The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139

The moment Damien’s cool, slender lips pressed against hers, Nova froze for a heartbeat, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy.

She had always thought he’d never be the one to yield first, yet here he was…

His actions truly stunned her, making her heart skip a beat.

‘So that’s how you want to play it…‘

Her small hands, delicate against Damien’s defined features, moved to wrap around his neck as she kissed him back–hard, pouring all her passion into it.

If they weren’t stuck on a helicopter with a Shadow Sanctum pilot glancing over from the front, Nova had no doubt they’d have gone at each other nonstop–there’s no way either of them would’ve let things end so soon.

Even so.

They barely spared the pilot a thought, totally lost in the moment as if their sky–high rendezvous was the only thing that mattered.

The Shadow Sanctum guy in the pilot seat had never witnessed a scene this intense before.

Honestly, if someone didn’t have to actually fly the helicopter, Damien probably would’ve chucked him right out the door.

His heart was thudding so loud he thought it might burst, but he forced himself to keep his face blank and his hands steady on the controls…

But, come on–they’re still in a helicopter, with the pilot right there.

Nova and Damien held back just enough; nobody actually stepped over the line.

Except…

Nova bit Damien’s lip, drawing a thin line of blood, but he didn’t even blink.

And he just let her–never once tried to stop her.

Her lips hovered close to his ear, her breath cool and electric as it set his skin tingling.

“My pretty plaything,” Nova whispered, the corners of her mouth curling into a sly smile. “That bite is my mark. From this moment on, you’re mine. Mine, and mine alone.

“I can’t stand anyone else laying a hand on what’s mine.

“So from now on, you’re mine. Only mine.”

When Nova made that promise to Wendy that his future would belong to her and her alone, she meant every

word.

The blood–like mark burnt onto Damien’s lips was her brand–left in the name of Bloodforge.

It was a sign–from now on, he belonged to her.

Damien gently pulled her hand into his, his eyes locked onto hers–his queen.

It was his promise in return–a privilege he reserved for her alone.

“I belong to you. Only you,” he said, his voice low and steady.

After dropping Nova off in Ravenport, Damien left without another word.

Nova was never the kind of woman who let any man define her life.

Even in a relationship, she could take the lead without breaking a sweat.

Alone, that’s when she truly thrived.

Frostwave Bar HQ.

In the conference room upstairs.

Having shaken off the Verdant Reign from the city next door, Frostwave Bar was growing crazy fast.

After just a few months, they were already looking to expand their turf.

“Nova, which spot in Ravenport do you think is ripe for our next takeover?” Victor asked, tone all business as the two of them sat together in the conference room.

He had a map of Ravenport spread out in front of him, hoping she’d point out the best move.

Frostwave Bar was already running 109 bars, KTVs, and nightclubs all over Ravenport.

Victor’s goal was to push their turf even further in the city.

He wanted Nova’s advice on where to drop their next investment–somewhere that wouldn’t tank the profits.

Nova gave Victor a single, clear–cut answer.

She pushed aside the detailed map of Ravenport, swapped it for a big map of Zoria, and tapped right on Aethercliff–a bold claim staking new ground.

“Ravenport’s already tapped out,” Nova said coolly. “Get your people to start scouting over here.

“This is where we kick off something new.”

Aethercliff was this legendary place–a special zone, the crossroads of East and West, called the Pearl of the

East, famous for its crazy good food and wild shopping sprees.

But compared to Ravenport, Aethercliff was an entirely different game.

Underground gangs ran wild here, messy alliances and turf wars crisscrossing everywhere.

This was a battlefield–everyone gunning for the throne, and nobody willing to back down.

When Victor saw Nova point at Aethercliff, his expression instantly changed.

“Nova, Aethercliff’s packed with all kinds of underground crews. There are gangs everywhere, tangled up in turf wars. Frostwave Bar’s just a small fish in an ocean here.

“People really get killed in places like that.

“We…”

Victor was about to chicken out, but Nova shut him up with just one question.

“Do you trust me?” she asked.

‘Trust her?‘ Victor barely needed to think–if anyone in this game could pull it off, it was Nova.

She was high–up in the Crimson Web–that alone was enough to make him believe.

Victor nodded without missing a beat. “I do!”

Nova said coolly, “Then do as I say.”

Victor answered, “Yes.”

As they stepped out of the conference room, they passed by the newly renovated training ground.

“Ah! Natasha, little master, please!

“Easy, easy! You’re gonna snap my old bones–go easy on me!”

