The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

As soon as Nova spoke, the crowd went dead silent.

All their eyes popped open at the same time, as if trying to see through Nova.

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One thought, ‘She just replied to Emily in such flawless, native Voskundi. Is she really the supposedly useless Blake heiress?‘

Another thought, ‘Didn’t they say she got herself a sugar daddy, maybe even worked in some seedy club?”

Someone marveled, “Holy crap! That’s insane.”

“I’ve studied Voskundi too, but her pronunciation is even better than our teacher’s,” someone from the crowd just blurted it out, shock echoing in his voice.

His shout was so loud that it yanked everyone’s attention right back to Nova.

Even Emily, still looking like she’d just seen a ghost, jumped in her seat.

Ever since Nova spoke up, Emily looked utterly humiliated, like she’d just been dragged out of the trash in front of everyone.

Her face kept switching from pale to livid, unable to hide her embarrassment.

Right now, she felt like a clown on display, completely exposed before the crowd.

And the worst part? She’d spent the whole summer cramming Voskundi, but all she’d managed to pick up were the absolute basics you use every day.

Stuff like “Hello,” “Really?” and “Good morning” in Zoriaien–that was pretty much her whole vocabulary.

Even “mistress” was the only fancy Voskundi word Emily could desperately yank out of her memory, after racking her brains.

As for Nova’s reply, which sounded straight–up professional, Emily was completely lost–she didn’t get any of it. She couldn’t even begin to argue back.

Right now, Emily just wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

Just then, someone let out a chuckle, completely breaking the tension.

Sophia was still in a daze, not even realizing her bestie was aiming straight at Nova on purpose.

The chuckle was from Zane, the campus heartthrob who’d been ice–cold the whole time.

Zane was probably one of the very few people present who could actually follow Nova’s flawless Voskundi.

After all, Zane wasn’t just top three among the campus heartthrobs at Saint Laurel Royal Academy–he was also the heir to the Morgan family, one of the major elite families in Ravenport.

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13:55 Sat, Jun 6

Chapter 17

With a background like that, it was only natural that he’d been everywhere and picked up all kinds of languages. No wonder he totally got Voskundi.

After that rare chuckle, Zane–usually the ice–cold type–fixed his piercing gaze right on Nova’s face.

It was like he’d just found his new favorite source of entertainment.

He looked straight at Nova and said, “Well, you’re interesting.”

First, there was that day in the cafeteria–Nova beat Logan and his crew and called them dead meat right to their faces.

And now, she just said she’d twist Emily’s head off in flawless Voskundi.

Zane was totally caught off guard that the newly returned Blake heiress was so savage.

“Guess talking big is the easy part, Zane mused, ‘but actually going through with it, that’s a whole other story.

“As if Nova would ever really twist Emily’s head off, he thought. ‘Let’s be real–she’s still a girl.

“Sure, she puts on a tough act, mouths off, might even throw down, but actually killing someone? No way.

“Still, in a sea of cookie–cutter girls on campus, she is already way too special to ignore.’

Zane narrowed his eyes, a hint of intrigue flickering in his gaze.

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A girl cried, “Oh my, did I hear that right? Our ice–cold campus heartthrob actually cracked a smile because of Nova?”

Another chimed in, “No freaking way. Prince Zane seriously said Nova is interesting.”

“Mom, my heart just broke,” someone else said.

The girls in the crowd were practically shrieking, losing their minds at the scene playing out in front of them.

As for Nova, the girls couldn’t help but burn with jealousy–and deep down, every single one of them wished they could be her for just one second.

And then, Sophia grabbed Nova’s sleeve, so hyped that she looked ready to pass out. “No way, Nova. Did you get hit with a lucky charm today or something? Zane actually noticed you.”

Her tone sounded like this was the kind of brag one’d never let anyone forget.

Nova frowned. She didn’t look happy.

Even with all their envy bubbling over, the girls thought for sure that was the end of Nova’s surprise streak.

But nobody expected what happened next.

Zane offered Nova his hand in a formal gesture and said, sounding official, “Beautiful lady, are you interested in being my date tonight?”

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13:55 Sat, Jun 6

Chapter 17

As soon as he said that, the whole place exploded with excitement.

Someone screamed, “Aaaahhhh!”

One said, “Oh my goodness, Zane actually asked her to be his date. I’m dying of jealousy.”

Another gasped, “No way! No freaking way! My Zane… How could he…”

The girls’s screams turned into a frenzy, everyone wailing in disbelief at the bombshell he’d just dropped. Meanwhile, Sophia was grinning so widely for Nova that she looked totally dazed.

Everyone just assumed Nova would be glowing with happiness right now, as if she were surrounded by an aura of pure joy.

Her heart was probably supposed to be pounding non–stop, and she should blush, lower her head, nod quietly, and whisper to Zane, “I would love to.”

But what actually went down was a total curveball for everyone.

Nova just folded her arms lazily, like she couldn’t be bothered at all by Zane’s invite.

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She gave Zane this chilly look–like she was talking to some bratty kid—and made sure everyone heard her. “Sorry, I refuse.”

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13:55 Sat, Jun 6

Chapter 18