The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Nova was far from naive. In a moment as critical as this, stumbling upon a betrayal within the Shadow Sanctum was a harbinger of nothing but disaster. She knew that if she didn’t make a swift escape now, her fate was sealed. There was no time to hide anymore; she boldly exposed her position, no longer bothering with stealth.

Without hesitation, she propelled herself in the opposite direction, her speed almost blinding.

Damien stood motionless, his wolf-like eyes gleaming with a merciless hunger as he effortlessly tracked Nova’s small, agile form weaving through the shadows.

He didn’t give chase immediately.

Suddenly, with a soft rush of air, another figure descended silently from the tree above.

At that very instant, a man clad entirely in black tactical gear landed without a sound, moving like a living shadow under the cover of night.

His gaze flickered coldly toward the lifeless body that Damien had just dispatched.

Recognition dawned instantly. She was Scarlet Rose, one of the elite assassins of the Shadow Sanctum, just like him.

Only days ago, Scarlet had been ranked fifth globally among assassins—a name whispered with fear throughout the international criminal underworld.

But now, she lay dead, ruthlessly executed by Damien himself for a single, careless misstep.

The man knew all too well that Damien’s heart was as cold and merciless as the night.

He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of woman could ever pierce through that impenetrable exterior and truly get close to Damien.

Lowering his head slightly in respect, the man addressed Damien with a quiet, “Sir.”

Without turning around, Damien’s voice cut through the silence, chilling and detached. “Erase every trace.”

With those words, he said nothing more. He flung his gun to the ground and, in a blink, vanished into the darkness before anyone could react.

If one looked carefully, it was clear Damien was even faster than Nova herself.

Above, the moon, usually veiled by a pale halo, now seemed to glow with an eerie red blush.

The entire sky was bathed in deep scarlet hues, as if dusk itself had spilled across the heavens, casting an otherworldly glow over the earth. The scene was hauntingly beautiful.

Nova raced through the thick forest, her movements fluid and precise.

Her feet barely made a sound as they brushed over fallen leaves and soft earth, the crisp rustle sharp against the otherwise profound silence.

Close behind her, a man of imposing build pursued relentlessly, closing the gap with terrifying speed.

Nova thought to herself, ‘If I forgot for even a second how terrifying he is, he almost seems unreal.’

The moon above was stained with a haunting shade of red.

His towering figure and devilishly handsome features made him look like a dark prince straight out of a graphic novel—mysterious, unreadable.

“Damn it, he’s freakishly fast,” Nova muttered under her breath, seeing him quickly catching up.

Her expression darkened. ‘No chance of outrunning him at this pace. Fine, if running’s not an option… then…’

She tore through the tangled woods with sure-footed agility. Just when it seemed she would keep sprinting forward, she abruptly changed direction.

Without warning, she spun around, fists clenched, and launched a fierce, direct punch at the stunning man chasing her—completely catching him off guard.

But as she had anticipated, Damien’s reflexes were lightning quick. He grabbed her fist mid-air with a grip that was firm and unyielding.

By sheer circumstance, they were destined to be enemies—nothing else was possible.

The moment Damien spoke, Nova retaliated with a brutal side kick, striking his side with deadly precision.

Her plan was straightforward: catch him off guard and slip away before he could respond.

But Nova hadn’t expected that Damien, halfway through her kick, had already anticipated her move.

His eyes locked onto hers the instant she launched the attack.

With barely a moment’s hesitation, he intercepted her kick mid-air, as effortlessly as if it were a child’s game.

So this is what it feels like when two underworld leaders finally face off, Nova thought, stunned. ‘He’s not just strong. He’s operating on a whole different level.’

Her gaze dropped for a brief second before she yanked her leg back.

Damien’s expression remained icy and merciless, as if he intended to erase her just like he had that woman before.

But Nova refused to back down. Throwing caution to the wind, she used her slender frame—barely reaching Damien’s chest—and launched herself forward, crashing into his embrace without hesitation.

Damien caught a faint trace of her scent—a softness and freshness unlike anything he had ever experienced before, unmistakably feminine and strangely captivating.

Every inch of her felt unexpectedly tender, almost delicate for someone so lethal.

Just as Damien was about to react, it was as if something inside him flipped a switch.

His iron-hard body went rigid, and for a split second, he was utterly frozen.