Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 237

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley 237**

**Chapter 237: Where the Stars Begin to Fall**

Emma found herself once more staring at the manor’s surveillance feed, her heart pounding in her chest as she navigated through the digital eyes of the house.

Cotton Candy was no longer sprawled languidly on the living room couch, his usual spot of comfort. A quick scan of the other cameras revealed that he had slipped away into one of the guest rooms located on the first floor, a place where secrets could easily hide.

Her heart raced with uncertainty; there were no cameras inside that room. What could he possibly be doing in there?

The feed revealed that he remained inside for over thirty minutes, an eternity that felt like a lifetime to Emma. When he finally emerged, the wounds on his body appeared unchanged, as if he had not sought refuge there to heal his pain in solitude.

By the time she shut down the lightcore, the warship had glided to the very edge of the galaxy, the vastness of space stretching out before them like an endless canvas. Marcus had already found a perfect position, setting the vessel to hover gracefully in mid-air.

Emma had barely begun to rise from her seat when she felt his presence behind her, warm and inviting. He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

“Ms. Tibarn, may I have another kiss?” he asked, his voice low and rich, laced with a hint of mischief.

The heat radiating from his body was more intense than it had been the night before, igniting a fire within her.

Yet, instead of leaning in for a kiss, Emma turned to face him, her eyes steady and searching. “Marcus Crowe, I need you to tell me something—why are you hesitant to form a bond with me?”

He sank back into the chair behind him, as if her words had pushed him there, his posture suddenly heavy with the weight of her question.

Meeting her unwavering gaze, he bit down on his lip, a flicker of conflict dancing in his silver-gray eyes. “I… If I share my truth, will you promise not to be angry, Ms. Tibarn?”

Emma paused, contemplating his request. After a moment, she nodded, her resolve firm. “All right. I promise I won’t be angry. Just tell me.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist, his voice dropping to a near whisper, as if he were afraid of being overheard. “I… I suddenly don’t want to die anymore. But I’m scared that after we bond, if I don’t let you cut through my beast mark, you’ll think I lied to you… and you’ll be angry with me.”

The confession struck Emma like a bolt of lightning. “You don’t want to die anymore?” Her disbelief was palpable, her heart racing at the revelation.

“Yeah.” He nodded, uncertainty lacing his words. The sight of her astonishment sent his pulse racing.

Is she upset?

“When did you stop wanting to die?”

Her voice was calm, devoid of anger, infused instead with genuine curiosity.

Emma recalled vividly the lifelessness that had cloaked him when they first crossed paths, a man who seemed to court death with every breath he took.

He hesitated, searching for the right words. “I’m not sure… Maybe it was after you calmed my mind again and again.”

Or perhaps it had been a gradual awakening, each moment they spent together chipping away at the darkness until he found himself savoring the simple joy of existence.

In that instant, the void outside the ship erupted into brilliance.

Meteors blazed into view, their colors flaring vibrantly, streaking silently across the dark expanse—lavender, baby blue, molten gold… They wove together into a breathtaking, wordless display, painting the frozen galaxy in dreamlike hues that seemed to pulse with life.

Marcus set her gently atop the cool console before the viewport, yet he did not step away. Instead, he leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, their noses brushing in a way that felt achingly intimate as they gazed out at the celestial spectacle unfolding before them.

The glow of the meteors washed over their entwined silhouettes, and in Marcus’ eyes, starlight flickered like tiny flames, illuminating the depths of his soul.

“Marcus…” Emma breathed, her voice husky from their kiss, filled with awe as she took in the magnificent sight. “The meteor shower is beautiful.”

“It’s not as beautiful as you.” His gaze locked onto hers, his voice a low, vibrating current that sent shivers down her spine. “Ms. Tibarn, let’s bond.”

As the words left his lips, his mouth found hers again.

This time, his kiss was tender and lingering, tracing the delicate line of her jaw, descending slowly to the graceful curve of her slender neck.

Somehow, the lights inside the ship dimmed, leaving only the ethereal glow of the meteors, brightening and fading, painting their small world in waves of color that danced around them.

Soft, indistinct sounds filled the warship, muffled beneath the gentle hum of its engines, creating an atmosphere thick with anticipation.

The cold glass pressed against Emma’s back, while in front of her, his body burned like a living flame, a stark contrast that made her pulse race even faster.