Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 301

Chapter 301 The Price of Secrets

When it came to Marcus asking Silas for lessons in how to win favor, Emma had already heard about it from Corvin.

What she hadn’t known was that every time Marcus went to Silas for advice, he actually paid

him.

Emma’s gaze dropped again to Silas’s lightcore screen.

“A simple question, and he pays with a Rank 10 beast core. Silas, tell me, don’t Marcus is hiding private funds?”

Of course he is.

you think

How much, though, even Silas didn’t know. But he couldn’t exactly admit it either.

He only said, “I’m not sure about that. But every time he asks me something, he hands me a beast core.”

So yes, he has hidden money.

And plenty of it.

“What about Lucien?” Emma suddenly asked, “Did he hide anything?”

She was sure Edric and Corvin wouldn’t.

Silas had sworn to the Beast God, so he wouldn’t either.

The wealthiest among them were Lucien and Marcus. And now, Emma was certain that Marcus was guilty of hoarding private money. As for how much, she had no clue.

And Lucien?

Is he hiding anything?

“Emma, don’t do this to me,” Silas said helplessly. “I don’t know whether Lucien keeps private funds. I only know he’s been maintaining several of his own squads.”

At Lucien’s level, cultivating personal squads and influence was completely normal.

Silas had his own squads too. But unlike Lucien, he lacked that kind of ambition.

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From his reaction alone, Emma could tell that Lucien was hiding money as well.

She straightened and said lightly, “Send Marcus a message for me. Tell him your price went up. You’re asking for five Rank 10 beast cores.”

Silas blinked in silent confusion.

Emma wanted to see just how deep Marcus’s pockets ran.

“Got it.” Silas smothered a laugh and quickly sent the message.

This wasn’t his idea. It was Emma’s.

‘I can help you, that’s not a problem. But I’ve hit a bit of a snag on my end. I’ll need five Rank 10 beast cores.’

Professional, succinct, perfectly phrased.

Marcus replied almost instantly, ‘Sure!‘

Five Rank 10 beast cores, offered without hesitation.

Across the whole interstellar, probably no one is as casually generous as Marcus.

Emma stared at the screen, speechless.

Then she shot to her feet. “I need to see for myself how much money he’s been hoarding.”

And Lucien.

He definitely has some tucked

away too.

I trust him completely, and he is hiding funds behind my back.

Emma had planned to visit Marcus first, but on her way, she passed Lucien’s palace, and just then, his aide stepped out.

“Is Lucien still busy?” she asked.

The aide bowed slightly. “Prince Lucien just finished.”

Hearing that, Emma strode straight into the palace.

“Emma, perfect timing.” Lucien greeted her with his usual gentle smile. “I just wrapped up work. Where do you want to go? I’ll come with you.”

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“No rush.” Emma turned, quietly closing the doors behind her.

Lucien’s brows lifted slightly, curiosity flickering in his golden eyes–then expectation. He thought she had something private to say.

As Emma locked the door with that soft smile still on her lips, Lucien opened his arms, ready to pull her in.

But she moved like a sleek cat, sidestepping effortlessly out of reach.

“Emma?”

Lucien blinked at his empty arms, confusion crossing his features.

Why wouldn’t she let me hold her?

Smiling, Emma stepped closer. Her slender finger lifted, pressing lightly to his chest.

A faint blue shimmer glowed at her fingertip, slipping through the fabric to brush his skin.

A wave of tingling warmth spread from where she touched him, making his tall frame shiver.

“Emma,” he rasped, catching her hand, his Adam’s apple bobbing hard. His gaze locked on her face, voice low and rough.

“I’m here,” she murmured, voice soft as silk and thick with teasing warmth. “Lucien, it’s only been a moment apart, but I already missed you.”

Her fingertip trailed upward from his chest, skimming the hard line of his collarbone, then hooked beneath his chin, coaxing him to look down at her.

Lucien obeyed without thought, heartbeat pounding faster as he stared at the mischievous woman in his arms.

“Emma… I missed you too.”

He reached to catch her wandering hand. But she dodged, quick as light.

Instead, she caught his hand, rose on her toes, and leaned in close. Her warm breath brushed his ear, ticklish and electric, like fine threads of lightning racing through his veins.

“Lucien…” she whispered, “your heartbeat’s gone wild.”

Her breath smelled like flowers. Each word fluttered against his skin like a feather, plucking the taut strings of his self–control.

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That one shameless, sultry line shattered the last of his restraint.

With a deep growl in his throat, he tilted forward, hand sliding behind her neck. His lips descended toward the softness he’d been craving day and night. And in that instant, the air in the palace turned molten and breathless, thick with the heat between them.

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