Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 426

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley 426**

**Chapter 426 Emma Is Mine**

Edric set down his phone, the soft glow of the screen fading as he turned his attention to Emma. “Emma,” he began, his voice steady yet tinged with concern, “if you’re still feeling uneasy, I can reach out to Damian tomorrow. I can find out what’s really going on.”

Emma, however, shook her head, a hint of defiance in her eyes. “No, it’s fine,” she replied, her tone more resolute than she felt inside. She had only glanced at the message out of sheer curiosity, the words dancing across her mind like shadows. Approaching Damian herself was a thought she quickly dismissed, unwilling to confront the tangled web of emotions that came with him.

As the minutes stretched into hours, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy with silence. Time seemed to drift by, each second pulling her deeper into the embrace of fatigue. Her eyelids felt like lead, heavy and almost impossible to keep open.

When the clock struck midnight, the exhaustion that had been creeping up on her finally took hold, and she succumbed to a deep, dreamless sleep. The males in the room, too, had surrendered to the night, their breathing steady and calm.

Remy lay nestled against Silas’ chest, the gentle rise and fall of Silas’ breathing lulling him into an even deeper slumber, blissfully unaware of the world around them.

Meanwhile, at NexusPrime Tech, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful. An assistant rushed into Damian’s office, urgency etched across his features.

“Mr. Voss,” he announced, a hint of apprehension in his voice, “Kael from the Suncrest Lineage is here again. He brought this for you.” With care, he presented a small vial filled with a crimson liquid, the contents swirling ominously.

Damian’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the vial, a cold, mirthless laugh escaping his lips. “Human blood?” he mused, his tone dripping with disdain. “Does Kael truly believe I would stoop so low as to level up at any cost?”

His voice was flat, devoid of any warmth as he dismissed the assistant with a flick of his wrist. “Return this to Kael. Inform him that I will never accept Dahlia as my mate. Even if she’s human, I refuse to entertain that notion.”

Nearby, an elder, Mr. Carter, caught the tail end of Damian’s dismissal and felt compelled to interject, concern knitting his brow. “Damian,” he said, his voice steady but laced with worry, “Nexus Prime Tech has already lost thirty percent of our business to the Suncrest Lineage. That human female’s technology is a serious threat to us.”

“Outright refusing her like this seems reckless,” he continued, his voice rising slightly. “If she continues to target us, the repercussions could be devastating.”

Damian turned slowly, his sharp gaze narrowing as a mocking smirk crept onto his lips. “Mr. Carter, if you’re so worried about losses, why don’t you just become Dahlia’s mate yourself?”

He brushed his sleeve dismissively, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Think about it—one simple action secures a female for you and protects NexusPrime Tech. Two benefits at once. Isn’t that a deal worth considering?”

Pierce Carter’s face flushed a deep crimson, indignation flaring within him. “Damian, what… what nonsense are you spouting?” he snapped, his anger barely contained.

“I’m being practical,” Damian countered coolly. “You’ve already ended things with your previous female. You’re single now. Securing a human female like Dahlia would be an incredible opportunity.”

The thought of human blood boosting a therian to level fifteen lingered in the air, tantalizing yet dangerous. If Pierce were younger, he would have leaped at that chance himself—there was no reason for Damian to claim the advantage.

In the lounge, Kael sat with a frown etched on his face, his brow furrowing as he saw the assistant return empty-handed.

“What does this mean? He won’t take my female?” he muttered, confusion mingling with frustration.

The assistant replied calmly, “Mr. Voss said to compete if you wish. He has no interest in human females.”

Kael’s bitter laugh echoed in the room. “He’s lost his mind. Does he still care about Emma?”

The assistant remained silent, the weight of the situation hanging heavily in the air.

In a fit of anger, Kael snatched the vial from the assistant’s hands, barking out a command. “Tell Damian that Emma left him long ago. My female is precious, and if he passes this up, she won’t spare him a second thought, even if he pleads later.”

The following morning, as sunlight streamed through the window, Emma awoke to find Remy still peacefully asleep on Silas’ shoulder, the world outside still and quiet.

“Remy didn’t wake up?” she murmured to herself, a soft smile creeping onto her lips as she took in the serene scene before her. The warmth of the moment wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, a brief respite from the chaos of her thoughts.