The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89

But now was definitely not the moment.

If she revealed herself as Bloodforge at this point, she’d instantly find enemies closing in from every direction.

Devil’s Isle and Ray Hale would be on her trail without hesitation.

And the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps? A chaotic mess of traitors and disorder.

Before she could make a grand comeback as Bloodforge, she had to either assemble a loyal crew or secure a powerful ally.

That thought inevitably brought Damien to mind.

Yet, the instant the idea surfaced, her mind recoiled sharply.

Why am I even thinking about him again? Nova wondered with frustration.

She reminded herself, sharply, “Don’t forget—when we first met, he genuinely wanted me dead.”

Shaking off the distracting memory, Nova refocused.

Once the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps realized their operatives were missing, someone would be dispatched to clean up the mess—the five mercenaries, including Dorken and Harvey’s bodies.

That was no longer her concern.

Turning on her heel, she headed back toward The Greenwood as the rain intensified around her.

The downpour had transformed from a gentle drizzle into sheets of rain, whipped fiercely by the rising wind.

By 6:20 PM, the storm was relentless.

Upstairs on the second floor of The Greenwood, Maxwell, Hannah, and the others had taken refuge in a hidden corner, with Maxwell stepping up to lead.

“Why did it suddenly start raining so hard? I hope Nova’s alright,” Evie said, worry coloring her tone.

“She’ll be fine,” Felix answered, though his eyes betrayed his unease.

Both Maxwell and Hannah had witnessed Nova take down dangerous international fugitives before—they knew she was far from helpless.

Still, like any protective older brother, Maxwell couldn’t help but fret over his little sister venturing out alone.

Hannah remained silent but bit her nails so deeply into the leather couch that it seemed she might tear it apart.

Her lip was caught between her teeth, tension radiating from her every muscle.

At last, through the pounding rain, a familiar figure emerged outside the window.

Hannah’s eyebrows lifted involuntarily, a rare burst of pure, unfiltered joy lighting her face.

“She’s back… she’s really back,” she whispered, disbelief and relief mingling in her voice.

Everyone hurried downstairs.

At The Greenwood’s entrance, they spotted Nova, drenched and dripping from the storm.

“Nova, you’re back safe!” Maxwell’s expression softened, a smile breaking through his worry.

“Nova, you…” Hannah’s usual sharp tongue faltered as the tight knot in her chest began to unravel.

She had been ready to greet Nova with her typical sass, prepared to tease her mercilessly.

But then she recalled Maxwell’s earlier words: “Trust her.”

Biting back her retort, she hesitated.

In the end, she said nothing cutting, instead murmuring shyly, her voice soft and almost vulnerable, “I’m just glad you’re back…”

None of them knew the full story—that Nova had faced off against Dorken, ranked 39th on the International Mercenary list.

None had witnessed the brutal showdown.

To these college students, the idea of “secret masters” was just campus rumor. To them, Nova was merely someone with hidden skills who might have taken down a few elite assassins at best.

Even that was enough to make them feel like champions.

Nova kept the truth to herself. Those who truly knew—Dorken, Harvey, and the others—were already dead and gone.

Felix, still uneasy, finally asked, “So, how did it go? Those assassins…”

It was as if all her worries dissolved, leaving her floating in pure tranquility.

The healing waters seemed to strip away the blood and scars etched deep into her bones.

After soaking for what felt like hours, Nova sensed a familiar presence nearby—someone wasn’t even bothering to hide, just lingering behind the artificial rocks at the edge of the vast spring.

Raising her voice to cut through the silence, she called out toward the rock formation, “Done staring yet?”

After a moment, just as she expected, a tall, lean figure stepped out from behind the faux rocks.

He looked ridiculously handsome, as if an artist had plucked him straight from the pages of a manga—no mere mortal should look that good.

His short, damp hair clung to his forehead, each strand dripping with crystal-clear water.

The droplets traced their way down his sculpted chest before disappearing into the white towel slung low around his hips.

This was the first time Nova had ever seen Damien shirtless—and damn, the view was worth every second.

Eight perfectly carved abs, not overdone but just right—years of training had shaped him into a body built for trouble.

Right in the center of his chest, a deep, sharp scar stood out.

Far from detracting from his looks, it gave him a rare, distinguished edge.

Nova caught herself licking her lips, unable to tear her eyes away.

She wasn’t surprised to find Damien lurking here.

When she first arrived at The Greenwood with the school group, she’d already spotted both Damien and Aiden.

What did catch her off guard was that he’d had the same idea—sneaking into the hot springs in the dead of night for some alone time.

Great minds really do think alike.

That thought curled her lips into a sly smile.

Hooking her pinky finger toward Damien, she tossed him a playful invitation, her tone teasingly seductive.

“Since you’re already here, why not join me for a soak before you head out?”