Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 296

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 296: Bound by Dissolution**

The audacity of the second prince of Aurelia was truly remarkable. Right there, in front of Emma, he took it upon himself to dictate the terms of her own journey, her own huntress’s path.

Did he not fear that she might come to resent him for such boldness?

But what left the elders even more astounded was Emma’s response. It was as if she had willingly surrendered her voice to the prince, her admiration shining through as she nodded in agreement with him.

The Elders exchanged glances, their eyes shifting to Drake, who lingered silently in the shadows behind her.

All of them were powerful Rank 11, hailing from noble Drakonid bloodlines, yet there was a stark contrast between Drake’s demeanor and that of Lucien, the prince.

Look at His Highness Lucien—so poised, so confident. And then there’s Mr. Smith…

A collective sigh escaped the lips of Thero and the other Elders, their disappointment palpable as they awaited Drake’s response.

“Ms. Tibarn,” Thero finally spoke, his voice tinged with resignation, “if you wish to leave, we certainly won’t stand in your way. We have no right to do so.”

He cast a quick, uncomfortable glance at Drake, who seemed to be struggling with his own thoughts.

“It’s just that Mr. Smith… he is not in the best state of mind at the moment.”

Emma turned her gaze toward Drake, her heart tightening at the sight of him.

As their eyes met, Drake instinctively reached out, grasping her hand with a desperate urgency.

“Emma, please don’t leave me here alone.”

The plea in his voice was raw, filled with an unsettling mix of confusion and desperation.

Drake was not just lost; he was teetering on the edge of something dangerously unstable. If left to his own devices, it wouldn’t be long before his mental fortitude crumbled, leading him to self-destruction.

Lucien sat quietly beside Emma, observing the scene unfold with a calm yet watchful demeanor. He could intervene, could easily put a stop to Thero’s attempts to push other males toward Emma, but he chose to remain passive regarding Emma’s decision about Drake.

After all, Drake had once been her bonded match before everything had unraveled.

Emma hesitated, her heart softening at the sight of his vulnerability.

“Emma, please, don’t abandon me, okay?”

Seeing the uncertainty in her eyes, Drake tightened his grip on her hand, a silent plea for her to stay.

“I’m begging you, Emma. I promise I’ll behave. I won’t be any trouble.”

When had this once-commanding man ever shown such humility?

Watching him like this stirred something in Emma, an unease that was not pity, but rather a deep sense of sorrow that he had fallen to such depths.

After a moment of contemplation, she turned to Thero, her voice steady yet laced with determination.

“I really can’t remain in the Aquadome. But if you trust me, then I believe Drake should come back with me.”

“Yes, we are more than willing,” Thero responded without hesitation, his mind already racing through the possibilities.

What was there to deliberate?

They had just arrived when the grand palace doors swung open, revealing Silas stepping out with a bright smile.

A small, deep-blue fruit sat contentedly atop his head, a whimsical sight.

“Emma!” he greeted cheerfully, striding toward her with an easy confidence.

“Mommy!”

Remy, spotting Emma, happily leaped off Silas’ head, his little form bouncing with joy.

On Silas’ head, the vines had grown longer, each jump propelling him even higher into the air, a sight that made Emma’s heart race with delight and concern.

“Remy, be careful! Don’t bounce so high! What if your vines snap and you fall?”

She couldn’t shake the worry that he might hurt himself if he landed too hard.

At the sound of her voice, Remy instantly settled down, his expression shifting to one of earnestness. “Mommy, I promise I won’t bounce anymore.”

Silas chuckled softly, affectionately rubbing the little fruit’s round shape. “It’s alright, Emma. I’ll make sure to protect him. His vines won’t snap.”

“Yeah?”

Emma reached out, brushing her fingers against the tiny fruit on Silas’ head, which felt plumper than before, eliciting a laugh from her. “As long as it’s safe, Remy can bounce as much as he wants.”

“Awoo!”

Remy yipped joyfully, giving one small, delighted bounce, filling the air with his infectious laughter.