The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 83

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Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Even Harrison felt his face flesh in embarrassment as he asked.

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After all, the girl standing across from him had shown such jaw–dropping strength during the Apo Conflict–there was no way he could ever measure up.

And now he wanted her to work for him?

No sane person would ever agree to something like that.

Unexpectedly, though, Nova just gave a faint smile and said, “Well then, I’ll be counting on you, Commander Marshall.”

If it had been anyone else calling him “Commander Marshall,” Harrison would’ve kept his composure without batting an

eye.

But this was Nova–the very woman who’d haunted his nightmares ever since that fateful battle.

Harrison felt a cold shiver crawl over his skin, like the icy barrel of a gun was pressed against his jaw.

“No trouble at all, no trouble…” Harrison blurted out quickly, nervously trying to reassure her.

Then Nova rattled off a string of numbers while turned slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“That’s my number. Call me anytime,” she added.

Nova wasn’t one for long speeches. She lived on her own terms, acting as she pleased and seldom concerning herself with what anyone else thought.

With that, she simply turned on her heel and strode off, not even pausing to give Harrison so much as a glance.

Mercenaries never said their goodbyes. With death lurking on every battlefield, any farewell could be the last–and sometimes, goodbye meant forever.

In their world, saying farewell was almost seen as disrespectful, a break in the unwritten code.

Nova took a couple of steps away.

While Harrison was busy saving her number on his phone, she half–turned back casually, like she just remembered something.

“Oh, right,” she said lightly.

Harrison blinked, a bit lost. “What is it? Something else?”

“So, joining your sector–does it pay?” Nova asked, blunt as ever, tossing out the kind of question everyone thinks but nobody dares to say.

Harrison just froze for a moment, his mind going totally blank as he processed her words.

Finally, Harrison declared with a straight face, his tone firm and serious.

“Absolutely! The benefits are great, pay’s solid, and if you’re stationed in Sector X18, you get free meals and a place to stay!*

Nova’s eyes narrowed with a cheeky grin.

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Well, here’s to teaming up again. Hope it’s a blast,” she said with an easy confidence..

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For a while, Nova hung around with Jordan in Sector X18, trying out all sorts of guns and getting a feel for the firepower on offer.

It totally satisfied her craving–she finally got her fill of messing with some serious weaponry.

After leaving Sector X18, Nova made her way back to The Greenwood with Jordan, Felix, Evie, Freya, Dustin, and Isaac.

They got back just before five in the evening.

Dinner time.

Maxwell had already said dinner would be at the hot spring lounge at five.

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

Nova didn’t even bother changing–she just headed straight to the hot spring lounge.

She was joined by Felix and the others.

“Novie!” As soon as Nova walked into the lounge, she caught a familiar voice shouting her name.

In the spacious lounge that could easily fit over a hundred people, Nova instantly spotted Maxwell front and center–waving her over, flashing that signature charming smile.

She led Felix and the others over to join him.

“Novie, you didn’t hit the hot springs yet?” Maxwell called out sounding genuinely confused.

He was lounging at a table big enough for ten, rocking a bathrobe that showed off just how tall and lean he was.

With that damp, dark hair clinging to his forehead and his quietly handsome face, Maxwell was the kind of guy who made everyone do a double–take.

Maxwell was hanging out with Hannah, Claire, and a few other Saint Laurel Royal Academy students.

Everyone was in bathrobes, just chilling at the table, fresh from the hot springs and kicking back with a casual game.

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In the center of the table was a spinner–clearly, they were all in on a game of Truth or Dare.

“Yeah, 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 already full, Felix and the others just grabbed a free table nearby and settled in.

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

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

“Whatever, I don’t care about her,” Hannah muttered, turning her head away and purposely acting like Nova didn’t even exist.

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Back in the day, when Claire trashed Nova, Hannah would always pile on–never missing a chance to join in. But now, it was like Claire was the only one still stirring up drama against Nova.

When did I end up being the only one?‘ Claire wondered, her simmering frustration impossible to ignore.

