The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 186

**A Symphony of Shadows by Evelyn Hart**

**Chapter 186**

It wasn’t merely the thought of doing something scandalous with Damien that occupied Nova’s mind.

Rather, it was the desperate need to unleash the stubborn emotions she had buried deep within her, feelings that clawed at her insides, demanding to be acknowledged.

Even after three long months, the ache of her heart remained, a wound that refused to heal. She often mused that had she never experienced the warmth of the light, perhaps she could have endured the encompassing darkness.

With a sudden surge of determination, Nova acted without a moment’s hesitation.

Her hands, driven by an impulsive yearning, began to explore Damien’s form, seeking solace in the physicality of the moment.

Damien, however, was no fool; he saw through her facade, comprehending the turmoil that swirled within her thoughts.

Yet, he never pressed her for answers or demanded explanations. As the queen’s devoted duke, he was simply there to fulfill her wishes—her desires were his sole command.

Even when she reduced him to a mere tool in her pursuit of distraction, he followed her lead without a flicker of doubt.

But he could sense that her mind was adrift, lost in a tempest of emotions. With a gentle yet firm touch, he halted her wandering hands.

“Don’t push yourself,” he murmured, his voice a rich tapestry of warmth and magnetism, enveloping her like a protective cocoon. It was as if he cradled her in his palm, determined to shield her from even the faintest whisper of pain.

In truth, it was he who bore the heavier burden, his own heart aching for her in ways she couldn’t fathom.

“I’m not pushing myself,” Nova retorted, her stubbornness flaring up like a flame.

With a swift motion, she brushed Damien’s hand aside, intent on chasing a different kind of feeling, regardless of the cost.

Suddenly, three sharp knocks echoed from the door, shattering the fragile atmosphere that had enveloped them.

The modest little room in their humble inn was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of someone knocking.

“Nova, some of the mercs are going at it in the corps. Want to come see what’s up?” Yellowcat’s voice called from the hallway, breaking through the tension.

Just as Nova was about to take that decisive step forward, the moment was abruptly severed.

Her hand lingered on Damien’s shoulder, and for a heartbeat, she fell silent, then replied softly, “Wait outside. I’ll be right there.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Yellowcat responded promptly, the authority in her tone unmistakable.

Once Yellowcat’s presence faded into the distance, Nova stood up, brushing away the encounter as if it had never existed.

She turned to Damien, her voice casual as she extended the invitation. “Coming with me?”

For the first time, there was no flicker of longing or desire in his expression. His handsome profile dipped low, messy black hair casting shadows across his forehead, creating an aura of both mystery and restraint.

He parted his lips to answer, his voice embodying the quiet loyalty that was uniquely his. “Yeah.”

This time, Damien displayed no signs of disappointment at the interruption, no hint of frustration as their moment was cut short.

It wasn’t that he had lost interest in her; it was something deeper.

Every action she took made it abundantly clear to him—Nova’s yearning for him transcended mere intimacy or desire.

What she truly sought was a release, a balm for the unrest that twisted and turned within her heart.

What he craved was not just her body; he longed for her to be fully present with him, to surrender herself to him, heart and soul.

Yellowcat hadn’t been waiting long when Nova stepped out of the inn, and right behind her was Damien—tall, strikingly handsome, like a guardian angel sent to protect her from the shadows.

Together, they presented a striking image, a pair seemingly crafted for one another.

For a brief moment, Yellowcat paused, her eyes widening slightly.

It wasn’t shock at seeing Damien for the first time; that wasn’t the case at all.

In the three months since Yellowcat had rejoined Nova, both she and Ghost-Hammer had become acutely aware of the unspoken bond that existed between Nova and Damien.

Though neither had dared to voice their observations, the understanding loomed large in the air.

What truly made Yellowcat hesitate was a piece of gossip she had heard from Natasha not long ago—rumors swirling that the boss’s “boy toy” was supposedly impotent.

Neither she nor Ghost-Hammer had given the gossip any credence. With Damien’s fit physique and powerful presence, it was hard to believe he could have any issues in that department.

Now, witnessing the two of them emerge from the inn mere moments later, Yellowcat couldn’t help but think to herself, ‘Looks like our boss’s man really is an impotent man after all…’

She shook her head, a mix of amusement and disbelief washing over her.

Nova caught the fleeting change in Yellowcat’s demeanor and inquired softly, “Something bothering you?”

Yellowcat would never reveal her true thoughts, so she straightened herself and replied earnestly, “No, boss. Eder and the others are really tearing into each other. If it escalates, we might need you to step in.”

Eder was a recent addition to Nova’s newly formed Blood Doll Corps, having joined in the past few months.

Creating a brand new mercenary corps from scratch? It was no small feat.

Especially with a woman at the helm—the challenges were bound to be numerous, and resistance was almost a given.

When Nova had been establishing the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps, she had faced a mountain of obstacles and pushback.

But those days were long behind her now.

“Sham, if I don’t beat you into a bloody pulp today, I’ll write my name backwards!”

The brown-haired guy, with chiseled Western features and all the bravado of a black market thug, hurled insults back at the cheetah-built Black man, his voice dripping with fury.

They threw punches as if the world would end, both clearly relishing every moment of the brawl.

To these fresh mercs, who hadn’t yet been molded into shape, Nova wasn’t their true boss—she was just the woman handing out cash.

In their eyes, any woman who couldn’t back her authority with her fists was merely a fake boss, powerless in practice.

Yellowcat’s expression turned serious as she glanced at Nova.

“Boss…” Yellowcat murmured, concern etched on her face.

Nova simply waved her off, signaling for her to step back.

With two firm strides forward, she needed no words with Damien; their silent understanding spoke volumes.

As she approached the chaos, Damien’s lips formed a tight line, that classic knightly devotion to his queen settling into place. With calm precision, he donned a pair of pure black gloves, each finger sliding in effortlessly.

Sham and Eder were locked in a wild brawl, fists and feet flying, blood smeared across their faces, driven by pride and fury. Neither was willing to relent, not for a moment.

Then, in an instant, Sham stiffened, caught off guard in the midst of the fight, his fists frozen mid-swing.

Before he could react, Nova’s slender, deceptively gentle hands clamped onto him like iron jaws, flinging him backward with surprising strength.

She barely gave Sham a moment to breathe. With one powerful pull, she sent him crashing behind her, then pressed her other hand down hard on his arm—a sharp, almost popping crack echoed as she locked his joint tight.

She had caught him on a sensitive nerve, and in an instant, Sham went limp, his body surrendering completely.

The very next moment, Nova seized him by the back of the neck and, with barely any effort, slammed him down flat on the table, pinning him like prey caught by a predator—helpless, unable to even twitch.

At the same time, she executed a swift side kick, landing a precise blow to Eder’s stomach.

He tumbled backward, landing effortlessly at Damien’s feet.

Damien’s strong, elegant hand gripped Eder’s elbow, twisting it back in a savage 360-degree motion.

The sharp sound of bone snapping was immediately followed by Eder’s agonized scream.

“Crack!”

“Ah…”

In less than a minute, all those mercs who had dismissed Nova’s authority lay sprawled like a pile of defeated challengers, victims of the combined prowess of Nova and Damien.