The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

This family had already fallen apart the day Marlie and Falcony died.

All Nova could do was swallow her feelings deep down and guard the last people she called family.

Nova was always the blunt type–if Ghost–Hammer hadn’t asked, she’d never say a word about it.

But since he asked, she answered exactly as things were.

Her reply made the air in the hospital room turn cold as ice.

Ghost–Hammer was perceptive to the bone. Even if he hadn’t caught onto Nova’s thoughts before, now that she’d laid it all out, how could he not see through it?

‘Shit… it felt like his heart was being put through a meat grinder,‘ Ghost–Hammer thought, the pain sharp and merciless.

‘I should’ve known long ago… he berated himself, regret souring his gut.

The day Marlie and Falcony died, Nova didn’t say a word–she did not shed a single tear. She just rounded up every captured rebel and slaughtered them, cold as steel.

She didn’t leave a single soul breathing.

From then on, Nova turned ice–cold, heartless as a blade.

She refused to smile again–being cold was now her whole brand.

Nova started grabbing missions like she was possessed, crushing enemies with merciless, bloody tactics and racking up win after win in brutal battles.

When she wasn’t fighting, she’d hole up in the lab, obsessing over weapon designs, dosing herself with poison, testing out antitoxins, and running wild experiments just to see how much damage she could take.

Ghost–Hammer remembered the craziest time–Nova didn’t stop; she pushed herself to the brink, poisoning and testing herself a hundred times in just one day.

She pushed herself until her whole body turned blue and her lips went ghostly pale. The doctors told her she was inches from death.

But Nova didn’t care. She just kept going like nothing had happened.

Behind Nova’s relentless streak, Bloodforge’s reputation skyrocketed.

The Bloodblade Mercenary Corps became a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, a name no one dared

cross.

Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang naturally rose in status right along with the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps.

Nobody in the world dared disrespect Ghost–Hammer or Snowfang anymore–everyone knew they ran with Bloodforge.

But at the time, Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang were just naive. They thought Nova was simply trying to break free from the bottom, grinding non–stop for her own future.

Now, it felt like his head finally cleared–everything clicked, and he saw the truth for the first time.

“Nova…” Ghost–Hammer murmured.

The big, rugged man felt locked up inside, so stiff and numb it was like his whole body had turned to solid iron–he couldn’t

even move.

All the words he wanted to say, everything bottled up inside, spilled out as nothing but a quiet, desperate shout.

“Don’t think about all that anymore,” Nova said, her voice cool and distant.

She cut Ghost–Hammer off before he could say anything more. “You just take a rest. I’m right outside–holler if you need something.”

Her tone was still icy, not a hint of warmth in her voice.

Now that Ghost–Hammer was awake, she didn’t have to keep watching at his bedside.

After all, a guy and a girl alone like that–it just wouldn’t look right.

Nova wasn’t one for dramatics. After saying her piece, she stepped out and sat down against the wall just outside the door.

Her hands moved on their own, pulling two pistols from her gun bag, her index fingers already curled around the triggers.

Nova kept herself on high alert, just like she was still out there in the battlefield. With her back against the wall and both guns in hand, she slipped into a light sleep–eyes closed, senses sharp, ready to jump up firing if trouble came knocking.

The night was quiet; nothing came looking for trouble.

Early the next morning, Kata City was shrouded in the pale light of dawn.

Three members of the Bloodred Task Force pulled up to the clinic’s door, right on schedule, eyes sharp and ready for whatever came next.

Nova had sent them the location of the clinic just that morning.

The three women who popped up looked like they belonged on the cover of a magazine–each one with her own unique style.

Front and center was a bombshell in a daring, backless red dress, a leather whip hanging at her waist. Every move she made and every teasing smile was captivating–she was the kind that caught your eye and didn’t let go.

Her codename is Blood Orange.

On her left stood a girl with a face so sweet and pure, you’d swear she was still in school. But don’t be fooled–she was actually twenty–three, even older than Nova.

Her codename is Blood Lychee.

On the right stood the girl who was practically invisible–the real wallflower. Thick bangs hid her eyes, her head stayed bowed, and she wore simple, faded gray clothes that made her disappear into the background.

Her codename is Blood Chime.

And Nova’s codename is Bloodforge.

Together they made up the Bloodred Task Force. Every one of their codenames started with “Blood.”

Nova hadn’t laid eyes on them for a whole year.

At the clinic door, Nova stepped out–and immediately locked eyes with the trio waiting for her.

Blood Lychee, always the boldest, broke into a run and beelined straight for Nova.

“Bloodforge! Long time no see! You finally remembered us!” she said, grinning ear to ear, voice bubbling with excitement.

After saying so, Blood Lychee practically launched herself at Nova for a full–on hug.

