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.

like the one her mother, Karen, had established

spent the past month meticulously restoring it to its former

her mother working diligently as she approached

the path her mother

Holden emerged from within, followed

had been orienting

nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes catching an

trying to replicate that 3D

of operation, Holden and his team

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

asked, “Who’s handling the potion

a copy of Hippocrates’ Corpus. His hair was neatly trimmed, his nails clean, and he wore silver-rimmed

on the potions,” he

feeling an odd

the young man’s capabilities, Holden quickly added, “Ma’am, his name is Rex. He’s a recent hire. Young, yes, but a medical prodigy and quite insightful

said, “Show me your

half-finished report. Each word was deliberate and

impressed by

back to the director once I’ve

at it and scribbled a series of numbers. “Try

pondered the numbers for a moment, his eyes brightening. “Yes, this

said, “How long

report as he headed to

explanation. “Ma’am, he’s utterly devoted to medicine. We’re all used to it by

of someone, though that person was not

spoke, Percival entered, “Anna’s

Vivienne turned.

tougher after a month, with fresh scars on her

saluting. “Special squad third division operative Anna,

Third division?

that not Soren’s

of the draw. She drew

patted Anna’s shoulder. “Passing is