarray of his fur hinted at something more tumultuous. Save for the few droplets of blood marring the snowy expanse around his throat, he appeared almost untouched.

As soon as Emma stepped into the room, the air shifted. Marcus hastily transformed back into his human form, leaping off the couch with a nervous energy. “Ms. Tibarn,” he stammered, pointing an anxious finger at Cotton Candy, “I swear, I didn’t strike him first! The rabbit just lost it and lunged at me!”

Malrik, the unfortunate soul who had clearly come out on the losing end, covered his head with a paw, avoiding Emma’s penetrating gaze. The unexpected display of Marcus’s abilities had left him reeling.

Emma, with a sense of authority, directed Edric to tend to the wounds marring Marcus’s neck. Then, she approached Cotton Candy, who had fallen silent and adopted a sulky demeanor. Scooping him up, she couldn’t help but admire his feisty spirit.

“Cotton Candy,” she said, her voice laced with warmth, “you are truly something special—brave enough to take on Marcus, a Rank 11!”

Malrik was taken aback, frozen in disbelief.

She isn’t angry?

She’s actually praising him?

Does she still have affection for him?

“Eek eek!” Malrik squeaked out a couple of weak cries, his heart racing.

Emma gently ran her fingers through his soft fur, her expression softening. “Marcus was far too rough. How could he dare to hurt you like this? Look at what he’s done to my beautiful Cotton Candy’s fur!”

“It breaks my heart,” she sighed dramatically, feigning a deep concern. “Does it hurt, Cotton Candy?”

She cradled the pitiful little rabbit close, murmuring sweet nothings of comfort, yet she made no move to heal his wounds.

“Eek eek!”

Ms. Tibarn, I assure you, I’m perfectly fine. It doesn’t hurt at all. Please don’t worry about me.

Emma fussed over him for a moment longer, and then, with a glance at her lightcore, she checked the time. Gently, she placed the rabbit back on the couch and turned her attention to Edric and Marcus.

“I’m heading to the hospital to see Laura. Cotton Candy is too hurt to accompany us, so he’ll be staying here. Marcus, given that you’re still in your heat period, you’re staying home as well.”

“Ms. Tibarn, I’m feeling much better now,” Marcus insisted, determination lacing his voice. He had no intention of being left behind. If she was venturing out, he would be right there, ready to protect her.

Besides, the brief scuffle with Cotton Candy had helped him release some of the pent-up heat. He felt more composed, more in control.

Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Emma relented with a nod. “Alright then, come along.”

Emma’s gaze flickered to the marks on his neck. After the application of Silas’ leaves, the wounds had sealed, leaving only faint red lines as evidence of the altercation.

She turned her attention back to the screen. “I can’t help but wonder—how could a regular rabbit bite through your skin?”

Marcus, being a Rank 11, was not someone who should be easily injured.

“A normal rabbit shouldn’t be able to harm you,” she continued, her brow furrowed in thought. “When it attacked you, didn’t you feel that something was off?”

“I did,” he replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. His cool lips brushed against her ear as he murmured, “So, I decided to give him a beating—to force him to reveal his true form. When that didn’t work, I let it go.”

“I hit hard. If that rabbit had been hiding something, he would have shown it. Unless… he’s a Rank 11 like me.”

The thought was almost ridiculous. There were hardly any Rank 11s in the entire Interstellar Empire, let alone a rabbit.

Rabbits were typically delicate creatures; the idea of one being a Rank 11 was nearly inconceivable.

Marcus rationalized that the rabbit was simply unusually tough, perhaps with sharper teeth than most.

After all, he had been in a vulnerable state during the encounter; even a Frostveil wolf cub could draw blood if caught off guard.

He shared his reasoning with Emma, who rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Then, what if,” she said slowly, “he truly is a Rank 11?”