The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 106

Chapter 106

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“To the point of killing someone?!” Zack, an upbeat college kid, had never come across anything this hardcore

before.

His eyelids gave a twitch, and his smile froze in place.

For ordinary college students, it wasn’t at all like Saint Laurel Royal Academy, where everyone trained in self- defense skills.

It wouldn’t find secret masters hiding out on campus, either.

Assassins, mercenaries, underground agents, international bodyguards… They’d never even heard of people like that.

Normally, if two students threw punches and one got a bloodied head, it would blow up as campus drama for weeks.

But killing someone? That was something straight out of a thriller–way beyond their wildest imagination.

Zack and Casey couldn’t help but jolt, startled to their core.

The other students in the lab immediately changed expressions, unease flickering across their faces, and then. a guy with his sleeves rolled up–looking pretty stern and proper–walked over.

“She probably just meant it as an exaggeration. Nobody’s actually planning to kill anyone,” the guy said.

He looked up at Nova. “Confident in those self–defense moves, huh? Comparing it straight to killing someone -bit much, don’t you think?

“Just a heads up, it’s better not to say stuff like that. I mean, you’ve never actually killed anyone, so it really rubs people the wrong way.”

He corrected her matter–of–factly.

Nova cast down her eyes, making no response at all to the serious–looking guy.

She’d said her piece, and every word was true–whether they chose to believe it or not was their business, not

hers.

“Jeez, Rhys Sterling, do you have to be so extra? She was just using a metaphor and you went all dramatic about it…” Casey shot back.

“Seriously, if you don’t have anything nice to say, zip it!” she snarked.

Casey gave Rhys a quick dressing–down, then linked arms with Nova and whisked her out of Classroom A–11.

“I’ll take you to the dorm building. Don’t pay any attention to Rhys–he’s got a sharp tongue and is a total perfectionist. Anytime we slip up, even on the tiniest step in the lab, he chews us out like there’s no tomorrow.

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“But honestly, despite all that, he’s actually the hottest guy in our department!”

Casey couldn’t help but crack up as she spoke.

She was a real firecracker.

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Casey’s brand of liveliness was different from Sophia, who seemed open and familiar with everyone right

away

Nova just listened the whole time, barely saying a word.

The North Dorm Building, where the exchange students stayed, was located right behind the main student dorm area of Rena University–a relatively new building that stood out on campus.

It was called C16.

“You exchange students really lucked out with the best dorms at Rena University!

“All us local students have to squeeze four people into a room, but each of you gets your own place. Way more privacy!

“Ugh, I’m so jealous! Living in a room all by yourself…” Casey sighed in envy.

Casey led Nova through the doors of the dorm building, sighing with envy as they walked in.

The exchange student dorm building didn’t split residents by gender–everyone had their own private room, so people pretty much kept to themselves and there was zero interference.

After chatting, Casey walked up to the dorm supervisor’s window on the first floor and breezily asked for a room key.

Just as they were about to head upstairs, Nova’s gaze landed on a figure walking in through the doors.

Zane stepped inside, and when he saw the stunning girl standing there, all the tension he’d been holding onto melted away.

It was like he’d found an anchor in a storm.

‘Nice, you’re here too, babe!

“This exchange program means plenty of time for just the two of us.

‘I’ve finally figured this out. Sure, I lost to you in the duel, but hey, everyone’s got their own ace up the sleeve. You might be born to fight, but when it comes to research, I’m untouchable–that’s one thing you’ll never beat.

me at.

‘We’d make an unstoppable team, babe. So don’t even think about shaking me off!‘ he thought himself.

Zane fixed his deep eyes on Nova; his gaze was so intense that even Casey, who was getting Nova her room key, caught it right away.

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“Nova, that hot guy over there keeps checking you out. Do you know him?” Casey asked curiously.

Saint Laurel Royal Academy picked five exchange students, each with a different specialty, because this competition is all about having a variety of talents.

The self–defense match was just one part of it.

Nova was the reigning champ in the dueling scene, so she naturally got chosen for the self–defense showdown.

The other four exchange students? They each shined in their own field–not self–defense.

That’s why Maxwell, Hannah, Zane, and Ethan–absolute stars in self–defense–didn’t make it onto the exchange squad this time around.

If Zane was showing up here, there could only be one reason.

He was the ace in his own field–best in the entire academy–which is exactly why the school chose him for the exchange.

Nova honestly didn’t give it a second thought.

She replied to Casey, “Nope, don’t know him.”

Just four words–plus she wouldn’t even spare him a glance. That hit Zane like a splash of cold water.

‘So she really doesn’t like me at all?‘ Zane wondered, feeling a sting of doubt.

‘Serves me right for brushing her off before. Looks like I’m headed for the classic “tragic suitor” grind, he thought wryly.

Just then, someone clapped him hard on the shoulder.

A guy with a cheeky grin and rough–around–the–edges energy showed up next to him.

“Hey, Zane, long time no see! Wasn’t it like a year ago? Man, that self–defense match between us ended in a draw, haha!

“So, what’s a taekwondo pro like you doing just standing here?” the guy had plenty of bad boy vibes, but to be honest, he wasn’t good–looking at all–if anything, he looked more unlucky than tough.

