Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 804

Chapter 804 A Show Meant for One Pair of Eyes

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“This involved the Empire and the Chitinid war effort. If Lucien had any objections, it would just make him look narrow–minded.”

Silas had started by praising Lucien, only to box him in morally right after. Just like always–calculating to the core.

Emma could more or less grasp the implication behind Silas‘ words, but not with the same clarity as Alaric laid it out. Sure enough, when it came to reading between the lines of schemers, it took one to explain another.

After a few seconds of silence in the group chat, Lucien’s message finally popped up.

“Huh. Well, touche. People in the military are tough–we can handle being a little busy. Not like certain officials who still have time every day to invite people out for tea.”

Lucier had barely sent his message before Silas replied with a “covering face in guilt” GIF, not even giving Alaric time to comment.

“Lucien, don’t make things up. When have I invited people for tea every day? It was just twice, and you already found out about it. Looks like the military has quite a few eyes inside the administration.”

Lucien shot back immediately. “Right back at you. Your administration has plenty of eyes in the military too.”

Alaric glanced at Emma. “They’re just sparring now.”

Emma could tell.

Lucien continued. “Your people have already passed you most of the intel the military gathered about the Chitinid, haven’t they? And the parts you didn’t get, you traded something with Calum for–and he told you anyway, didn’t he?”

Silas replied smoothly. “Let me clarify–Calum told me because we’re family.”

Lucien didn’t buy that for a second. “I don’t know what kind of deal you made with Calum, but I do know the two of you are setting

me up.

“The Chitinid activity this time is real, but it’s minor–nowhere near the point of deploying troops. Yet Calum is already consolidating resources. The two of you are definitely up to something.”

He had only found out what Calum had been busy with after going to the military that day. On the surface, it looked like preparations for a potential war due to the Chitinid movement. But in reality, Calum had other plans. What exactly those plan were, Calum hadn’t said, but Lucien was certain they had something to do with Silas

Emma stared at the words on the screen–minor activity, no need to deploy troops–and the tight knot in her chest that had there for days finally loosened halfway.

She hadn’t said anything these past two days, but she had been quietly worried about both Calum and Lucien, it war realty brok out, one or both of them would be sent to the battlefield.

She still remembered Lucien getting injured the last time he went to wat

Even though Lucien was now Rank 13 and Calum Rank 12–both incredibly powerful–it didn’t change the fact that seeing them fight on the battlefield would make her worry. And she couldn’t stop them. This was their responsibility

Still, something didn’t sit right with her.

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Chapter 804 A Show Meant for One Pair of Eyes

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Emma typed into the group chat. “Silas, if the Chitinid activity isn’t serious, then what exactly are you and Calum doing?”

Silas replied almost instantly. “It’s nothing much. Just taking advantage of the situation to do a bit of cleaning. There are always some people in both the military and the administration who sit in their positions doing nothing, acting like senior authorities and pointing fingers at Calum and me. This is a good opportunity to clear them out.”

He said it lightly, as if he were just tidying up a house–nothing more than taking out the trash.

Emma fell silent.

Silas added, “Emy, it’s a bit complicated to explain everything in a group chat. If you want to hear more, I’ll tell you properly when I get back.”

Lucier followed up. “I’ve got a meeting. Emma, I’ll call you later.”

Emma replied, “Take care of yourself–and look after the cubs.”

After that, Lucien went offline, and Silas likely returned to work as well. No more messages came through.

Emma continued munching on the peanuts Alaric fed her while scrolling through the chat history on her lightcore. The more she read, the more something felt off.

At first, nothing had seemed unusual. But now, looking back, it felt as if both Silas and Lucien had been deliberately saying those things in the group.

Emma suddenly stopped scrolling and turned to Alaric, who was still shelling peanuts for her.

“Alaric… have I been set up? Silas and Lucien said all that on purpose, didn’t they?”

It was as if it was meant for her to see.

Logically speaking, information about the Chitinid activity should have been confidential. Under normal circumstances, neither Lucien nor Silas should have let her know anything. Yet the two of them had openly discussed it right in front of her in the group

chat.

It felt too deliberate. Too staged.

Emma bit her lip, her brows knitting slightly as she tried–and failed–to figure out their true intention.

A soft chuckle sounded beside her.

Alaric placed the last shelled peanut into her palm, then pulled a wet wipe and slowly cleaned his fingers.

