The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Andrew ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated look crossing his face. “Looks like our chances of making it onto the task force this time are pretty slim,” he muttered.

He shifted uncomfortably as the underwear he’d just adjusted slipped out of place again, thanks to his constant fidgeting. Wearing ill-fitting underwear was pure torture—especially when it kept riding up in the worst possible spots. Every small movement felt like a fresh wave of discomfort, making it impossible for him to focus on anything else.

Most people would have gritted their teeth and waited until they were alone to fix it discreetly, but Andrew wasn’t one to care much about appearances. Without hesitation, he reached back and, without any shame, freed his trapped underwear right then and there. He gave himself a quick shake, acting as if nothing had happened.

Then, with a casual grin, Andrew threw an arm around Oliver’s shoulder, as if they were longtime buddies sharing a lighthearted moment. “So, what about you, bro? You going for that SS-class mission? Honestly, that sounds way too dangerous. Just skip it—what’s the point if you end up dead?”

He glanced toward Nova, a teasing glint in his eye. “Am I right, Nova?”

Nova met his gaze steadily. “I’m going.”

Andrew blinked, momentarily thrown off. Was he really seeing this right? Was Nova actually excited about this mission?

She was just an ordinary student, after all. At best, she’d traveled overseas, but she’d never been anywhere close to a war zone. So why did she seem so fired up about this?

Andrew wondered if his underwear was so tight it was cutting off circulation to his brain. Was he starting to hallucinate?

He made a mental note to stock up on better-fitting underwear before their next trip out of the war zone. The ones he had at home were either torn to shreds or painfully tight. If he kept wearing this torture device, he might just squeeze his brain out!

“Alright, it’s your call—we’ve got your back,” Andrew shrugged, trying to sound casual.

“Just don’t forget to give your brother and the family a heads-up. No point in letting them go nuts worrying about you,” he added with a grin.

The selection officer then wrapped up the list. Everyone still interested in competing for a spot on the task force and joining the real combat mission was instructed to meet at the usual place that night at eight o’clock.

Since this was an emergency operation and they had to mobilize immediately, the candidates were given only the afternoon and evening to make their decisions.

*****

After leaving the war zone behind, Nova had no intention of returning to school right away. Skipping class wasn’t something she got to do often, so she planned to savor every moment of her unexpected freedom.

She stopped by the little shop near the school gate and treated herself to a glass of ice-cold lemonade. The sweet, tangy burst of flavor was pure bliss, instantly cooling her down and lifting her spirits.

Perfectly chilled—just the way she liked it.

Nova savored every second of it.

There was a time when she never would have imagined herself relaxing by the school gate, sipping lemonade and watching students rush around campus. After all those years spent running from one battlefield to another, moments like this felt like a distant dream.

For Nova, these quiet, simple joys were something she could never quite put into words.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, she figured the campus heartthrob and campus belle contest at Saint Laurel Royal Academy must have finished.

So, she casually climbed back over the east entrance, just as she had when she left.

As she walked away, she even gave the security guard a little wave.

The guard stood there, completely dumbfounded.

Where did this kid even come from? Is she for real? She’s wild, he thought.

She climbs over the school gate to skip class, then climbs back in like it’s no big deal?

Is scaling fences the new trend among students now or something?

Man, I just…

“These kids these days—I swear, I’ll never understand what’s going on in their heads!”

When Nova finally reached the classroom, Sophia practically bounced over, bursting with excitement the moment she saw her.

“Nova! Seriously, why are you only just getting back? Where did you go? The campus belle contest is already over!”

“Ugh, you should’ve won—it’s so unfair!” Sophia exclaimed, pouting with exaggerated disappointment, clearly feeling sorry for Nova.

“It’s all done now,” she continued breathlessly. “You have no idea how crazy the campus belle contest was this afternoon!”

“Guess what?”

“You raked in fifteen thousand votes! And Saint Laurel Royal Academy only has twenty thousand students—that’s basically the whole school!”

Sophia counted off the numbers on her fingers, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Last year, your sister Hannah won campus belle with the highest votes, but she only got just over ten thousand!”

“You totally smashed the all-time campus belle record at Saint Laurel Royal Academy—no one’s ever come close!”

“But now it’s all for nothing! You didn’t go on stage, so the campus belle and heartthrob titles went to the usual crowd.”

“Seriously, you have no idea—everyone on campus was losing their minds trying to find you this afternoon!”

“Your brother and sister called you a million times! And you totally ghosted them!”

Sophia’s words reminded Nova that she’d switched off her phone as soon as she entered the U26 war zone.

She’d done it to keep her mind clear—there was no point in letting a flood of random messages distract her.

Now remembering, she pulled out her phone and turned it back on.

As expected, her notifications exploded. Maxwell and Hannah had practically spammed her with over twenty missed calls, taking turns trying to reach her.

“Something came up, couldn’t make it back,” Nova texted casually, tossing out the excuse as if it was no big deal.

The truth was, she couldn’t have cared less about that so-called campus belle and heartthrob contest. She definitely didn’t want any of the pointless drama that came with it.

Maxwell’s voice softened. “If you ever run into something you can’t handle, promise me you’ll reach out to me or Hannie. Don’t try to go it alone.”

“Honestly, Hannie and I have been quietly building some influence over the years—we’re not as helpless as people think. If you need backup, we’ve got you covered.”

Nova nodded in acknowledgment.

Hannah pouted. “Fine, do what you want—but seriously, don’t go dying out there!”

At exactly 5 p.m., right on the dot, Nova appeared at the same spot where the task force tryouts had been held before.

This time, the area was brightly lit, and parked right in front of the hangar was a massive military transport plane.

“Yo, Nova!” Andrew called out cheerfully as soon as he spotted her.

Oliver and Leanne stood nearby, looking a bit nervous but determined.

Even though they were a little freaked out, none of them were about to miss their chance at the task force, so the three had come together.

Nova turned toward them and gave a cocky tilt of her chin—her way of saying hello.

Not far off, Violet was with her usual group, sticking close as they led the way onto the transport plane.

Just before boarding, Violet shot Nova a sharp, icy glare.

Nova paid her no mind, completely ignoring the hostile look.

“I counted—just eleven of us here!” Andrew said, scanning the group. “Once you take out the folks who bombed the defusal challenge and the dozen or so who bailed tonight, guess they gave up their shot.”

“Let’s get on the plane!” Andrew called out, waving everyone forward as he led the way.

With a mission this dangerous—an SS-class operation—it was no surprise only a handful of people had the guts to show up.

Nova and the others settled into the transport plane.

The aircraft doors sealed shut, and the engines roared to life, preparing for takeoff.

For a while, everyone relaxed, chatting casually and unwinding.

Soon, Nova found herself drawn into a conversation between two spec-ops members sitting across from her.

“Hey, did you hear about Devil’s Isle from a while back?” one asked.

“You mean that prison holding the world’s most dangerous criminals? Supposedly no one’s ever escaped from there, right? But a few months ago, someone actually broke out!” the other replied.

“Yeah, that’s the one! Word is the toughest warden there—Ray Hale—is here in Trinova now, leading a squad from Devil’s Isle, searching everywhere, zeroing in on whoever’s hiding out!” the first continued.

Nova listened intently, the weight of the mission settling over her as the plane rumbled toward its destination.