As he talked, he picked up on where Zane was staring and spotted Nova walking away in the distance.

Once Nova was out of sight, the guy glanced at Zane and couldn’t help but smirk, “You got a thing for her or what?”

Zane nodded. “Yeah.”

The guy flashed a sly smirk, clearly thinking he had some real experience in this area.

“Looks like she’s not into you, huh?

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“Want to win her over? Lasy!

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“Man, we’ve been rivals on the field for ages. Come on, it’s just a girl. Let me show you a trick or two–pull a few moves, and trust me, no woman can turn you down!” the guy said.

After escorting Nova to her single dorm room, Casey gave her head a playful slap and suddenly exclaimed, just remembering something important.

“Oh shoot, Nova! I totally spaced. Tonight the Rena University contestants are throwing a party for all you exchange students. We’re all heading down to the KTV for some good times.

“So throw on something cute–I’ll swing by to pick you up. Who knows, if luck’s on your side, you might even end up with a new romance! Wink!”

Nova simply fell silent.

Later that evening, at Melody KTV Lounge, inside the huge VIP suite K–1.

Nova followed Casey as they walked into the room.

They were a bit late–the place was already packed with dozens of students.

The crowd was huge, and even as striking as Nova was, she hardly got a second glance when she entered.

Meanwhile, a few unfamiliar girls had claimed the mics as their own, basically acting like total karaoke queens and instantly pulling the guys‘ attention their way.

As soon as Nova walked in, she instantly sensed two sets of eyes tracking her from the shadows–no attempt at subtlety, just full–on watching her every move.

That’s right–two sets, for sure.

One was obviously Zane–weirdly intense, as always.

And the other…

Was a petite girl tucked away in the corner, rocking a fiery style, legs crossed, eyes narrowed in a mischievous squint–tiny, but packing serious attitude.

When Nova locked eyes with her, the fiery little spitfire flashed a sly smile, raised her glass, and tipped it toward Nova–like the two of them were seated face–to–face for a private showdown.

Was she trying to be friendly, or already throwing shade? Hard to tell if that was an olive branch or a dare.

Nova’s eyes narrowed instinctively. ‘What’s her deal?‘ she wondered, a hint of wariness prickling at the back of her mind.

‘She looks crazy familiar… Have I seen her somewhere before?‘ Nova tried to place the girl, but the memory danced just out of reach.

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Her features matched her bone structure perfectly–no sign of any disguise or makeup tricks.

Nova’s eyes darkened, a chilly edge settling into her gaze.

“Dang, would you look at that! Total goddess alert!”

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Just then, some guy with a big mouth swaggered over, radiating bad boy vibes, two drinks in hand as he made a beeline right for Nova.

His loud yell pulled everyone’s eyes straight to Nova in an instant.

The boy flashed a sly, lopsided grin, swaggered up, and offered one of his drinks to Nova.

“Well, well–aren’t you the famous Nova Blake, the Saint Laurel Royal Academy knockout who’s taking the self–defense contest by storm?

“Heard your name all over the place!

“Name’s Silas Bridges, from Cloudwood University. Just like you, here for the self–defense showdown.

“Y’know how it goes: friendship first, battling second. So, Nova–how about we raise a glass and get this. friendship started, huh?”

Silas was so loud that everyone in the room turned to stare.

With all the exchange students watching, he’d basically cornered Nova–if she turned down his drink now, it’d be like she was straight–up disrespecting him.

It’d look like Nova was flat–out dismissing the “friendship first, competition second” agreement between their schools.

And if that went down, the other exchange students would probably start treating her like public enemy number one for the whole month ahead.

Honestly, that was a pretty slick move.

“Nova…” Casey blurted out in a hesitant little voice. Something felt off, even if she couldn’t say exactly what; she just couldn’t help calling out.

Without missing a beat, Nova grabbed the glass from Silas and knocked back the entire drink in one swift

motion.

Smooth, fearless–the kind of move that screamed confidence, not a hint of hesitation.

From the very first sip, Nova’s taste buds–and all her expertise with weird drugs–alerted her right away.

Whoever spiked this glass didn’t mess around. There was enough knockout juice in here to put a bull to sleep.

In KTV lounges like this, when some shady dude handed one a drink, it was usually a straight–up trap just waiting to mess you up.

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Girls who should’ve just been enjoying a fun night always ended up getting preyed on by that kind of

darkness.

One sip of a drugged drink, and next thing they knew, they’d get dragged off to some hidden corner–unable to fight back, violated while barely conscious.

Tonight, Nova found herself facing that same twisted setup.

With that thought, Nova looked up, pushed the glass right back to Silas, and flashed him a smirk that was. pure challenge.

“Nice flavor–too bad it’s nothing but a cheap knockoff,” Nova said, her voice dripping with insolence.

After surviving over 3,000 days in the mercenary life, Nova had poisoned and tested herself thousands of times–literally, more than 3,000 self–poisonings and nearly 3,000 trials.

She’d built up antibodies for over a thousand different toxins, so she was practically immune to anything one could throw at her. That knockout drug? Please. For Nova Blake, it might as well have been plain water.