It was Ethan pleading for mercy as Natasha worked him over.

“You’re already whining over moves this basic? If you keep it up, do you really think Nova’s ever gonna teach you any badass tricks?”

Natasha scoffed, her frustration obvious.

Peeking through a crack in the window, Nova spotted her brother Maxwell and sister Hannah hard at work- giving it their all out on the training floor.

It looked like Natasha’s lessons weren’t wasted on them.

A faint smile tugged at Nova’s lips as she walked past the training ground, not even pausing to step inside.

It was Saturday.

Today, Nova was meeting up with Sophia.

Even during her stint as an exchange student at Rena University, Nova hadn’t forgotten about Sophia.

After all, Sophia was the first friend she’d made since returning to campus life.

After leaving Frostwave Bar, Nova crossed the street and her eyes landed on a girl waiting near the bus stop- a side ponytail swaying, little purse hanging off her shoulder, with that signature blend of sweetness and innocence that made her stand out.

Yup, that was Sophia.

She was totally zoned in on her phone, eyes glued to the screen, fingers flying across the glass as she messaged someone back.

Nova spotted her and grinned, making her way over.

Nova hadn’t even made it all the way to Sophia when her phone vibrated in her pocket, stopping her in her tracks.

“Ding–dong!”

The sharp chime of a text snapped her out of her stride, echoing from deep inside her jeans pocket.

Nova glanced down, fished out her phone, and saw the sender–Ghost–Hammer.

The message popped up as a picture text.

Smack in the middle was a photo of a girl with a sparkling smile–someone Nova had never seen before. Underneath was a message from Ghost–Hammer tagging along with the image.

“Boss, take a look–isn’t this girl kinda familiar? Doesn’t she ring a bell?

“Haha, turns out she’s Falcony’s little sister!

“My crew just checked in–we finally dug up the family of that troublemaker Falcony!

“Looking at this photo just brings back the look on that guy’s face every time he was begging for a beatdown. Makes my hands itch to go a few more rounds with Falcony again…‘

That was it—nothing else after that.

Nova knew Ghost–Hammer just couldn’t bring himself to write any more.

For all his tough talk and rough edges, Ghost–Hammer had a heart a mile deep–way more thoughtful than most ever realized.

He kept things casual in his texts, just so Nova wouldn’t pick up on what he was really feeling—he just didn’t want to add to her hurt.

Back then, those five stuck together through every war zone, each one of them starting out as an orphan with nothing but themselves to count on.

Some, like Nova, lost their families when they were just kids; others, like Ghost–Hammer, were abandoned and left to fend for themselves from the beginning.

Even after Falcony, Marlie, and Snowfang managed to carve out some real influence, they never gave up hope of finding the family they’d lost.

That kind of shared struggle glued them together–not just as battle buddies, but as the closest thing to real family any of them would ever have.

So.

Even after Falcony and Marlie died on the field, Nova never stopped looking for their families–not even for a single day.

She made it her mission to keep chasing the wish they’d left behind. As their family, it was the only thing she could still do for them.

“Nova!”

Sophia was hanging out by the bus stop when she spotted Nova out of the corner of her eye. With her side ponytail bouncing and her purse flapping, she waved and jogged over, all smiles.

“Nova, you’re finally here! What took you so long? Ooh, what’s got you staring at your phone?”

Sophia leaned in closer, curiosity all over her face.

“Just the news,” Nova lied on instinct, not missing a beat.

She locked her phone, tossed it back into her pocket with one hand, and followed Sophia toward the bus stop.

Sophia was a total natural at making friends–sweet as sugar, never overthinking a thing. She didn’t suspect a thing about Nova’s quick excuse.

She linked arms with Nova, her smile bright and infectious.

“Nova, I’ve got a really fun spot to show you–you’re gonna love it, I swear!

“Bet you can’t guess where I’m taking you!”

Sophia was totally used to Nova being the quiet type, so she just kept rambling on, not bothered at all.

“Okay, I’ll let you in on the secret–it’s a movie studio!

“You know, that huge place where they shoot all the hit drama series and movies!

“We might bump into some big–name celebs too! I’ve brought loads of paper and pens–enough for you and me to chase down autographs together!

“Oh, and actually, it’s my cousin who’s an actor–he’s working on a crime drama there now.

“He’s playing the villain–the head of a notorious mercenary group! But honestly, he can’t quite handle the part. Somehow I just know you’d be the perfect person to show him a thing or two, Nova. So I went ahead and set up a little meet–and–greet for you guys!”