Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 404

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley 404**

**Chapter 404: When Will Remy Wake Up?**

Edric exhaled sharply, his eyes rolling in exasperation as he regarded Calum.

“Do you genuinely believe Emma would ever eat that takeout?”

Calum stood there momentarily speechless, the absurdity of the thought dawning on him. Edric had a valid point; the food from outside paled in comparison to the culinary masterpieces Emma crafted in her kitchen.

In the days that had passed, Calum had become utterly enchanted by the dishes that Emma had taught Edric and the others to prepare. Each meal was a revelation, and he found himself craving the flavors and warmth of home-cooked food. It was as if, after all these years, he was finally awakening to a life he never knew he was missing.

“What happened?”

Emma’s voice floated down from the staircase, and before Calum could respond, she appeared before him and Edric, radiating concern.

Kieran and Drake, having heard the commotion, dashed over, curiosity etched on their faces.

“Emma, did we wake you?”

Edric, upon seeing Emma, instinctively took a step back, his soot-covered hands raised defensively. He didn’t want to tarnish her pristine appearance with the remnants of their chaotic kitchen experiment.

Silas trailed behind, his eyes darting to the kitchen, which now resembled a disaster zone. “What on earth is going on? Why does it look like the kitchen exploded?”

Calum kept his gaze fixed on the floor, his heart racing with anxiety. He felt a knot of dread tightening in his stomach as he stammered, “It’s my fault. I wanted to learn cooking from Edric, but I messed up and… well, I blew up the kitchen.”

How could he have been so clumsy? He had only been here a few days, and already he had managed to wreak havoc.

Emma won’t hold this against me, will she?

The thought gnawed at him as he awaited her reaction, anxiety coiling tighter within him.

Emma’s lips curled into a slight frown as she assessed the situation, her brow furrowing with concern. “Are you two hurt?”

Both Edric and Calum shook their heads vigorously, their voices chiming in unison, “No.”

“Emma, you don’t need to worry. We got out quickly and didn’t get hurt.”

Edric’s gaze drifted back to the wreckage of the kitchen, his tone tinged with disappointment. “But now the kitchen is a complete mess, so we can’t even make breakfast.”

Emma’s heart lightened at the sight of them both unharmed. “As long as everyone is okay, that’s what matters most.”

She surveyed the chaos and smiled softly. “I can manage with some nutrient fluid for today. Once the kitchen is back in order, I’ll whip up something delicious again.”

Calum’s eyes widened in surprise. Emma wasn’t angry; she didn’t scold or blame him.

“Emma, I’ll get someone to fix the kitchen right away,” he blurted out, determination flooding his voice. He felt a surge of responsibility wash over him; after all, he was the one who had caused this mess.

His long lashes fluttered as he met her gaze, and Emma caught a glimpse of her own playful, expectant expression mirrored in his deep, captivating eyes.

“Emma, you could certainly try,” Silas replied, his voice soft yet tinged with nervousness. A faint blush crept up his ears, betraying his calm exterior.

He had bundled himself up, fearing he wouldn’t be able to control himself if she got too close.

But Emma’s boldness was testing the limits of his self-control.

“So, should I go for it?”

Emma’s finger traced the smooth line of his chin, relishing the warmth of his skin beneath her touch.

Leaning in closer, her breath warmed his cheek, infused with her unique scent. The closeness made Silas’s breath hitch in his throat.

Emma drew nearer, close enough that he could count each of her thick, dark lashes, her bright eyes glimmering like stars, pulling him deeper into her orbit.

“Then try,” he whispered, his heart racing.

In a surprising turn, Silas suddenly sat up, his lips brushing against Emma’s in a gentle bite.

Emma had not anticipated him taking the initiative, and her eyes widened in surprise.

After a brief moment, Silas pulled back, a smile lighting up his face, his deep blue eyes sparkling with joy and warmth.