The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Half an hour later, the Bastion military base was buzzing with a quiet, serious vibe.

Jonah gave a salute to the Bastion higher-ups who'd shown up to meet him.

Then an old guy, straight from the bigwig meeting room at Vyrdenia's central command, climbed down from the fighter jet.

The old man had that heavy, been-in-charge-forever feel-sharp, distant, like you'd think twice before looking him in the

eye.

This was Lorne Drakon, the head honcho of Vyrdenia's three generals.

Jonah stepped up.

He gaving a respectful nod and reported, "Sir, that whole mess with Lieutenant General Valor and Dane Grayson? It's taken care of."

Lorne tipped his head slightly, but he didn't seem eager to jet off just yet.

He let out a little sigh. "I've asked Lieutenant General Valor twice to take that fourth General spot in Vyrdenia. She shot me down both times. I thought this summit might change her mind-let the big shots talk her into it.

"But then the Grayson Group mess blew up. I'm gonna give her one last chance. If she says no again, I'll be too embarrassed to even show up around here."

Jonah didn't have much to say to that.

He'd had this small, nagging worry about what Margaret mentioned–something

about the Jennings family stirring up trouble for Raven.

Now? He figured he'd been worrying it way too much.

A weird mix of thoughts crossed his face as he glanced at Lorne.

Every soldier dreamed of landing that General spot. He'd dangled it in front of her twice, and she didn't bite. Now he was going back for a third try.

Jonah smirked to himself, thinking, "She's not into it-how about tossing it my way instead?'

A word from the three generals, and he'd fly himself there to take the spot-Just kidding, of course.

This whole thing was making Jonah a bit jealous-Raven got handed stuff she didn't even want, repeatedly, while others couldn't catch a break.

"What made her so special and I'm not?" Jonah muttered, keeping it to himself.

"I heard the Grayson family's taking on Raven tomorrow at five?" Lorne said. "Grab some guys. We're heading over to see what's up."

Jonah kept his mouth shut, but inside, he was smirking.

They called it a "surprise," but everyone knew it was a face-off with Raven.

the General was ready to have Raven's back against some minor Bastion family. That showed

wanted her in that dream gig everyone else was

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Chapter 19

tried throwing the Jennings family's lieutenant general at

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wondering, if she found out Lorne had practically begged Raven three times to take the General spot,

if he remembered right, Dane's dad-Brigadier General Rex

poke his nose

didn't even want to picture it. He

+68

rolled up to

car, and her phone buzzed.

what you asked for," Hugmuinn said on the line. "Only one Starcard in Vyrdenia's history

was unsealed

might be tied to some hush-hush details. I'll need more

a bit. She kept her voice quiet. "Track that location down

poking around about the Starcard, I caught a lead on that guy you

a beat, just

on the phone tightened, knuckles

years on the border wars, hopping between countries,

to chase him down.

not a single hint about the

came rushing back. That man-drop-dead gorgeous,

king-melted every sharp edge just for

cocky and sulky, saying he didn't like her,

how to flirt just to see

cling to her every chance he got, but then pull back, giving her room, worried she'd get tired

"sweetheart" before the reborn hit her

a little warmth slipping into

more seriously than ever, asking, “What did

get?"

in Vyrdenia, Hugmuinn said over the phone. "Our people picked up a trace of him at

barely twitched, just a quick flicker in her

Academy... Guess she'd have to swing by Regalhold

plan in, Hugmuinn's voice cut

together every bit of muscle they can scrape up. They're gunning

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Chapter 19

afternoon at Cloudridge."

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from the military, Hugmuinn added, "Looks like he's got no clue