The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

In that very instant, Nova casually leaned against the doorframe, her posture relaxed and her voice carrying an easy, almost indifferent tone.

“Why would I wait around for them to catch me when I’ve already escaped from Devil’s Isle?” she mused inwardly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “What fools they are.”

The news report playing in the background barely registered with her; it held no weight or significance in her mind.

Yet, everyone else in the room had clearly caught every word she uttered.

The expressions of those nearby—Maxwell, Hannah, Laura, Julian, and Caleb—shifted instantly, their faces tightening with shock and disbelief.

“Those guys talked big?” Maxwell echoed, standing rigid at the front, his voice flat but laced with a sudden chill that crept through his veins.

“Those guys?” he repeated silently, trying to piece it together. “She means the people from Devil’s Isle, right? The ones who swore they’d hunt down the escapee?”

That was the only explanation that made sense in his mind. To Maxwell and the rest of the Free Combat Club, Nova’s words felt foreign—out of context, almost impossible to decipher.

They exchanged uncertain glances, eyes wide and filled with disbelief.

After all, they were just ordinary college students.

Even Maxwell, known for his calm demeanor, found himself perplexed.

Hannah, Julian, and the others were simply stunned into silence.

Yet, Nova’s statement had been too precise, too intentional—almost as if she were directly addressing the officials from Devil’s Isle, responding to their broadcast.

None of them could possibly fathom that the girl standing casually before them was the very escapee the entire world was desperately searching for—the first person ever to break free from the notorious prison.

And even if Nova had confessed to it outright, no one would have believed her.

They were just students at Saint Laurel Royal Academy, a handful of young people with some self-defense skills.

Breaking out of a prison designed to hold the world’s most dangerous criminals was beyond anything they could imagine.

Still, Nova’s offhand remark left them all rooted in place, stunned and silent.

Feeling their wary gazes, Nova flicked a stray lock of hair from her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

“Relax,” she said with a playful lilt in her voice. “It was just a joke. You didn’t actually believe that, did you?”

Her lie was smooth, effortless—almost convincing.

“Nova?” Hannah snapped sharply, her voice rising with anger. Nova’s carefree teasing only seemed to mock her.

“You think this is funny?” Hannah shouted, her eyes blazing with resentment. “Who do you think you’re fooling? Do you really think we don’t know what kind of person you are?”

She pressed on, her voice trembling with bitter accusation. “You’re hopeless. You put on that pitiful act in front of Mom and Dad, but you’re decked out head to toe in designer brands.”

“Now you come here pretending to be all mysterious, claiming you’ll replace Max and take down Zane? The one who talks big around here is you.”

“You selfish, lying fraud—I will never forgive you. And I’ll never admit that someone like you is my sister.”

When her tirade ended, Hannah slammed her foot hard against the door.

BANG.

The door shook violently from the force, the sound reverberating down the empty corridor.

Without looking back, she stormed off down the hall.

“Hannie?” Julian and Caleb called after her, their voices filled with concern.

They exchanged a quick, apologetic glance with Nova before hurrying after Hannah.

Maxwell’s expression was telling—he shared Julian’s thoughts.

Both of them believed that after years away from home, Nova had simply developed a reckless habit of blurting out careless remarks or making ill-timed jokes.

But unlike Hannah, neither held any real animosity toward her.

“I’ll go check on Hannie,” Maxwell said softly, then followed the others downstairs.

“Hannah’s our club’s little princess,” Laura commented, awkwardly scratching the back of her head. “She’s not great with jokes, you know?”

“But she’s actually really kind. Don’t take it personally. Family fights never last long. She’ll calm down soon enough. Just give it some time—you two will be close again before you know it.”

It was a darkness that girls like Sophia—born into comfort and luxury—could never truly grasp.

“Other than being a little too sweet,” Nova said evenly, swallowing the last bite, “it tastes fine.”

Sophia, of course, assumed Nova was just being polite, eating the cake to spare her feelings.

Her eyes softened, misting with gratitude. “Nova—”

Before she could say more, the class bell rang sharply, cutting through the moment.

Students hurried back to their desks, and Sophia reluctantly returned to her seat.

A few moments later, the classroom door swung open.

Their academic advisor, Zoey Cole, entered, her sharp heels clicking authoritatively against the polished floor. Zoey’s hips swayed subtly as she made her way to the podium.

Today’s class was supposed to be Literature, so her presence—being the Aurevian language instructor—signaled that something was amiss.

Only two possibilities came to mind.

Either the Literature teacher was absent, or Zoey had an important announcement to make.

Sure enough, when she reached the front, Zoey cleared her throat and spoke crisply, “Your Literature teacher is absent today, so we’ll be having Aurevian instead.”

Adjusting the gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, Zoey looked young and beautiful, carrying herself with a quiet but unmistakable authority.

Her expression soon grew serious.

“The school held an emergency staff meeting earlier,” she began. “This year’s freshman training will commence in ten days.”

“But unlike previous years, this time sophomores, juniors, and seniors will all participate together. And the format has changed. Instead of the usual boring drills and posture training—”

Zoey paused for effect, letting the suspense build.

“This year’s training will involve a full-scale wilderness survival challenge—and you’ll be working alongside your upperclassmen.”