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

in that

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Chapter 19

the Jennings family's lieutenant general at Raven

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wondering, if she found out Lorne had practically begged Raven three times to

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

decided to poke

even want to picture it. He just sent the guy a

+68

Raven and Ruth rolled

the car, and her

asked for," Hugmuinn said on the line. "Only

was unsealed in

tied to some hush-hush details. I'll

eyes sharpened a bit. She kept her voice quiet. "Track

poking around about the Starcard,

just for a split second, hardly

on the phone tightened, knuckles

last five years on the border wars, hopping between countries,

to chase him down.

a single hint about

came rushing back. That man-drop-dead

like a king-melted every sharp

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

how to flirt just to see

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

"sweetheart" before the reborn hit

steady stare softened, a little warmth slipping into

took a breath and looked more seriously than ever, asking,

get?"

"Our people picked up a trace of

barely twitched, just a quick flicker in her

Academy... Guess she'd have

that plan in, Hugmuinn's voice

said, "Jax and Dane are pulling together every bit of muscle they can

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Chapter 19

afternoon at Cloudridge."

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out Dane's dad is Brigadier General Rex Grayson from the military, Hugmuinn added, "Looks like he's got no