The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Even Harrison couldn’t help but feel his cheeks warm with embarrassment as he nervously posed the question. After all, the woman standing before him had displayed such extraordinary strength during the Apo Conflict that he knew there was no way he could ever match her caliber. And now, to ask her to work under his command? It seemed almost absurd. Surely, no rational person would agree to such a thing.

Yet, to his surprise, Nova merely offered a faint, knowing smile. “Well then,” she said smoothly, “I’ll be counting on you, Commander Marshall.”

If anyone else had addressed him with that formal title, Harrison might have maintained his usual calm and collected demeanor without so much as a flicker of reaction. But this was Nova—the very woman who had haunted his dreams ever since that fateful battle. A sudden chill crept down his spine, as if the cold barrel of a gun had been pressed against his jaw.

“No trouble at all, no trouble…” Harrison stammered, his voice hurried and slightly shaky as he tried to reassure her.

Without missing a beat, Nova spun around slightly and recited a string of numbers with a faint smile playing on her lips. “That’s my number. Call me anytime.”

She was never one for lengthy speeches. Living by her own rules, Nova did what she wanted, rarely caring about others’ opinions. With that, she turned sharply on her heel and strode away, not even sparing Harrison a backward glance.

Mercenaries rarely said goodbyes. Death lurked on every battlefield, and any farewell could be the last—sometimes, goodbye meant forever. In their harsh world, parting words were almost considered disrespectful, a breach of an unspoken code.

Nova took a few steps away. While Harrison fumbled to save her number on his phone, she half-turned casually, as if recalling something.

“Oh, right,” she said lightly.

Harrison blinked, momentarily confused. “What is it? Another question?”

Nova’s tone remained blunt, as always. “So, joining your sector—does it pay well?”

She tossed out the kind of question everyone thought but no one dared voice aloud.

Harrison froze, his mind blank as he absorbed her words.

Finally, gathering his composure, he answered with a serious, unwavering tone, “Absolutely! The benefits are solid, the pay is good, and if you’re stationed in Sector X18, you get free meals and lodging.”

Nova’s eyes narrowed mischievously, a sly grin curving her lips. “Well, here’s to teaming up again. Hope it’s a blast.”

For a while, Nova lingered in Sector X18 with Jordan, experimenting with various firearms and getting a solid feel for the firepower available. It satisfied her craving completely—finally, she indulged in handling some serious weaponry.

After their time in Sector X18, Nova returned to The Greenwood accompanied by Jordan, Felix, Evie, Freya, Dustin, and Isaac. They arrived just before five in the evening—dinner time.

Maxwell had already announced that dinner would take place at the hot spring lounge at five o’clock.

While Nova had been off in Sector X18, the other students had already enjoyed a relaxing soak in the hot springs and were now gathered in the lounge.

Nova didn’t even bother changing; she headed straight to the hot spring lounge, where Felix and the others soon joined her.

“Novie!” A familiar voice called out the moment she entered.

In the spacious lounge, which easily accommodated over a hundred people, Nova immediately spotted Maxwell front and center, waving her over with that signature charming smile.

She led Felix and the others to join him.

“Novie, you haven’t hit the hot springs yet?” Maxwell asked, genuinely puzzled.

He lounged at a large table that could seat ten, draped in a bathrobe that accentuated his tall, lean frame. His dark, damp hair clung to his forehead, and his quietly handsome features made him the kind of guy who caught everyone’s attention.

Maxwell was hanging out with Hannah, Claire, and a few other students from Saint Laurel Royal Academy. Everyone was wrapped in bathrobes, freshly relaxed from the hot springs, casually passing time with a game.

In the center of the table sat a spinner—clearly, they were playing Truth or Dare.

“I’m not really into crowded places,” Nova replied to Maxwell, sliding into the only empty seat at the table.

Seeing Nova’s table was full, Felix and the others settled at a nearby free table.

“Don’t like crowded hot springs? Why not just pay for a private room?” Claire said, shooting Nova a sharp, snarky glance.

“Right, Hannie?” she added, looking to Hannah for support.

“Whatever, I don’t care about her,” Hannah muttered, turning her head away deliberately, acting as if Nova didn’t exist.

Back when Claire used to trash-talk Nova, Hannah always joined in eagerly. But now, it seemed Claire was the only one still stirring up trouble against Nova.

‘When did I become the only one?’ Claire wondered bitterly, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior.

Before Claire could say more, Nova shot her a sharp look and moved.

With a sudden, forceful shove, she slammed the table toward Claire, Hannah, and the others sitting across from her.

Caught completely off guard, the five tumbled backward, landing flat on their backs in stunned silence.

They scrambled to their feet, cursing Nova furiously.

“Nova! What the hell is wrong with you?

“If you have a problem with me, say it to my face! Why drag everyone else into your mess?”

But before Claire could respond, everyone’s attention snapped to Nova. She bent down and, in full view, plucked a gleaming bullet from the floor tiles.

That bullet had been fired directly at the spot where Claire, Hannah, and the others had been sitting just moments before.

Had Nova not intervened, those five would now be lying here, pierced by a bullet.

Shaking, Claire and the others stared as Nova’s voice cut through the tension, cold and precise.

“There’s an assassin here,” she declared.

Felix and his group at the nearby table jerked upright, startled by Nova’s revelation.

Without wasting words, Nova rolled the bullet between her fingers, examining it with sharp focus.

Her eyes settled on a pair of letters stamped on the base—B.B.

The letters stood for Bloodblade.

It was the signature mark on every bullet fired by mercenaries from Nova’s Bloodblade Mercenary Corps when on assignment.

They were here to kill her.