The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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She glanced at Soren’s retreating figure, knowing full well her recent tie in combat was just a stroke of luck.

Soren was still nursing an old injury, not yet back in top form.

Percival approached with the detached professionalism of a captain, addressing Anna, “A month from now will be the final assessment. Pass that, and I’ll arrange for you to start interning in the lab while carrying out missions.”

Anna saluted smartly. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you or Vivienne down.”

Vivienne watched her with a hint of amusement. The girl was a quick study.

While Leopold drove Vivienne and Percival back to their estate, Anna was left at the Vanguard Agency’s training camp to hone her skills.

On the way, Leopold queried, “Vivienne, do you think Anna’s got what it takes? The Agency’s training isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Despite Anna’s draw with Soren, he was worried.

“If you made it through, she will too,” Vivienne replied nonchalantly, leaning on Percival’s shoulder.

Percival nodded in agreement, “Right, makes sense.”

Leopold glanced in the rear-view mirror, catching the couple’s affectionate display, and asked belatedly, “Hang on. What do you mean ‘if I made it through’? I’m way better than Anna, okay?”

Vivienne lifted her gaze lazily, “She’s nineteen. How old are you?”

Leopold fell silent.

Alright, he asked for it. He should just shut up!

With a snap, he pulled down the visor.

Out of sight, out of mind, right?

…

A month later.

The assessment at Vanguard Agency officially began. The YQ and TCL labs had merged, keeping the YQ lab’s name.

Vivienne arrived at the lab first, taking in the familiar surroundings.

one her mother,

the past month meticulously restoring it to its

almost see her mother working diligently as she approached the

the path her mother

emerged from within, followed by a

had been orienting his team to the lab’s environment and its various

nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes catching an unfinished experimental report on the

approached, saying, “We’ve been trying to replicate that 3D

Holden and his team had been busy with experiments

errors on the report and said, “These numbers are correct,

eyes lit up. They had been stuck for a month, but Vivienne had seen the

Admiration was an understatement.

fanatics, and seeing Vivienne’s expertise, they eagerly surrounded her with reports from their own

brief discussion, Vivienne asked,

copy of Hippocrates’ Corpus. His hair was neatly trimmed,

the potions,” he said

sized him up, feeling an odd sense of

added, “Ma’am, his name is Rex. He’s a recent hire. Young, yes, but a medical prodigy

“Show

report.

nodded, impressed by his

report back to the director once I’ve figured them

and scribbled a series of numbers. “Try

for a moment, his eyes brightening. “Yes, this could

down the pen and said, “How

replied casually, clutching the report as he headed

“Ma’am, he’s utterly devoted to medicine. We’re

was not bothered. However, Rex’s dedication reminded her of someone, though that person was not

they spoke, Percival entered,

Vivienne turned.

looked tanned and tougher after a month, with fresh scars on

stepped forward, saluting. “Special squad third division operative Anna, reporting for duty,

Third division?

not Soren’s

who explained, “Luck of the

“Passing is all that