Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 251

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 251: Truth in the Mirror**

Marcus stood before the mirror, his eyes locked onto the two strands of hair that lay intertwined, stubbornly refusing to budge. His jaw clenched tightly, and his lips pressed into a thin line, a clear indication of his brewing frustration.

“If that cub turns out to be mine,” he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with contempt, “I swear I’ll drop him off in Frostveil the moment he takes his first breath.” The very thought of raising a cub filled him with a sense of dread, as if he were contemplating throwing the innocent creature straight into the jaws of wolves.

“Over my dead body,” Emma interjected sharply, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife through silk. There was no way she would ever abandon her child in some desolate, frozen wasteland.

“If that cub is yours, you will take care of him, no matter how much it breaks you,” she warned, her tone unyielding and resolute.

“Ms. Tibarn…” Marcus feigned a look of exaggerated despair, his tone dripping with a false sweetness that only served to infuriate her further.

Emma didn’t even spare him a glance. Her focus remained fixed on the mirror, her mind racing with thoughts that refused to settle.

The seconds ticked by, stretching into an agonizing minute. The two strands of hair remained stubbornly still, as if mocking their predicament.

Marcus frowned, his brow furrowing in thought. “Did Kieran ever say how long this twining thing is supposed to take?” His voice was tinged with irritation.

Silence enveloped them, a heavy blanket that seemed to thicken with each passing second. The clock’s ticks echoed loudly in the quiet room, amplifying the tension that hung in the air.

Another minute passed, and still, nothing changed.

Emma narrowed her eyes, her mind racing. “This doesn’t make any sense,” she murmured, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

The hairs lay there—separate, untouched, and unyielding.

Only two explanations loomed before her: either Kieran’s artifact was malfunctioning, or the cub growing inside her wasn’t Marcus’s at all.

If it isn’t his, then whose could it possibly be? A chilling thought crept into her mind. Could it be… from her?

“Marcus,” she said, her voice steady but urgent. “Bring Kieran here. And keep Cotton Candy out of this.”

He nodded curtly, shooting the mirror one last glance before exiting the room with purpose.

Moments later, he returned, Kieran trailing behind him, breathless and curious.

“Ms. Tibarn, what’s going on? You called for me so suddenly,” Kieran panted, having been pulled from his work near the artificial lake without a word.

Emma gestured toward the mirror. “Look at this. These are my strands and Marcus’s, but they didn’t twine together.”

Kieran’s eyes widened as he stared at the glass, confusion etched across his features.

He thought to himself, Corvin said she bonded with him, Edric, and Marcus. So if the cub isn’t any of theirs… what does that mean for us?

He was strong—almost invincible—and his reckless rebound ability made him even more unpredictable. But accidents didn’t ask for permission.

Because she cared deeply, her worry never ceased.

Just then, her lightcore buzzed, signaling an incoming call from Silas.

“Marcus, wait. I need to take this first,” she said, tightening her grip on his hand to prevent him from bolting, while answering the call with her other hand.

The last thing they needed right now was more chaos.

Silas’s figure materialized in a shimmering projection, his uniform crisp but his expression weary.

“Emma, I’m sorry. This is the first safe opportunity I’ve had to reach you,” he began, his gaze flicking from her hand still clasped around Marcus’s to Kieran, who stood behind them, concern etched on his face.

“What’s happening over there?” His tone shifted to one of authority. “Did something go wrong?”

Emma glanced between Marcus and Silas, then spoke plainly, “Silas, I’m pregnant.”

There was no hesitation, no pretense.

“What?” Silas froze, his eyes widening in shock. His usually composed demeanor hardened as his gaze landed on Marcus and Kieran, sharp enough to cut through the tension in the room.