Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 408

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley 408**
**Chapter 408: A Marshal Who Can’t Grill**

Calum knew he needed to maintain a semblance of decorum in the glaring light of day.

As he observed Emma take a small step back, a wave of disappointment washed over him.

She hasn’t taken the opportunity to kiss me. Perhaps I’m not as alluring as I thought.

“Didn’t you mention you’d teach me the art of barbecuing? I’m ready for it now,” he said, trying to sound casual.

Barbecue is one thing, but why is he standing so close, dressed in such an enticing manner? Does he really believe I can resist this?

Emma extended a pair of skewering gloves toward him, her expression a mix of determination and amusement.

“Here, put these on. I’ll guide you through the process of skewering and grilling,” she instructed, her tone light yet encouraging.

“Alright,” Calum replied, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice.

He donned the gloves, trying to replicate her motions with utmost concentration. Yet, what should have been simple actions transformed into a series of clumsy mishaps in his capable hands. The same hands that had once deftly piloted starships through the cosmos and shattered the tough exoskeletons of Chitinid foes now fumbled awkwardly with bamboo skewers.

The skewers twisted at odd angles, and he managed to pierce the meat sideways more often than not. When he finally succeeded in aligning one, he inadvertently crushed the meat into an unrecognizable pulp, bits scattering like shrapnel in a battlefield.

Emma’s gaze fell upon the chaos that had once been a perfect slab of marbled meat, now reduced to a disheveled mess. Even the pieces he had managed to skewer bore the marks of his ineptitude—crooked, uneven, and utterly devoid of any aesthetic appeal.

Calum’s brow furrowed deeply, his expression grave, as if he were commanding troops on a battlefield. Sweat beaded at his temple, a testament to his mounting frustration. He had once single-handedly dismantled three Rank 11 Chitinid elites with his bare hands, yet here he stood, feeling utterly powerless.

No matter how formidable a Chitinid’s shell or how intricate its skeletal structure, he had always known the precise angle to deliver a lethal strike. Yet now, soft, yielding meat felt like the most formidable opponent he had ever faced. Every ounce of skill he possessed seemed to evaporate, leaving him with a sense of helplessness that hit him like a physical blow to the gut.

“Ms. Tibarn, I…” he began, his voice faltering.

“It’s alright,” she interjected, her tone soothing.

With a gentle touch, Emma took the pitiful skewer from his hand and replaced it with one she had expertly prepared.

“Calum, you’re in charge of the grilling now,” she said, her voice steady and encouraging.

She inspected it with concern, her brow furrowing slightly. “Good. No burns,” she reassured him, her touch lingering longer than necessary.

Calum’s gaze fell to her delicate lashes, the warmth of her hand against his wrist igniting a swirl of emotions within him.

His eyes shifted to the chaotic grill, his voice thick with frustration and guilt. “I’m sorry, Ms. Tibarn. I’m far too clumsy. I can’t even manage something as simple as this. I’ve ruined all the meat.”

Despair washed over him. He had once blown up a kitchen while attempting to cook, nearly set the barbecue ablaze, and now Emma had to fret over his incompetence.

Emma’s voice remained calm and steady, cutting through his self-reproach. “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Not being adept at cooking isn’t a significant flaw.”

Her eyes caught sight of the scorched hem of his black shirt, a hole burned through, revealing a strip of his toned waist. A faint red mark marred his skin, a testament to the heat he had endured.

She looked up at him with a seriousness that held no trace of judgment, only genuine concern.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she said softly, releasing his hand. “You are the Empire’s Marshal, a legendary warrior capable of tearing Chitinids apart.”

In that moment, Calum felt a flicker of hope amidst his frustration, her words wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could learn to navigate this new battlefield of grilling, guided by her steady hand.