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.

The Beast God’s fruit can cure me; not even Emma’s blood will work. Best not to let her worry. Just suck it up—it’ll be over before I know it.

Back on the warship, Emma sat in the lounge, her heart heavy as she stared at her lightcore. She turned it on and off, her fingers trembling as she hesitated, caught in a web of conflicting emotions. After what felt like an eternity, she finally sent a message.

“I’m giving you five days. Go home, think about what you’ve done, and then come back when you’ve figured it out. I’m not mad that you didn’t want to be the primary mate—I’m mad that you didn’t even talk to me about it.”

Her frustration wasn’t solely directed at Lucien; it was also aimed at herself—for not recognizing his hesitation sooner, for not probing deeper into what troubled him.

Why couldn’t he just talk to me? If he felt trapped or unhappy being the primary mate, he could’ve said something. It’s not like I’m unreasonable. If he’d only shared his feelings, I would’ve done everything in my power to make it easier for him.

But after the message was sent, silence hung in the air like a thick fog. There was no reply.

**Conclusion**

As the dust settled on the turbulent exchanges and unspoken regrets, each character was left grappling with the choices they had made and the paths they had forsaken. Corvin and Edric, united in their longing for Emma’s companionship, felt the bittersweet sting of realizing that their dreams were intertwined with the shadows of Lucien’s silence and Marcus’s retreat. The camaraderie they had forged was overshadowed by the weight of unaddressed emotions, as they began to understand that the pursuit of love and connection often comes with sacrifices and misunderstandings. Silas’s calm demeanor belied the chaos brewing beneath the surface, while Calum’s resolve to return to the military reflected a deep-seated need to reclaim control amidst the unraveling threads of their lives.

Meanwhile, Lucien’s struggle with his own vulnerabilities and the physical manifestations of his illness served as a poignant reminder of the fragility of existence. His desperate wish to shield Emma from his pain only deepened the chasm between them, leaving a lingering sense of what could have been if only he had chosen to confide in her. Emma’s message, filled with frustration and longing, echoed the universal truth that open communication is the lifeblood of any relationship. As she waited in the silence, her heart ached with the realization that love, when unvoiced, can lead to isolation and regret. In this moment of stillness, each character stood at a crossroads, faced with the challenge of confronting their fears and embracing the life they had been too afraid to live.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

As the dust settles on the emotional turmoil of Chapter 439, readers can brace themselves for an electrifying continuation in the next chapter. With Lucien’s health deteriorating and his decision to return to Aurelia shrouded in secrecy, the stakes have never been higher. Will he find the elusive Beast God’s fruit in time to save himself, or will his choice to conceal his struggles from Emma lead to dire consequences? As Emma grapples with her own feelings of frustration and confusion, the tension between her and Lucien is poised to reach a breaking point. Expect heart-wrenching revelations and a deep dive into the complexities of their relationship, as both characters confront their fears and regrets.

Meanwhile, Calum’s return to the military promises to unveil new challenges and alliances, as he seeks to heal his friend Malrik. The dynamics within the warship crew are shifting, and the unresolved conflicts between Marcus and Lucien could ignite a fierce rivalry that complicates their fates. With the looming threat of Lucien’s illness and the emotional fallout from the decisions made in the previous chapter, readers will be left on the edge of their seats. Will the bonds of friendship withstand the trials ahead, or will the weight of their choices tear them apart? Prepare for an exhilarating chapter filled with unexpected twists, emotional confrontations, and a race against time that will leave readers breathless.