Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 439

**Chapter 439: The Ones Who Regretted Too Late**

“There are also twenty days a year set aside for exclusive vacations with her. You can’t keep all those perks to yourself, can you?”

Corvin’s voice resonated with an infectious enthusiasm, a spark igniting within him as he spoke. The realization that he and Edric shared a common yearning for Emma filled him with a sense of camaraderie that felt both thrilling and comforting. “Exactly!” he exclaimed, his eyes glimmering with excitement. “We want to spend more time with Emma too—and go on vacation with her!”

Edric leaned in closer, his expression earnest and tinged with a hint of desperation. “I’d give anything just to go on a trip alone with her,” he admitted, vulnerability creeping into his voice. The longing in his tone was palpable, a testament to the depth of his feelings.

Silas, observing the animated exchange between his friends, couldn’t suppress a chuckle. The synchronized fervor of Corvin and Edric was almost comical, as if they were two halves of the same longing heart, both reaching for the same elusive dream.

“That’s not up to me,” Silas interjected, his voice calm and steady, cutting through the excitement. “You’ll have to ask Emy yourself. If she agrees, I won’t object.” His tone was measured, but there was an underlying wisdom in his words, a reminder that the ultimate decision lay in Emma’s hands.

Meanwhile, aboard the warship that had unexpectedly altered its course, Calum sat in stunned silence, his gaze fixated on the group chat on his device. The words flashing across the screen left him reeling, disbelief coursing through him like a jolt of electricity.

“Being the primary mate comes with that kind of benefit?!” he exclaimed, incredulity spilling from his lips.

Why the hell did no one tell me this before?

He shot a piercing glance at Lucien and Marcus, narrowing his eyes as if trying to decipher the logic behind their baffling choices. “You’re telling me the position of primary mate comes with all that, and you both turned it down? Are you insane?”

If he had known the perks were this enticing, they would have had to drag him away from that position kicking and screaming.

Marcus blinked, equally bewildered, and then shot a fierce look at Lucien. “You knew about this and didn’t tell us? You’re seriously saying you gave that up willingly? Are you out of your mind?!”

Since Lucien had returned from that mission, Marcus had sensed a shift in his demeanor—and now, the truth was glaringly obvious. The man had completely lost his grip on reality.

Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the chat, his mind a whirlwind as he battled against the metallic taste rising in his throat. With a voice that was rough and strained, he muttered, “Just think of me as crazy.”

Even if those perks had existed before, he knew he could never be the one to take that position now.

“You’re unbelievable!” Marcus snapped, frustration bubbling over. “If you didn’t want the job, you could’ve just told us! How the hell were we supposed to know?”

Unbelievable!

Marcus genuinely felt the urge to punch Lucien.

Calum glared at him too, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. If Lucien hadn’t looked like he was about to crumble under the weight of his own decisions, Calum would have already taken a swing. When had he—who had never lost a single battle—ever felt this stifled in his life?!

Forcing himself to take a few deep breaths to quell his rising temper, Calum finally asked, “Anyway, it’s too late now. Ms. Tibarn won’t let us go back. So where do you two plan to go?”

Lucien, pale and visibly weakened, rubbed his temple in a futile attempt to stave off the impending headache. “To Aurelia,” he replied quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re really going back?” Calum’s disbelief was evident, his expectations shattered. He hadn’t anticipated Lucien would actually follow through on that decision.

Lucien said nothing further, his silence heavy with unspoken thoughts, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

Calum turned his attention to Marcus, who lay sprawled on the floor, looking half-dead. “And you?” he asked, concern threading through his voice.

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