The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Zane was infamous throughout Saint Laurel Royal Academy for his frosty demeanor—the quintessential aloof heartthrob who seemed untouchable to everyone around him.

Yet, in this moment, it was Nova who radiated a chill far sharper and a haughtiness even more biting than anything Zane had ever displayed.

Her words dropped like a bombshell, instantly igniting a storm of whispers and gasps among the nearby girls.

One girl murmured, eyes wide with disbelief, “Oh my god! She actually turned down Zane’s invitation.”

Another chimed in, voice trembling with shock, “Every girl here would kill to be Zane’s date, and she just flat-out rejected him? Has she lost her mind or something?”

Sophia clutched her chest, staring at Nova as if she’d just witnessed a miracle—or a ghost. “Nova, no way. You seriously said no to Zane?”

It felt as though Nova had just shattered some unspoken rule of the school’s social order.

Nova’s gaze hardened, her eyes cold and unreadable, like glacial ice.

In all the years Zane had roamed the academy’s halls, no girl had ever dared to refuse him—not once.

And it wasn’t some pampered, high-society heiress who had dismissed him—it was a country girl, one who had spent over a decade surviving on her own, far from home, tough and unyielding.

Zane fixed his burning stare on Nova, his intensity so fierce it might have ignited flames.

His voice snapped like a whip. “You’re the first girl who’s ever turned me down. Why? What’s the real reason? Or are you just playing hard to get, Nova?”

In Zane’s mind, this had to be a game—a coy act designed to reel him in once he was hooked.

The thought that she might genuinely reject him for any other reason was simply inconceivable.

“Damn it. This playful little brat,” Zane seethed silently.

Nova’s eyes grew even colder, sharp enough to freeze anyone caught in their gaze.

Anyone familiar with Bloodforge would know—when Nova looked like this, chaos was about to erupt.

With a voice dripping in icy arrogance, she shot back, “You’re not worthy.”

Without waiting for a response, Nova pivoted sharply on her heel, ignoring the stunned crowd, and strode away with purpose.

She had no desire to endure any more of Zane’s petty games.

“Wait—spell it out. What do you mean, I’m not worthy?” Zane demanded, his eyes practically burning with fury.

He had never encountered a girl with such boldness before.

Zane was the golden boy, adored by all, the cold-hearted heartthrob who barely spared a glance for any girl around him.

Now, utterly enraged, he stepped forward, intent on grabbing Nova and forcing her to stay.

But just as his hand reached for her shoulder, a firm grip intercepted him in an instant.

Maxwell—the other legendary heartthrob of Saint Laurel Royal Academy—appeared like a shadow, his presence just as commanding as Zane’s.

Maxwell’s hand clamped tightly around Zane’s wrist, halting him completely.

Their eyes locked in a fierce standoff—Maxwell’s expression stone-cold, Zane’s blazing with anger—neither willing to back down.

Maxwell then cast a long, protective glance at Nova before turning his steely gaze back to Zane.

“Zane,” he said with unyielding authority, “even if she just returned to the Blake family, she’s my sister. And with me here, you’re not laying a finger on her.”

Right there, in the heart of the academy, the two top legends faced off.

Zane, founder of the Taekwondo Club, and Maxwell, leader of the Free Combat Club—these two essentially ruled the school’s martial arts scene.

And now, all because of Nova, they were locked in a tense showdown.

The crowd erupted into cheers and shouts, the noise nearly shaking the entire area.

Since Nova’s return, this was the first time Maxwell had openly acknowledged her as family.

For the first time, he stood up for her in front of everyone, just as fiercely as he always had for Hannah.

Nova glanced up, her eyes glimmering with a strange new warmth.

A feeling she couldn’t quite explain washed over her—an unfamiliar comfort wrapping around her like a protective shield.

Could this be what it felt like to have a brother watching over you?

Zane yanked his hand free, instantly slipping back into his usual icy, untouchable persona.

She immediately winced, realizing how harsh that sounded.

No one liked to have their family issues pointed out so bluntly.

Quick to recover, Sophia hurried to explain, “No, Nova, I didn’t mean it like that, I swear… Relationships take time to grow, you know?”

“And hey, your brother just went full hero mode for you earlier. That’s pretty amazing.”

Nova didn’t really care about the nuances of their relationship.

After everything she’d endured, simply finding her family was more than she had ever hoped for.

But seeing Maxwell stand up for her like that—that was something she hadn’t expected.

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully for a moment.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a notification.

She pulled it out of her pocket, unlocked the screen, and glanced at the message.

It was from Ghost-Hammer, her most trusted subordinate.

The last time she had logged onto the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps site, she’d contacted Ghost-Hammer—the one who had always watched her back before she ended up in prison.

She had slipped him her number to ensure they could stay connected no matter what.

She guessed Ghost-Hammer had finally returned from some hellish battlefield, survived his mission, and just now seen her message.

A sly smile tugged at the corners of Nova’s lips.

With Sophia still nearby, eyes glued to her, Nova casually read the reply, unconcerned who might see it.

On the screen, Ghost-Hammer’s words appeared:

“Boss, is that really you? Where the hell have you been for the last six months?”

“Most of the new recruits from half a year ago are dead, and the rest are wrecked for life. We’ve got fewer than ten left standing. Aside from that, everything with the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps is holding steady.”