Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 51

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

The forest was a tapestry of towering trees, lush grass, and a medley of fragrant herbs that filled the air with their earthy scent. It was a place where shadows danced beneath the canopy, and the night cloaked everything in a shroud of mystery.

Lucien, a creature of pure darkness, blended seamlessly into the dim surroundings, making him nearly impossible to spot among the thick foliage. Emma found herself searching anxiously, her heart racing as she scanned the area for any sign of him. Minutes slipped by, stretching into what felt like an eternity.

“I swear I saw him fall right here,” she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice.

Edric and Damian, standing a short distance away, exchanged glances as they sensed Lucien’s struggle through their mental connection. They had intended to inform Emma of his plight, but upon realizing that Lucien was male, an unspoken silence fell between them.

No words were uttered; it was a tension that hung heavy in the air.

Males, they knew, were notoriously possessive. The dynamics of their interstellar world dictated that they would compete fiercely for the affections of females, and with the imbalance of their numbers, the rules set by the Beast God loomed large over their interactions. Sharing Emma’s affection with other males was already a bitter pill to swallow. Now, the thought of a mere bird vying for her attention was simply unacceptable.

Not a chance.

Absolutely not.

Damian watched Emma’s growing distress as she continued her fruitless search for the unfortunate creature. Guilt gnawed at him, and he found himself apologizing repeatedly.

“I’m really sorry, Ms. Tibarn. I had no idea that was your lifeline. It was so hideous that I assumed it was some sort of beast lurking in the underbrush. I panicked and kicked it away without thinking.” His voice was earnest, but he could sense her frustration.

Emma met his gaze, her expression softening. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt him. Just help me find Coalball, please.”

Both Damian and Edric felt a wave of reluctance wash over them at the prospect of searching for the bird.

“Perhaps Coalball flew away after the fall,” Damian suggested, trying to divert her attention. “If you’re fond of birds, I can promise you some rare ones when we return. The interstellar world is teeming with fascinating creatures—some that can sing, some that can dance, and even a few that can talk.”

“Those birds don’t matter to me,” Emma replied, her voice firm. “Coalball is special. I promised him I’d bring him back. We have to find him.”

The weight of her words struck deep within her heart. Coalball was the very creature that had saved her life, and ever since Damian’s careless kick had sent him sprawling, unease settled in her chest like a heavy stone.

Seeing the fierce determination etched across her features, Damian and Edric exchanged glances, their resolve wavering. Should they truly bring the bird back to her?

Just then, a soft chirp broke through the silence, drawing their attention.

Damian chimed in, “Ms. Tibarn, allow us to handle this. It’s rough work.”

Lucien, still cradled in Emma’s hands, felt a surge of indignation. He had never received such attention, and he wondered if he could shift into a smaller version of his beast form, just to be held like this by her.

With another weak chirp, he made it clear that he would refuse to let Edric and Damian feed him. He wasn’t foolish; he had expended his energy trying to escape. They had sensed his presence earlier but had chosen not to help him, clearly uninterested in his well-being.

Now they wanted to feed him a potion? Who knew what their true intentions were?

Emma noticed his reluctance and turned to the two men, a hint of defiance in her voice. “It seems he doesn’t want you to feed him. I’ll do it myself.”

After she administered the potion, Lucien felt a wave of relief wash over him. His condition improved, and for the first time, he believed he might survive.

With Coalball finally found, Emma, Edric, and Damian hastily made their way out of the forest. As they emerged into the open air, the brilliant blue sky stretched above them, a stark contrast to the dark woods they had just left behind.

Emma held Lucien close, her heart swelling with relief, ready to summon her Gravicar.

But before she could do so, Damian waved his hand, and a sleek, luxurious Gravicar materialized before her, gleaming in the sunlight. He offered her the capsule, a gesture that felt both generous and possessive at the same time.