Nova stayed put and let Blood Lychee hug her without pushing back.

Blood Orange and Blood Chime were more composed than Blood Lychee.

They hung back, quietly watching and keeping to themselves.

But those slight smiles curving at the corners of their mouths made their feelings clear.

They were happy to see her.

“You’ve gotten taller,” Nova said, her voice softening as she looked at Blood Lychee.

Even though Blood Lychee was older than her, Nova always doted on her like a little sister.

Besides, Blood Lychee was much shorter than Nova–cute and delicate, the classic little–sis type you just wanted to spoil.

Nova reached out and gave Blood Lychee’s head a gentle, affectionate rub.

“I’m already twenty–three. There’s no way I get any taller,” Blood Lychee grumbled, puffing her cheeks in mock protest.

“Bloodforge, you just love teasing me-” she whined, sounding adorably put out.

Blood Lychee purposely mumbled, putting extra drama in her voice just to play up the sulky little sister act.

“Swish, swish,” leaves and branches rustled wildly, whipped about by the gusts.

Just as Blood Lychee was caught off guard by Nova’s words, everyone heard the crisp rattle–a rain of tiny needles spilling

out.

Everyone watched as Nova loosened her grip, letting more than a hundred fine needles tumble from her right hand–like she was dumping them without a care in the world.

They scattered all over the ground in a messy pile.

Nova smirked and threw out a playful tease.

“Still sticking with the usual hiding spots, huh?” Nova quipped, flashing Blood Lychee a knowing look.

With a smirk, she added, “Maybe it’s time to get creative and pick some new ones.”

Blood Lychee was a real ace with needles–so tiny you could barely see them, but she could make those things dance between her fingers.

Kill, knock someone out, suffocate, strangle–there was nothing she couldn’t pull off with her needles.

Don’t let Blood Lychee’s sweet, schoolgirl looks fool you–she kept needles everywhere: packed into her pockets, stitched into coat linings, woven through her hair, and hidden in every cuff and hem.

She was like a walking armory, always packing hidden needles in every imaginable spot.

If you ever tangled with Blood Lychee in the international underworld, well–good luck. You would never see her coming, and there was no way to guard against her tricks.

But, put her in front of Nova, and things were totally different.

hapter 158

10 vauchers

All it took was a few words between them, and before Blood Lychee could even react, Nova had already made her move- Blood Lychee didn’t have the faintest idea when it had happened.

Nova had already cleaned out every single needle Blood Lychee had stashed on her, without her even noticing.

It was like she’d left the little hedgehog completely defenseless, swiping away all her spines.

Blood Lychee hurriedly checked all her favorite hiding spots, only to confirm Nova had nabbed every last hidden needle.

She shot Nova a dramatic puppy–eyed look, full of playful indignation.

“Bloodforge! You always do this!” Blood Lychee pouted, sounding adorably exasperated.

“Nova, how do you always sniff out every single trick I come up with to hide my needles?” Blood Lychee protested, putting extra drama in her voice and looking adorably defeated.

“Seriously, it’s not fair!” she added, putting her cheeks and giving Nova a playful glare.

Blood Orange always kept it cool–by far she was the steadiest of the trio.

She strolled over and ruffled Blood Lychee’s hair, putting a quick stop to the playful chatter, then fixed her gaze on Nova.

“So what’s up, Bloodforge? You wouldn’t pull all three of us in unless it was major, right?” Blood Orange asked, her voice calm but sharp.

Blood Chime stood quietly off to the side, saying nothing–just watching Nova and waiting for her signal.

“Yeah,” Nova replied, her tone crisp and detached.

She glanced over at Blood Orange and Blood Chime. “You two, come with me. We’ye got a few stops to make.”

Now that she was back in the international game, even if she wasn’t planning to return to the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps anytime soon, there were still things she could put in motion and lay the groundwork for right now.

Like rallying allies and reaching out to factions in the underworld to form new alliances.

The main reason she’d called in the Bloodred Task Force was that Blood Orange, Blood Lychee, and Blood Chime had each built up their own steady foothold in the international underworld.

Nova was looking to forge alliances with some major players in the underworld.

But if she rolled up solo without bringing anything to the table, nobody would be on board to team up with her.

After Nova filled Blood Orange and the others in on the plan, they were all on board.

“Your call, Bloodforge!” they echoed together.

Blood Orange asked, “So, who’s our first pick for an alliance?”

The first alliance would make or break them–if the first faction turned them down, word would get around the international underworld in no time.

Once their reputation took that hit, most crews would steer clear and wouldn’t even consider joining forces with them.

Nova already had her answer. She lifted an eyebrow, and said in a cool and decisive tone, “We’re heading to the Shadow Sanctum headquarters.”