The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 183

**A Symphony of Shadows by Evelyn Hart**
**Chapter 183**

The chilling words “kill” and “mere” struck Fiona Blake and Charles Blake like thunderclaps, reverberating deep within their hearts and echoing through the very essence of their beings. The atmosphere in the grand hall shifted abruptly, a palpable tension tightening around everyone present, mirroring the dread that gripped the Blakes.

“Mmm—” Mya’s voice was abruptly silenced, her mouth suddenly covered by a hand that appeared out of nowhere.

Before she could even complete the word “mercenary,” Yvonne had swooped in, her hand clamped firmly over Mya’s mouth, cutting her off mid-sentence.

“Hey everyone, Mya’s had a few too many drinks and she’s a bit tipsy—don’t mind her if she starts rambling,” Yoro interjected, her tone smooth and confident, as if she were a seasoned performer on stage.

“We’ve been together the entire evening, not a single moment apart. Honestly, my friends can vouch for that,” she added, casting a casual wink towards the others, her charisma lighting up the room.

“So please, don’t take anything Mya says to heart,” Yoro concluded, her voice light yet reassuring, an effortless grace radiating from her.

As Yoro stepped in to diffuse the situation, her words flowed naturally, as if she were born for this role. Yet beneath her polished exterior, a different story unfolded.

With Yoro’s hand clamped over her mouth, Mya struggled fiercely, desperation etched on her features. In a sudden burst of defiance, she bit down hard on Yoro’s hand, her teeth sinking into flesh until blood began to seep from the deep impressions she left behind. It seemed as though she might tear the skin completely, but Yoro maintained her serene smile, her grip unyielding, her demeanor utterly composed.

In that moment, Yoro looked like a celestial being, her brilliance almost blinding against the backdrop of chaos, illuminating the shadows where Nova was barely managing to hold herself together.

Oh, the irony of it all.

Nova, once hailed as an angel in her childhood, had morphed into a figure capable of taking lives without a flicker of remorse. Meanwhile, Yoro, who had been teased as a little devil in her youth, now stood as the angel amidst a gathering of devils.

Nova watched Yoro ahead, who was adopting a mock-playful tone for the crowd. “See? She’s completely lost it—nobody can hold her back once the booze kicks in,” Yoro quipped, her smile casual, almost too carefree for the moment.

For someone like Yoro, who thrived in the limelight, her flawless skin was akin to a survival ticket. Yet here she was, with her hand marred and bleeding from Mya’s bite, still managing to smile, cracking jokes, and covering for Nova as if nothing was amiss.

Honestly, who wouldn’t want a big sister like her?

“Mya, just how much did you drink? You’re talking complete nonsense!” Finn, who had just caught up, shot a look at Yoro before directing his frustration at Mya.

He then winked at Nova, a silent promise conveyed in that fleeting gesture: “Don’t worry, we’ve got your back—nothing’s going to happen to you.”

“Spreading rumors like that isn’t okay. If you can’t back it up, it’s slander,” Kael chimed in, his voice firm, a protective edge in his tone.

“Yeah…” Chloe nodded in agreement, but her gaze darted towards Mya, a flicker of disdain evident in her eyes.

Suddenly, Mya froze, her body going rigid as the realization struck her—she had no evidence to support her claims.

That was all it took.

Yoro finally released her grip.

“You… all of you… hmph!” Mya shot them a venomous glare, rolling her eyes dramatically before huffing loudly in frustration. She jabbed a finger at Yoro and the others, spun on her heel, and stormed out, creating quite the spectacle as she left.

The crowd of over a thousand, initially drawn in by the commotion, quickly recognized the scene for what it was—pointless drama. Disinterested, they returned to their previous conversations and activities.

“That really gave me a scare. For a moment there, I thought Nova was actually—” Fiona’s voice trailed off, anxiety creeping into her tone.

“Why is that girl just making things up like that?” Fiona muttered under her breath, her gaze fixated on Mya as she walked away, her eyes lingering on the distance.

Yoro’s mother chuckled lightly. “These kids—they really do say whatever pops into their heads.”

Charles, slightly buzzed from the evening’s drinks, snapped back to the present, seamlessly returning to his socializing, his glass never leaving his hand.

He didn’t spare a second thought to the drama.

For the first time, Nova had people who were aware of her mercenary past—and they were still willing to stand by her, without hesitation or fear.

In her decade-long career as a mercenary before her imprisonment, Nova had encountered numerous ordinary people. Yet every time they learned the truth about her, she was met with fear, distance, and rejection.

Some would even rush to the authorities, pleading for her arrest, wishing for her to be locked away for life—or worse.

And sometimes… the reactions were even more grotesque than that.

People always wore a mask of indifference in her presence, pretending not to care while secretly warning others to steer clear. Even the friends she had desperately tried to connect with ultimately abandoned her.

Yoro understood why Nova was hesitant to get close, and she respected that without question.

With a wave, Yoro strolled back toward Finn, Chloe, and Kael, who awaited her not far off.

From her position, Nova caught Finn’s eye as he gave her a nod and flashed a broad, toothy grin, as if to say, “Look at me, sis—your big bro is awesome, right?”

Nova returned the gesture, keeping her demeanor cool and collected.

She stepped off the balcony and began walking toward the area of the hall where Fiona and Charles lingered.

It had barely been a heartbeat… then two… By the time the sixth second ticked by, a piercing scream sliced through the air from behind her.

“Ah…”

That scream was pure terror, the kind that heralds impending doom.

A gut-wrenching instinct surged through Nova, halting her in her tracks. Her battle instincts screamed—trouble was imminent.

She spun around, moving like a shadow herself. In three rapid heartbeats, she closed the distance, already at Yoro’s side and the others.

Ahead, a slick, dark figure darted across the side of the deck, flashing past Yoro and her group with lethal precision.

The way that figure moved was sharp and deadly, reminiscent of the same assassin vibe that had characterized the waiter Nova had dealt with earlier.

The tiny glimmer of hope Nova had managed to cling to was snuffed out in an instant, as if storm clouds had suddenly swallowed the sky.

Perhaps in this world of shadows, mercenaries stained with blood were never meant to glimpse even a hint of light.

In the split second that shadow darted past, a dagger plunged deep into Yoro’s chest, striking precisely over her heart—deadly and unerring. She collapsed into Finn and the others, her face draining of color, as pale as death itself.

And just like that, the fragile warmth Nova had finally dared to believe in shattered, yanking her back into the frozen abyss of despair.