The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

When Nova said “dead meat,” she wasn’t joking—she meant Logan and his entire gang. To her, they were nothing more than walking corpses, barely clinging to life for the moment but destined to fall soon enough.

Usually, calling out Logan’s crew like that was a surefire way to get someone seriously hurt. But today felt different. Maybe it was the bold move Nova had just pulled, or the sheer confidence radiating from her, but her daring had reached a level even Logan couldn’t match.

Her cold, unrelenting attitude completely crushed Logan’s spirit—he was no match for her. Not a single person around doubted that Nova was serious anymore. Everyone believed that if Logan or any of his men even considered refusing her demands again, they’d be dropping dead before they could blink.

A bald guy was the first to mouth off at Nova, trying to throw some tough talk her way. But now, clutching his head and still seeing stars after Nova had slammed him into a bench, he listened to her words with wide, terrified eyes, looking as if he might soil himself any second. The cocky swagger he’d carried before was gone; his voice shook like a fragile leaf in the wind.

He stammered out, “S-Sorry, we were wrong. We’re idiots for not realizing who we were dealing with. Please forgive us. I swear, we won’t ever dare again.”

The moment that bald guy began begging, the rest of Logan’s posse instantly lost all their bravado. The confident strut they’d marched in with dissolved into nothing—no one dared act tough anymore.

One by one, they all turned to Nova, tripping over their words as they scrambled to apologize. “Sorry,” one muttered. Another added, “We messed up.”

If this had happened to any ordinary girl, she’d be overwhelmed—maybe even honored and amazed. After all, these weren’t just random guys; they were the star players at the core of the Taekwondo club. Getting an apology from them basically meant Nova had earned the respect of the entire squad.

And with that opening, she might just have a chance to rub elbows with two of the school’s legendary top three heartthrobs.

“Well,” Nova said, letting out a lazy, indifferent hum amidst the chaos.

From a distance, she appeared pure and innocent, but up close, her beauty had a dangerous, electric edge. It was this seemingly angelic girl whose words came out cold and sharp—completely incongruous with her youthful face.

“I don’t buy your apologies,” she said, voice icy. “You’ve got ten seconds to clear out. I’m feeling generous. Now get lost…”

They didn’t even wait for her countdown to finish. Grabbing Logan, the whole gang scattered like frightened refugees fleeing for their lives.

In the blink of an eye, they vanished.

Nova clicked her tongue in amusement. “Look at them—escaping like lizards dropping their tails. Gotta admit, that’s pretty slick.”

A sly, almost amused smirk curved her crimson lips as she lazily licked them.

Throughout the entire scene, Sophia’s expression remained blank and stunned, as if her brain had completely short-circuited. In a daze, she stammered, “I-It’s over? The Taekwondo club guys actually apologized? Nova, we…”

Nova cut her off with a simple, “Let’s go.”

Sophia looked utterly lost. “W-Where are we going?”

“Back to class,” Nova replied with a smirk.

As they walked, they passed Hannah and Claire. Nova threw Hannah a knowing, teasing glance.

Nova’s instincts were razor-sharp—on any battlefield, she could read the terrain and pick off an enemy leader from over a mile away with her trusty eight-x scope.

So of course, she noticed when Hannah tried to jump in and back her up as soon as the Taekwondo club guys seemed ready to start trouble.

Honestly, that move surprised Nova. She never would have guessed that her so-called sister—the one who had always been cold to her face—would be the first to stand up for her when things actually got serious.

“Strangely enough… this feeling isn’t so bad after all,” Nova thought quietly to herself.

When Hannah caught Nova’s glance, it was like Nova had seen right through her. Hannah paused for a heartbeat, stunned, only to watch Nova already walking away without a word.

Nervous that Nova might have misunderstood her intentions, Hannah called out after her, barely sure if Nova could hear.

“Seriously, where’d you learn those moves? Why don’t you ever let Mom and Dad in on your secrets? Don’t get cocky—you only got past the Taekwondo club because luck was on your side this time. Doesn’t mean you get to walk around like you own the place. Saint Laurel Royal Academy is full of hidden pros—way more than you think. Whatever skills you have, trust me, they’re just beginner level around here.”

Finishing her rant, Hannah grabbed Claire’s arm and stormed off in the opposite direction.

Once the main players disappeared, the crowd quickly lost interest. People who had gathered to watch slowly drifted apart.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and no one saw the silent figure lurking behind a nearby pillar.

“Dead meat, huh? That’s an interesting woman. Max’s little sister isn’t half as dull as the rumors made her out to be,” said a handsome young man with sharp features.

The other boy, with a baby face and a gentle, innocent vibe, teased him back, “Zane, you actually interested in her? Who knew a girl could finally catch your eye—that’s almost unheard of.”

They had caught every moment of the drama, from start to finish.

These two were none other than the top heartthrobs of Saint Laurel Royal Academy, alongside Max himself.

Even more, they were the original founders of the Taekwondo club—Zane Morgan and Ethan Summers.

Ethan, with his youthful face and unmistakable puppy-dog energy, was impossible to miss. He broke into a grin sweeter than anything a girl could manage, his curiosity shining brightly in his eyes.

“Nova Blake, huh? Cool name. Now I’m actually looking forward to what kind of surprises she’ll throw our way. What about you, Zane? Think she’s got what it takes to keep us entertained for once? Man, it’s been forever since we met a girl this interesting.”

Since that dramatic showdown in the cafeteria, the whole school buzzed with rumors, and no one dared to challenge Nova anymore.

For once, Nova finally tasted a slice of real peace and quiet.

Instead of heading straight home, she wandered through the campus, taking in the fading light and the quiet hum of the afternoon as she made her way toward the largest bar in town—the Frostwave Bar.

Frostwave Bar wasn’t just the biggest club around; it was a long-standing institution, known for its rich history.

Rumor had it the owner was a major player in the underworld—a ruthless figure who ruled the streets of Ravenport. No one dared cross him.

Nova had a clear reason for coming here.

The Bloodblade Mercenary Corps was the largest mercenary outfit in the world, backed by an intelligence network called Crimson Web.

Crimson Web was the biggest intelligence network on the planet, with independent teams and bases scattered across every corner of the globe.

If anyone in the underworld sneezed, Crimson Web would uncover every detail.

They were so thorough they could even find out about the mistresses of the biggest players if they wanted.

And the owner of Frostwave Bar in Ravenport? He was one of Crimson Web’s regional heads in Zoria.

That was exactly why Nova had come—to find him.

The sky was shifting into evening, its soft glow casting long shadows across the city.

The last rays of sunset stretched lazily over the streets, spilling a warm, golden light.

By the time Nova arrived at the entrance of Frostwave Bar, dusk had fully settled, and nighttime was creeping in.

She slipped inside, her eyes sharp and her expression unreadable.

Wandering down the dimly lit hallway, she made her way toward a booth near the bar.

Before she could get down to business, a familiar voice called out, “Nova? Didn’t you head home? What brings you here?”

Nova spun around, genuine surprise flickering across her face.

She hadn’t expected to run into anyone she knew at Frostwave Bar.

Right there, standing in front of her, were Maxwell, Hannah, and the same group she’d crossed paths with just a little while ago.