Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 467

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

**Chapter 467 Half An Hour Was Not Enough**

Lucien’s breath hitched, a jagged rhythm that betrayed the storm of emotions swirling within him. A flicker of heat ignited in his gaze, intense and consuming. He reached out, his hand finding the nape of Emma’s neck, his thumb grazing her soft skin with an almost reverent touch.

“Then I’ll try. I’ll be faster,” he promised, his voice laced with a mixture of determination and helplessness.

Yet, reality had a stubborn way of asserting itself.

Half an hour was simply insufficient.

“Emma, I swear. Next time, I’ll be quicker,” he insisted, his gaze fixed on her. She lay on the bed, turned away from him, her back a silent barrier that spoke volumes of her unwillingness to engage.

A pang of guilt washed over him as he observed her refusal to acknowledge him.

“Ha,” Emma scoffed, her voice a brittle whisper that sliced through the air. She turned her head just enough to catch a glimpse of his contrite expression, a cold laugh escaping her lips, devoid of warmth.

“I meant for you to be faster in your movements, not in that way,” she clarified, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Her body felt like it was fracturing, each piece of her unraveling under the weight of the moment.

Lucien lowered his head, feigning innocence, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance. “Emma, I did it just like you asked.”

Her silence was deafening.

Emma felt a wave of disbelief wash over her, rendered speechless by his earnest yet infuriatingly confident tone.

He had to be doing this on purpose, right?

He understood her perfectly well but chose to act as if he didn’t.

“Lucien!”

Emma’s teeth clenched as she growled his name, a fierce little creature ready to pounce.

Lucien was quick to react, instinctively reaching out to shield himself from her playful wrath.

“I meant the speed of time! Not that kind of fast!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she playfully sank her teeth into his neck without hesitation.

He was definitely doing this on purpose.

The mischievous nature of the Pyreborn must have scrambled his brain, darkening his heart in a teasing manner.

“Emma, it’s my fault,” Lucien conceded, his voice earnest. “I misunderstood what you meant. I promise, next time I’ll do it the way you intended.”

As he spoke, he felt her teeth gnawing against his skin again. Panicking, he added, “I meant the time! Faster in time!”

The absurdity of his own words made him want to hide his face in embarrassment.

Was there any promise more ridiculous than this?

Who in their right mind would ask their mate to speed up time like that?

If word got out, how would he ever face anyone again?

The last rumor about his lack of capability was still fresh, and if people caught wind of him being fast, he’d never hear the end of it.

He imagined the endless teasing that would follow.

“Hmph.”

Emma made a dismissive sound, her back still turned to him, clearly unimpressed.

But since Emma had made it clear that their presence wasn’t welcome, they could only watch from a distance, a bittersweet longing settling in their chests.

Even this distant view was enough to stir emotions within Calum and Marcus.

Emma had been with Lucien for what felt like an eternity, and the ache of missing her was almost unbearable.

“Probably not,” Marcus replied, his gaze drifting toward the vacant fire pits nearby. “There are still plenty of empty spots. Ms. Tibarn might just be running late. She loves vibrant gatherings. She’ll definitely come.”

As soon as Marcus finished his sentence, both men felt a sudden surge of powerful energy ripple through the square.

In the blink of an eye, Lucien materialized, Emma cradled in his arms, drawing the attention of everyone present.

His arrival was commanding, a display of strength that left no one daring enough to approach him out of sheer curiosity.

“They’ve finally arrived,” Calum whispered, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.

On the other side of the square, as soon as Emma stepped onto the scene, she spotted an empty fire pit. Eagerly, she began to unpack the supplies she had prepared for the night.

“Lucien, hurry up,” she urged, her excitement bubbling over.

Lucien felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth at her words, a helpless smile creeping onto his face.

With a resigned yet affectionate look, he walked over and snapped his fingers. In an instant, the fire pit burst to life with flames, illuminating Emma’s delighted expression.

“So cool!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with envy as she watched him.

She dreamed of the day she could snap her fingers and vanquish a beast with the same ease.

“This is nothing,” Lucien chuckled, his mood brightening at her excitement. He stepped closer, carefully adjusting the flames and heat to ensure it wouldn’t become too overwhelming for her.

In that moment, amidst the crackling fire and the laughter of the crowd, their world felt a little brighter, and the weight of their earlier misunderstandings began to lift, replaced by the warmth of connection and the joy of simply being together.