“They did want you to see it.” He wrapped an arm around her. “You might not have said anything these past two days, and on the surface, you seemed fine–even joking around and flirting with us…

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Chapter 805 A Carefully Staged Reassurance

Chapter 805 A Carefully Staged Reassurance

“But every time the news mentioned the Chitinid, your eyes lingered a little too long.”

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He gently tapped her forehead, his tone unbelievably soft. “You didn’t show it, but you were worried this might turn into a war.. worried that Calum and Lucien would end up on the battlefield. Right?”

Emma hadn’t expected them to notice.

“Well… It’s war. Who wouldn’t worry?” She looked at him, puzzled. “Was it really that obvious? I thought I hid it pretty well.”

“You did hide it well.” Alaric lowered his head, resting his chin lightly against the top of her hair, his voice warm and smooth. “Bu Emma, we’re your mates. We can feel what you’re feeling.”

So they all knew…

Emma thought back to the way Lucien and Silas had been trading barbs in the group chat earlier. Realizing they had done all the just to ease her mind, her heart softened completely. Still, she couldn’t help asking, “If you knew I was worried, why not just tell directly? Why go through all that trouble and make it so complicated?”

Alaric replied, “Well… those two didn’t tell me in advance, but I can mare or less guess what they were thinking.”

His long fingers idly curled a strand of her hair as he spoke. “Think about it–if Silas had come to you right away and seriously tol you not to worry, that the Chitinid situation wasn’t a big deal, what would you have thought?”

refully, and answered, “I would’ve thought he was just trying to comfort me.”

would’ve thought they were hiding the bad news, only telling you the good to keep you from

d lie to smooth things over. You might say you believed them, but that weight in your chest wouldn’t of a direct explanation.”

pression shift with realization and continued, “But now? Don’t you feel a lot more at ease?”

Uded. That part was true.

aid it this way because they know you,” Alaric said. “If it were truly a life–or–death war, Lucien wouldn’t have plain about being tired–let alone come to you to vent.”

lightly tapped the tip of her nose, eyes full of amusement. “They used the complaining to hook your curiosity, pulling you out of that anxious, worried state and into spectator mode

“Then, white throwing shade at each other, they casually deliberately let the truth slip out. That way, you not only leamed what was really going on, but you could also relax and even find it a little amusing watching them go at each other”

Emma finally understood completely “So they did all that just to make me feel better

That really must have taken some effort. Not only did they want to tell her the truth, but they even tried to cheer her up in the process. No wonder–normally, if they were competing or scheming behind the scenes, they would never let her sew it They never wanted to put her in a difficult position. This sudden change… it was all just to make her simila

Of course, if they had truly been complaining, there was no way they would’ve let her sit back and watch. She was already caught in enough of a mess–comforting one after another would’ve been exhausting

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Emma cleared the chat history completely, glanced at the time, and shut off her lightcore. She stood up and smiled at Alaric, S getting late. Come cook lunch with me.”

“I’ll handle lunch with Marcus and Kieran,” Alaric said immediately, clearly unwilling to let her lift a finger. They had learned to cook for exactly this reason–to keep her out of the kitchen.

“I’ll watch from the sidelines then.” Now that she was in a better mood, Emma simply wanted something to do.

“Alright.” Alaric nodded, pulling a chair over for her so she could sit in the kitchen and watch them work

Soon enough, Marcus and Kieran were called in as well.

At the Maulions‘, Leonel sat atop the high seat in his castle, still seething as he recalled Lucien’s mockery and Calum’s threats from that day.

“Two cocky brats… do they really think reaching Rank 13 means they can do whatever they want?”

His gaze turned cold and venomous as he looked toward the castle gates.

Since Lucien refused to cooperate with him, he would find his leverage elsewhere–through their huntress.

In a world where strength ruled above all, Leonel firmly believed that no huntress, no matter how devoted to her mates, could resist the allure of a young, powerful male with strong bloodlines and influence.

As long as he could plant someone inside that household–even as a nameless attendant–it would be enough. A single wedge, slowly driving them apart, until Calum and Lucien turned against each other over her.

With that thought, Leonel pressed his communicator. “Send Leonard in.”

Not long after, a tall young therian walked in through the doorway, backlit by the light beyond.

There was a wild strength about him, but none of it felt crude. A few strands of deep brown hair fell across his forehead, trailing along his jawline and curling slightly at the ends. His eyes were a molten golden–brown, bright like the setting sun over open plains -naturally commanding, yet carrying a hint of untamed sincerity beneath it.