The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Somewhere in the world, in a shadowy, hidden place, a rectangular table stood with five chairs around it. Five figures sat together, their faces obscured by the dim light.

Among them was a middle–aged man–a white guy with sharp cheekbones, a narrow, high–bridged nose, and short, wavy tawny hair.

He was Kendivin Jay.

At that moment, everything went still.

Then, a familiar female voice came crackling through his walkie–talkie:

“This is Bloodforge. Your lapdog Monde? His life belongs to me now.

“You old bastards, better start giving out your necks and wait for the end–I’ll use your blood to mark the rebirth of the Bloodblade!”

As soon as her words dropped, the atmosphere froze.

She cut them off before anyone could say a word.

“Beep beep beep-”

The line went dead in an instant, leaving only the harsh beeps echoing in the darkness.

Obviously, with Bloodforge, this wasn’t a warning–it was a death sentence she was handing down, telling them straight up to give out their necks and wait for the end.

This wasn’t up for discussion.

Everyone here knew Bloodforge–she always followed through on her threats.

Kendivin felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

He forced himself to stay calm.

Kendivin glanced at the other four and declared, “Monde is dead.”

He didn’t wait for a response.

If Bloodforge got to you, you were as good as dead.

“Thud-”

Across from Kendivin, an old fox–so sharp and seasoned–suddenly lost it. He slid right off his chair, hitting the floor like a sack of bricks, too stunned to even move.

The old man was Maibom, a mercenary psychologist with a rep for brainwashing and keeping his soldiers in line.

Even when everyone knew they were marching to their deaths, Maibom had a way of firing up his men, making them charge into hell without blinking.

But with Bloodforge’s message ringing in his ears, even Maibom, master of nerves, turned ghostly pale–he couldn’t hide the panic etched across his face.

Realizing he’d just lost it, Maibom sprang back up off the floor, feeling extremely anxious as he stared at Kendivin.

“She… tell me her coming back is not real, Kendivin.

“This can’t be for real, right? Bloodforge is back?

“You know what she’s like–if she says it, she means it. What the hell are we supposed to do?”

Kendivin forced a calm look, but the way his lips quivered couldn’t hide the fear gnawing at him.

He said, “Don’t lose it. Ever since Bloodforge vanished over half a year ago, we’ve cleaned house in the Corps–all her loyalists, all her clout, wiped out.

“She’s got almost no one left to boss around. And Bloodforge never rushes into a fight–there’s no way she just shows

of the blue.

“Trust me, we’ve still got breathing room. We have time on our side.”

Kendivin said.

up out

Kendivin spoke, then turned his gaze to the young man sitting in the main seat at the head of the table–the one who hadn’t uttered a single word since the start.

Careful not to offend, Kendivin lowered his voice slightly and asked with a.respectful tone, “Snowfang, it looks like Bloodforge really did save Ghost–Hammer.

“What do we do now?”

For a long moment, there was no response at all.

Sitting at the head of the table was Snowfang himself–living up to his codename, silent and imposing.

He had the focused intensity of a wolf, but instead of Ghost–Hammer’s brute edge, Snowfang exuded a sharp, almost aristocratic charisma–his features were handsome, composed, with a wild undertone that made him unforgettable.

Ever since the very beginning, he’d been Bloodforge’s loyal shadow, and you could feel the authority in every breath he took.

With him saying nothing, all the old hands down the table kept their mouths shut, not daring to break the silence.

Snowfang lifted his gaze–those keen eyes seemed to pierce straight through the gloom. Both his looks and the way he held himself radiated a kind of refined wildness–a wolf’s focus wrapped in aristocratic cool.

He caught the news that Ghost–Hammer had been rescued, and for just a split–second, a hint of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

But he masked it so perfectly, no one noticed. His lips parted for the briefest moment, as he let out a near–silent sigh of relief.

With all those old–timers watching him, Snowfang simply replied with one word:

“Wait.”

Meanwhile, at the summit of Kate Deathly Canyon, a deafening explosion shook the land, and a beam of dazzling light shot straight into the sky, rocking the whole area to its core.

Down in the canyon, the five guild mercs, the caravan crew, and the group of college students–including Jake and Maria- were all held up, unable to go anywhere.

They were still waiting.

But they weren’t waiting for Nova. What they wanted was for this blocked road to be clear.

“What was that noise on the summit?” The rookie mercenaries on guard jolted in fright.

“Can’t get anyone on the walkie–talkie… Did something happen up there?” one of them asked nervously.

After some hurried whispering, the mercs decided to leave their post and rushed up the canyon to check it out.

“The road’s clear! Let’s get out of here!” Maria exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

“She still hasn’t come down…” Jake said quietly, staring up at the summit.

“Come down? Are you expecting her ghost or just a box of ashes to roll down here?

“With those two explosions up there, I’m betting there’s nothing left of her–not even bones,” Maria sneered.

Maria had never liked Nova, so she said it without a shred of guilt.

She was dead sure in her mind–Nova wasn’t coming back from up there.

Maria had only just learned they, the people at the top, were literally the craziest, most legendary mercenary squad on the planet.

Nova was just a college girl, just another Zoriaien like the rest of them. No way could she survive a betrayal purge inside that mercenary crew. Not a chance.

Just as Maria finished trash–talking, Jake, standing right beside her, couldn’t hold it in—his voice shot up shrill and booming through the canyon as he shouted, “It’s her! It’s her! She’s back!”

“It’s her! It’s her! She’s back!” Jake shouted, nearly jumping out of his skin.

“No way–she’s actually alive!” he blurted.

Maria felt like her skull had just been walloped twice–her mind was reeling from the impact.

Her face froze, like she’d just been smacked upside the head, staring blankly into the distance.

In the darkness, a slender girl was charging toward them at full speed, hauling someone easily twice her weight on her back.

She was almost upon them.

Closer–close enough they could make out the details.

Only now did Maria truly see what was happening. Nova was hauling someone on her back–a blood–soaked figure, crimson from head to toe. ‘Is that… Is that really a person? How is Nova still walking?‘ Maria stared, shell–shocked.

“Ahh!”

Maria was just an average girl–she’d never confronted with something this bloody in her life.

She let out a hysterical scream that tore from her throat.

Nova Blake carried Chost–Hammer down the mountainside, her eyes immediately scanning him for injuries the moment she saw his battered form.

Blood was pouring out, some wounds were nearly fatal–if not for Ghost–Hammer’s own rough field dressing, he’d have bled out already.

He’d bought himself a little time, for now.

But time was running out fast–if they waited too long, he wouldn’t survive.

Nova Blake wasn’t familiar with this area at all. She shot a glance at the group of guild mercenaries.

“Take me to the nearest clinic. Name your price–I’ll pay whatever you want,” Nova Blake ordered, her voice cool and unwavering.

The other four guild mercenaries looked at her like wolves spotting fresh meat–their eyes gleamed with greed.

Before any of them could open their mouths, Madan jumped in first.

He said, “I know where the nearest clinic is. If we run, it’s only about ten minutes away.

“I’ll take you there–no charge. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ve got this.”

Honestly, you carry the same fierce aura as my hero, Bloodforge. That’s probably why I just can’t bring myself to charge you, Madan admitted to himself.