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.

Raven's back against some minor

really wanted her in that dream gig everyone else

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22.32 PM, 11 Apr

Chapter 19

Jennings family's lieutenant general at Raven

43%

begged Raven three times

and if he remembered right, Dane's dad-Brigadier General Rex Grayson- took leave yesterday to head

decided to poke his nose into tomorrow's

want to picture it. He

+68

rolled

of the car, and her phone buzzed.

you asked for," Hugmuinn said on the line. "Only one Starcard

Starcard? It was unsealed in the capital,

to some hush-hush details. I'll need more time to nail down

sharpened a bit. She kept her voice

was poking around about the Starcard, I caught a lead

skipped a beat, just for

grip on the phone tightened, knuckles

the last five years on the

to chase him down.

and not a single hint about the

past life came rushing back. That man-drop-dead

a king-melted every sharp edge

all cocky and sulky, saying

flirt just to see her

he got, but then pull back, giving her room,

of her "sweetheart" before the

little

breath and looked more seriously than ever, asking,

get?"

Vyrdenia, Hugmuinn said over the phone. "Our people

just a quick flicker in

have to

she locked that plan in, Hugmuinn's voice cut through

every bit

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Chapter 19

afternoon at Cloudridge."

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