I’ve been feeding Hannah all kinds of dirt about Nova even before she came back, so why has Hannah started seeing her in a different light?‘ Claire fumed inwardly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Claire caught sight of Zane hanging around nearby.

There was no sign of Ethan by his side, and Nova hadn’t seen Sophia anywhere since she got back to The Greenwood.

Where did those two run off to?‘ Claire mused, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Meanwhile, Zane was sitting with the rest of the Taekwondo Club–and right there with them was Logan, the guy Nova had kicked earlier, knocking out a whole row of his front teeth.

“Hey Nova, isn’t that Zane and his crew over there?” Claire called out, her tone way too loud and obviously trying to stir the

pot.

Claire knew Nova absolutely couldn’t stand Zane, so of course she couldn’t help herself and dropped the most annoying comment she could think of.

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“You know, I still remember Zane getting all dramatic and proposing to you in front of everyone before the duel. He even said he’d show up at your family’s house and ask for your hand on behalf of the Morgan family.

“Funny how he just disappeared after that, huh? Total radio silence.

“Honestly, things between the Taekwondo Club and our Free Combat Club aren’t so awkward anymore. Ever since we started teaming up to handle those secret masters, it’s way less tense.

“Come on, Nova, you and Zane go way back–why not just drag their whole crew over here?

“Let’s get them in on the Truth or Dare fun!”

Claire deliberately picked the most annoying things to say, just to rile Nova up.

Her real plan was that, even if she couldn’t actually drag Zane over, she could somehow get both Nova and Zane involved in the Truth or Dare game–then, if Nova got hit with a dare, she’d have to kiss Zane in front of everyone.

If nothing else, just tossing out these ideas was enough to gross Nova out or make her super uncomfortable.

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‘Let’s see if she still dares to compete with me for the campus queen spot!‘ Claire sneered to herself, already feeling smug about stirring the pot.

Across the room, Zane locked eyes on Nova, his gaze stuck on her with that lovesick, spaced–out look that said he’d forgotten everyone else was even there.

Beside him, Logan instantly stiffened the moment he spotted Nova. Not wanting any trouble, he shot to his feet and muttered, “Uh, I’m gonna use the restroom…” as he made a beeline out.

Nova’s face went cold in a flash.

Claire saw Nova’s cold reaction and instantly assumed her nasty remarks had hit the mark, so she leaned in, smug and relentless, determined to stir things up even more.

“Nova, what’s with that face? Is something bothering you?” Claire prodded, her voice laced with not–so–subtle mockery,

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practically reveling in the drama.

But before Claire could get the words out, Nova shot her a look and moved.

With one loud, powerful showe, she slammed the table right toward Claire, Hannah, and the other three sitting across from

her.

The five of them had no time to react–Nova’s sudden move sent them toppling backward in shock.

They ended up flat on their backs, sprawled out on the ground.

Claire and the others finally snapped back to reality, scrambled to their feet, and couldn’t help but start cursing Nova out.

“Nova! What the hell are you doing?

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

But before Claire could get another word out, everyone’s attention snapped to Nova–she reached right down to the floor and, in full view, plucked a shiny bullet from between the tiles.

And that bullet? It had been fired straight at the spot where Claire, Hannah, and the others had been sitting just seconds ago.

If Nova hadn’t stepped in, those five would be lying here with a bullet through them.

Claire and the others were shaking all over when Nova spoke up, her voice cold as ice.

“There’s an assassin here,” Nova announced, cutting straight to the point.

Felix and his crew at the next table jumped in their seats, all jerking in shock at Nova’s words.

Nova didn’t waste words–she simply rolled the bullet between her fingers, inspecting it with razor focus.

Her gaze settled on a pair of letters stamped into the base–B.B

The letters B.B stamped on the back of the bullet–short for Bloodblade.

It was the custom mark on every bullet fired by the mercenaries under Nova’s Bloodblade Mercenary Corps whenever they were on assignment.

They were here to kill her.

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