Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 390

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

**Chapter 390: Lucien’s Questions**

As the conversation shifted to the harrowing experience with the Chitinids, a sudden pallor swept over Lily’s complexion, rendering her almost ghostly.

“Dahlia’s absolutely right,” she interjected, her voice trembling slightly, betraying the fear that still lingered in her mind.

“Those creatures were truly monstrous,” she continued, her eyes wide with the memory. “Luci, you have no idea how terrifying they were. They even struck me! They inflicted so much pain that I can still feel it coursing through my body like a relentless wave.”

Lucien, however, seemed unfazed by her distress. Instead, his curiosity took precedence as he inquired, “How did you both encounter the Chitinids in the first place?”

Dahlia, who had been anticipating this moment, had already concocted a plausible story. She had even briefed Lily on what to say beforehand.

“We were just so bored at home,” Dahlia replied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We decided to sneak out for a little adventure. We hid it from our families and our mates, never imagining we would cross paths with those dreadful Chitinids.”

As she spoke, her voice cracked, and tears began to spill down her cheeks, painting a picture of utter vulnerability.

Lucien observed her, his expression a mixture of concern and intrigue. At that moment, Emma’s voice crackled through the earpiece, a soft yet commanding presence.

“Lucien, hand them some tissues. Show them that you care,” she instructed, her tone lacking genuine sympathy. Instead, her motive was clear: she wanted Dahlia and Lily to let their guard down around Lucien, making it easier for him to extract more information.

Had Emma not suggested it, Lucien might have overlooked the need for tissues entirely. But her words lingered in his mind, prompting him to relay the request to the medic, who promptly delivered the tissues to the distressed girls.

“Thanks,” Dahlia murmured, taking the tissues with trembling hands and dabbing at her tears, her expression one of gratitude mixed with lingering fear.

Once she composed herself, Lucien seized the moment to press further. “Dahlia, before my arrival, my superiors reached out to me. They mentioned that you are a human female. Is that accurate?”

Dahlia’s gaze met his, and she nodded hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. “It… It’s true.”

Upon hearing this, Emma felt a flicker of certainty that Dahlia was not from Earth.

Lucien continued to question Dahlia, asking the same inquiries his superiors had posed. Each time, Dahlia offered the same rehearsed responses, her composure remaining intact.

When Lucien finally concluded his questioning, he instructed the medic to ensure that both Dahlia and Lily received the best care possible before he turned to leave.

“Lucien, you’re departing already?” Lily’s voice rose in protest, her disappointment palpable. She had observed how he had focused solely on Dahlia, leaving her feeling neglected and unimportant.

“I have other matters to attend to,” he replied curtly, deftly avoiding her outstretched hand as he exited the recovery pod.

As the medic sealed the door behind him, Lucien’s irritation bubbled to the surface. He turned to his adjutant, his voice icy and resolute. “Once we return, dismantle this recovery pod and transfer it to another warship.”

The thought of Lily’s attitude and her lingering presence in that pod filled him with distaste. With his unwavering obsession for cleanliness, he found himself unwilling to keep the recovery pod any longer.