Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 97

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

**The Phoenix and the Prince**

Emma animatedly recounted her encounter with the phoenix to Edric, her voice brimming with excitement and certainty. “It was nothing short of pure fire, Edric! It turned that Rank 10 Sulien into ash in the blink of an eye. Don’t you think, just maybe, that could have been Lucien?”

The very first moment her eyes had caught sight of that magnificent creature, a flicker of recognition had ignited within her. Could it truly have been the second prince?

I had planned to approach him once the danger had passed. But then he vanished into thin air. Silas had mentioned that Lucien brought him to me, which meant Lucien must have been nearby. Yet, why has he never shown himself to me? It was baffling that he would appear today, just when I was in peril, only to disappear once more.

Emma felt utterly perplexed by the prince’s elusive nature.

“Edric,” she pondered aloud, “do you think he might be… really unattractive? Perhaps he’s too scared to show himself because he fears I might not like him?”

Deep down, she believed that his reluctance to bond with her wasn’t due to a lack of interest. After all, he had come to her aid during such a critical moment. The only conclusion she could draw was that he must be dreadfully unappealing.

A chuckle bubbled up in Edric’s throat, breaking through the tension that had previously held him captive. “Emma, I assure you, Prince Lucien is not ugly in the slightest. Anyone who has laid eyes on him would tell you he is simply unmatched in beauty. Even I fall short in comparison.”

Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But you’re incredibly handsome! Are you saying he’s even more attractive than you?”

What kind of breathtaking beauty could he possess?

In that moment, a strong desire surged within her—a need to meet this prince, to see for herself what made him so extraordinary.

Noticing the tension in Edric’s shoulders dissipating, Emma reached for his hand, gently guiding him toward the bathroom. “Edric, look at yourself! You’re a complete mess. How many days has it been since you last had a proper wash? I was about to shower anyway. Why don’t we go together?”

Edric, who had just begun to relax, suddenly froze again, his eyes wide with surprise. “Emma, I—”

Emma cupped his weary cheek, her touch tender and reassuring. “Don’t worry. I promise I won’t tease you.”

He fell silent, utterly taken aback by her unexpected affection.

Silas, perched silently on the table and observing the scene, was equally astonished.

She still doesn’t realize I can hear everything. Perhaps I should suggest moving me somewhere else tomorrow.

Emma, surprisingly, found herself in agreement with his decision. “That definitely saves us a lot of hassle.”

Truthfully, she had nearly forgotten about Kael’s existence. But her curiosity about Edric’s serpent tail was far more captivating.

Just then, her fingers grazed over a spot where the scales felt oddly firm, and—shockingly—they began to lift. She gently slid her fingers underneath them, intrigued.

Edric let out a sharp hiss. “Emma, don’t—”

Before he could finish his warning, Emma noticed something beginning to emerge beneath the scales. Panic surged through her, and she quickly dropped his tail, attempting to scramble out of the tub.

But in a swift motion, the curve of her leg was ensnared. The serpent tail coiled around her, pulling her back down—slowly but inexorably—into his lap.

As she settled back, the purple-black tail transformed into two strong human legs beneath the water.

“Emma.” His voice, deep and gravelly, enveloped her like a warm, velvety embrace, rich enough to intoxicate anyone who listened.

“Please don’t go. I feel terrible…”