Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 405

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

Emma glanced at Silas, her heart racing. Just as she was about to bow her head in uncertainty, a thunderous sound shattered the tranquility of the moment.

Roar!

The unmistakable roar of a warship reverberated through the air, causing Emma to freeze in place, her breath hitching in her throat.

Silas, with a gentle tone that cut through her apprehension, murmured, “Emma, that’s the sound of a warship. It must be Lucien and Marcus coming home.”

The mere mention of Lucien and Marcus sent a surge of excitement coursing through Emma. Without a second thought, she pressed a quick kiss to Silas’s cheek, a fleeting moment of connection, before she leapt out of bed, urgency propelling her into action as she dashed toward the walk-in closet.

Silas remained seated, his fingers brushing the spot where Emma had kissed him, a soft sigh escaping his lips. When would this existence of living like a saint finally come to an end? The question lingered in his mind, heavy with longing.

Outside, the warship descended slowly, its massive form casting a shadow over the ground. Emma, filled with anticipation, bolted outside, her eyes scanning the horizon until they landed on the familiar figures disembarking from the vessel.

“Lucien! Marcus!” she called out, her voice ringing with joy.

Her heart swelled as she hurried toward them, her face illuminated by a radiant smile. Marcus, who had appeared utterly exhausted just moments before, suddenly straightened, his demeanor shifting as he spotted Emma.

“Emma!” he exclaimed, his voice bursting with enthusiasm.

In the blink of an eye, a flash of white rushed toward her. Before she could process the moment, Marcus enveloped her in a fierce embrace, lifting her off her feet as if she were weightless.

“Emma, I missed you so much,” he breathed, burying his face in the crook of her neck. His voice, thick with longing, sent shivers down her spine.

His arms wrapped around her with such intensity, it felt as though he was trying to fuse their beings into one. Every second they had spent apart had been a torment for him; the thought of her had consumed his every waking moment.

Feeling the warmth of his body and the rhythm of his heartbeat, Emma instinctively wrapped her arms around him in return, her voice soft and sincere. “Marcus, I missed you too.”

From a short distance, Lucien observed their heartfelt reunion, his descent from the warship quickening as he approached Emma’s side. He chose not to interrupt their moment, instead standing quietly, allowing the warmth of their bond to fill the air.

Emma sensed Lucien’s presence and gently extricated herself from Marcus’s embrace. Turning to Lucien, she opened her arms wide, her heart swelling with affection. “Lucien.”

His eyes sparkled with delight, and he immediately pulled her into a warm embrace. Though his hold was less fierce than Marcus’s, it radiated a comforting tenderness. Leaning down, he whispered softly in her ear, “Emma, I’m home.”

“Welcome back,” she replied, rising on her tiptoes to place a light kiss on Lucien’s cheek.

The simple gesture made Lucien’s lips curve into a broad smile, a look of pure happiness washing over his face.

Marcus, however, felt a pang of jealousy stab at his heart. She hadn’t even kissed him—only hugged him. His brow furrowed as he stepped forward, a playful pout forming on his lips.

“Unfortunately, there’s no regular meal today,” she said with a hint of helplessness. “If you want to eat, it’ll have to be barbecue.”

With that, she rummaged through her ring and produced two nutrient fluids, handing them to Marcus and Lucien.

“Drink these first. I’ll have Silas and Edric get started on barbecue for you,” she added, her tone reassuring.

Lucien accepted the nutrient fluid, a frown creasing his brow. “Why can’t we have regular food? Are we out of groceries?”

“Because Calum blew up the kitchen,” Silas interjected as he emerged from the house, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement.

Emma nodded in agreement, elaborating, “This morning, Calum wanted Edric to teach him how to cook, but he messed up and blew up the kitchen.”

Both Lucien and Marcus stood speechless, processing the absurdity of the situation.

Marcus shook his head, incredulous. “What’s wrong with Calum? Why did he even try cooking? Did he get kicked in the head by a beast?”

Seeing the cloud of frustration darken Marcus’s features, Emma stepped closer, her voice soothing. “Don’t be mad. The kitchen will be fixed today. Tomorrow, I’ll cook you a proper meal myself. All right?”

Her words wrapped around Marcus like a warm blanket, easing his irritation as they all moved together toward the house, laughter and camaraderie filling the air.