Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 396

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 396: Reluctant To Part With Emma**

Malrik nodded eagerly, his heart racing at the prospect of forming a connection with Ms. Tibarn. The thought of asking his father to treat his illness felt like a small but significant step toward a brighter future. “I’ll even ask Daddy to treat my illness,” he declared, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

Calum’s eyes sparkled with intrigue as he listened to Emma weave her enchanting tales, her words painting vivid illusions in the air around them. It was as if she had the power to transform the mundane into the extraordinary.

With a swift motion, Calum tossed the fruit pit he had been idly rolling between his fingers into the trash. “Alright, let’s get started,” he said, his tone shifting to one of urgency.

Emma nodded, determination etched on her face. “I’ll do whatever you say,” she promised, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in her heart.

Malrik turned his gaze toward Emma, his expression earnest. “Since that’s settled, I—”

Before he could finish his thought, Calum struck him with a sudden forceful palm, rendering him unconscious in an instant.

Emma gasped, her voice caught in her throat as she witnessed the abrupt turn of events. She stood frozen, speechless and horrified.

Calum, noticing her distress, offered a calm explanation. “Don’t worry, Ms. Tibarn. He simply fainted. Once I extract the wild energy raging inside him, he’ll be just fine.” His words were meant to soothe, but Emma couldn’t shake the unease that settled in her stomach.

That was rough, she mused, her thoughts racing as she processed the scene unfolding before her.

Calum, displaying an unsettling nonchalance, lifted Malrik and tossed him onto the bed as if he were nothing more than a sack of potatoes. The gentleness he had shown Emma earlier seemed to evaporate, replaced by a cold efficiency. He tore open Malrik’s shirt with swift, practiced movements, his hand hovering ominously above the unconscious man’s chest.

Emma watched in awe and dread as strands of nearly transparent white energy began to spill from Calum’s palm, the ethereal vines seeping into Malrik’s body like tendrils of light.

Before long, dark red, chaotic energy began to emerge, swirling violently in response to the white energy that flowed from Calum. Emma’s heart raced as she observed the tumultuous struggle between the two energies, the dark red force crawling menacingly towards Calum’s palm.

Anxiety gripped her as she witnessed the dark energy coalesce into a glowing orb, writhing and pulsating with a life of its own. It looked extremely dangerous, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.

Gradually, the red energy ball began to still, its violent writhing subsiding as it seemed to be subdued, merging slowly into Calum’s body. Emma held her breath, her eyes wide with concern.

After what felt like an eternity, Calum retracted his hand and turned to Emma, his expression a mix of relief and triumph. “Ms. Tibarn, I’ve extracted the most violent portion of Malrik’s energy. The rest will have to be handled by him,” he explained, his voice steady.

Emma approached, worry etched on her brow. “But I just saw you absorb that violent energy into your own body! Wouldn’t that hurt you?” she asked, concern lacing her words.

“Calum’s method really works. Malrik, you have to spend some time recovering, and then you’ll be able to release the remaining energy in your body. Here, let me help you pack,” she said, her voice filled with determination.

The mention of the army sent a pang of dread through Malrik. “Ms. Tibarn, can’t I just stay here?” he pleaded, the thought of leaving her side filling him with a sense of loss.

“You need to go back to the army. Someone’s coming to pick you up,” Emma replied, her tone gentle yet firm.

Now that the most violent energy had been extracted, Malrik’s mind cleared a little. One thing was certain—he didn’t want to leave her.

“No,” Emma insisted, shaking her head resolutely. “Have you forgotten your promise? You need to get better quickly so we can form a bond. To fully recover, you have to follow Calum’s instructions now.”

As she spoke, she stood up to help him gather his clothes and daily necessities, her movements efficient and purposeful.

Calum had mentioned that recovery could take anywhere from five or six days at best to a full month, and Emma was determined to prepare for whatever lay ahead. She packed as if it would take a full month, her heart heavy with the thought of Malrik leaving.

Malrik climbed off the bed, his demeanor resembling that of a forlorn giant dog. He followed Emma closely, never straying far from her side, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment.