The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Cassian's face did shift-just not how Isla wanted.

It wasn't warmth or interest; it was impatience, sharpening by the second.

His cool, distant eyes landed on her, and his voice sliced through like a knife, hitting her square in the chest.

"I didn't come here for this nonsense," he said, flat and to the point.

Isla's beautiful eyes were filled with shock and unwillingness as she listened to Cassian Lysander's heartless words.

Isla froze, her gorgeous eyes filling with shock and a stubborn refusal to buy it.

Her charm-something every guy around her fell for-felt worthless with this man. Normally, she'd just snap her fingers, and guys would stumble over each other to win her over. But him? No.

Is he so picky that I don't even make the cut?' That idea slammed into her, making her stomach drop.

But then she brushed it off-no chance.

Family? She was from one of Regalhold's top five.

Looks? She could outshine any actress and leave the other heiresses eating dust.

Skills? Top five at Regalhold Academy, hands down.

She was absolutely sure no woman alive could beat her at her own game.

And still, this guy wasn't biting. That's what really got under her skin.

Before she could sort it out, Cassian's patience ran out.

His sharp, icy stare locked onto her, practically yelling he was about to snap. "Where's the info I asked for?" he pressed.

Isla's little fists tightened as his words-completely ignoring her confession-hit home.

Then, like she'd settled on something huge, she pulled out a card the size of a tarot deck.

It gleamed green like crystal, with a classic wooden design carved right in the middle-a Starcard. She slid it his way.

"Cassian, this Starcard's for you!" she said, her voice perky with hope.

As she talked, her eyes stayed glued to his sharp, handsome face.

الحمد الله الله الله

She figured no matter how frosty he was, he couldn't ignore something this good.

But to her surprise, Cassian glanced at the Starcard, and not even a flicker of want crossed his face.

If anything, he just looked colder, darker.

"I'll ask one last time," he said, his voice low and edged with heat. "Where's SHE?"

Isla could feel the tension rolling off him, thick and risky.

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SEND THEr neck

raw fear jolted her into

she spit out.

eyes sweeping over her once before he said. "Come with

another look her way, he turned and made a beeline for the banquet hall's

confession still stung, but a spark

Cassian's brush-off was just him being slow

problem-she could play the long

stuck with it, her charm

her down and trip over himself to

thought cheered her

for when Cassian didn't find Raven up there, took a deep breath, and

in the second-floor banquet

over at

beat down, Ruth's face didn't show

who seemed like he'd run

yourself," she told him coolly. "Your

the Valor family into the big leagues? That's

see the Valor family climb to the top clans before he kicked it,

a moment later, his look turned cautious

gonna cost me?"

=

wasn't buying that Raven-someone who'd fought tooth and nail to get

just

"I heard someone in the Valor family once unsealed a

thrown off by

slowly. "Yeah," he

surprise and doubt mixing

a sealed Starcard on you?" he

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Chapter 67

only a few Starcards in all of Vyrdenia-rarer

for now, wasn't

answer. Instead, she flipped it back

it?"

as he caught the silent yes in her

second, he met her

tell you how to unseal a Starcard, and you make sure the Valor family gets a solid spot among Regalhold's elite. Sound

she realized Franklin only knew the how-to, not how to do it

had done to Ruth; and Ruth, however,

that's how it was, Raven

Franklin a quick nod. "Deal," she

at the others in the room, then paused as he

he said carefully. "I'm counting on you not bailing on

caught the twist-he was nervous she'd ditch, yet he was pulling the "I trust you" line in front of everyone to lock her in. She let out a quiet laugh. "Getting the Valor family

that's wild,"

do that?"

in sharp breaths at Raven's almost

nobody doubted she could