The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

A couple more loud snaps echoed as fingers broke all at once.

"Crack! Crack!"

This time, Tyler didn't even manage a scream-he blacked out from the pain.

"Mom, what do you want to do with them?" Raven asked, her tone as steady as

ever.

Ruth blinked out of her haze.

She turned to Raven fast, her forehead creasing.

"Raven," she said worriedly, "they said that bank card you gave me has a hundred million dollars. That true?"

"Yeah," Raven said with a casual shrug. “Just take it for now. When it runs out, tell me-I'll grab you another."

Ruth didn't perk up at that. Instead, her face tightened with worry.

She asked, "Raven, where'd you get money like that?"

Raven gave a small, easy smile. "It's legit, Mom. Spend it, no worries-nobody's coming after us."

"But how'd you pull in that much?" Ruth pushed, still frowning. "Is it risky?"

Raven's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

She'd thought Ruth was hung up on where the cash came from, not expecting her real fear was about her safety.

Her look softened, warming just a touch. "Relax. In all of Vyrdenia, almost nobody can lay a finger on me."

Ryan overheard Raven's big talk, and his stomach did a flip.

He knew she'd walked out of prison with some serious chops, but this? That kind of confidence was wild.

Still, after what he'd seen of her in Bastion Prison, he believed her.

His respect for her notched up, and it showed in his eyes.

Right then, Raven turned her gaze his way.

"These three just tried to kill me," she said, her voice cold as ice. "I'm leaving the cleanup to you. Don't mess it up."

Ryan nodded quick, almost dipping into a bow.

"Yes, ma'am! Tyler broke the law he's supposed to enforce I'll hit him hard," he paused, and went on, "The other two? They're in on it, plotting murder for a payday. At the very least, they're all facing life in a cell."

Raven gave a short nod, not bothering to glance at the trio again, and guided Ruth out of the holding room.

After that, she took Ruth to the hospital, telling Brynjar to stick around and watch her.

Just as she was about to head back toward the Fuller family, she got word: they were throwing a banquet at the Century Globe Hotel.

A bit later, she pulled up to the hotel's front doors..

when a good-looking girl walking in

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16:28 Mon, 14 Apr

Chapter 38

the girl

an

was a

67%

+5

once, totally by chance, and she'd looked up to her like a hero ever since. Pretty much her only real

at Raven's voice, concern

all day yesterday and didn't spot you. Then I swung by the Henderson place- couldn't even get near the gate.

in Hailey's eyes, and her own face

let out a big,

the Century

out the whole place today. You

You?" Raven threw

"For people like us, school is the only way up. I got into one, but it's nothing

picks someone to recommend for Regalhold Common School,"

string he could to get me an invite to the Fuller thing, hoping I'd have

into her pocket, carefully pulling out a

family dropped a hundred grand just

what level's yours? Can I check it out?" Hailey

shrugged. She

put her on the guest list. She

out that sudden invite question? Raven didn't have one

off.

then said quietly, "Raven, you're not saying

I can still get in,"

people checking at the door. No invite, and the Fuller family'll

me, that Regalhold Common School spot could be a game-changer," she blurted

my dad right now-see if he can dig up

out to call her dad, a smooth, polished

Fuller family banquet invite, if Miss Valor's cool with it, it's hers!" The tone was friendly but had a

her head

woman walking

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16:28 MO

Chapter 38

newcomer too. She

woman saw them and lifted

recognize her, but she was obviously

woman stepped up to Raven, a

she greeted, "I'm

Bank's Bastion spot."

in a

on Linda,

just any bank-it was THE

67%

the youngest of all Starspire's

+5

Linda would stand there, facing Raven, and say