Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 473

**Chapter 473: I Missed All of You**

Emma softened her tone, her voice almost a whisper as she asked, “Did that make you feel any better?” She could see through Lucien’s facade; his bravado was as clear to her as the evening sky. Yet, the way he looked at her—those deep, searching eyes—made her heart flutter, and any frustration she felt melted away like snow under the sun.

Without hesitation, Lucien took her hand, lifting it to his lips with a deliberate grace. He placed a lingering kiss on her fingertips, the warmth of his mouth sending electric shivers racing through her body, tightening her chest momentarily as if he had ignited a fire within her.

“Emma.” His voice dropped to a husky whisper that sent another wave of heat through her. “This… isn’t enough.”

Before she could form a response, he guided her hand down from his solid chest, letting it slide lower, an invitation wrapped in mischief. “Like this. This would help.”

Emma found herself momentarily speechless, her thoughts swirling in a haze of confusion and desire.

He truly is a fae.

Lucien shifted, propping himself upright as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the delicate curve of her ear. “Emma, I pretended to be sick tonight. I made you leave with me before the bonfire even wrapped up. Are you mad at me?”

The old Lucien—the one she had known for so long—would never have resorted to such antics. It was uncharacteristic, improper even. He would have intervened the moment Marcus and Calum started teasing Alaric, exchanging playful banter, and then, when the festivities concluded, he would have returned Emma to Calum or Marcus without a second thought.

The next morning, Emma stirred awake to a light, teasing sensation brushing against her face. She frowned, instinctively swatting at the source of her irritation, only to have her wrist caught mid-motion.

Moments later, something warm and soft brushed against her lips, stirring her from the remnants of sleep.

“Lucien, stop,” she muttered groggily, lifting her hand in an attempt to push him away. They had stayed up far too late, and exhaustion still clung to her like a heavy blanket. All she craved was a few more minutes of peaceful slumber.

But the moment her words left her lips, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he tightened his grip on her wrist, holding her in place.

“Mmh…” Before Emma could fully comprehend what was happening, his mouth crashed against hers, a fierce collision that stole her breath away, as if he sought to consume her entirely.

Is that… Marcus’ scent?

Her eyes flew open, locking onto a pair of silver-gray ones that glinted with an intensity she had never seen before.

Marcus stood there, his gaze heavy with unspoken jealousy, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

He released her for just a moment, his cool fingers pinching her chin gently yet firmly. “Ms. Tibarn, do you recognize me now?”

“I do care about you.” Emma rushed to explain, her heart aching at the sight of his sorrowful expression. “I was half asleep! My mind was a jumbled mess, and I didn’t realize someone else was beside me. I thought it was still Lucien.”

Marcus looked unconvinced, his voice tinged with a wounded edge. “Fine. Let’s say you weren’t fully awake and didn’t recognize me. What about afterward?” He pressed on, relentless.

“You saw me, but you still didn’t care. You only asked about Lucien.”

Sweat began to bead along Emma’s back, the tension in the air palpable.

Being the mediator between these two men is an exhausting endeavor.

She gazed into Marcus’ eyes, her heart racing as she continued to explain. “I wasn’t ignoring you. Lucien hasn’t been stable lately. I asked about him first because I was genuinely worried something had happened.”

Once she finished, Emma cupped Marcus’ face, meeting his gaze with a steady, earnest look. “Marcus, I swear. Every one of you matters to me equally.”

Before he could voice another argument, Emma leaned in, pressing her lips against his slightly pursed ones. “I never stopped caring about you. You have no idea how relieved I was when you and Calum walked in to find me. I know you’ve all been concerned about me. I missed you too. I missed all of you.”