hapter 146
Steve’s fists clenched tight, his knuckles whitening with rage.
He stared dead at Raven, eyes brimming with venom as he spat, “Do you even realize who you’ve just offended?”
In his mind, he was untouchable. At best, the acting president of Regalhold University was a Mid–Class Warrior.
But he he had absolute confidence he’d soon become a member of the Hundred–Man Unit.
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And once that happened, he’d be a commander among commanders, with the authority to walk right back into Regalhold University and “discipline” this woman who thought she could act above her station.
But the moment the last word left his mouth, everything changed.
A sudden, choking force closed around his throat. The pressure crushed the air from his lungs, and before he could even gasp, a voice colder than death itself slithered into his ear.
“You want to know who you’ve offended? Hm?”
The sound of Raven’s voice alone made Steve’s body tremble violently. His instincts screamed at him to run, to answer, to say anything–but he couldn’t. His mouth refused to move.
He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think.
“Idiot,” Raven said flatly—and with a flick of her hand, she tossed him like he weighed nothing.
Steve’s body slammed hard into the ground, skidding across the dirt and kicking up a cloud of dust. A pained groan escaped him as he crumpled on the spot.
Raven didn’t even flinch.
She glanced at him once, then turned to face the rest of the crowd, voice steady and sharp. “Anyone else have something to say?”
The students around her all shook their heads in perfect unison–silent, pale, and terrified.
Raven’s gaze turned frosty. “Then why the hell are you all still standing here? Training. Now.”
Before she’d even finished the sentence, the crowd scattered like startled birds. Everyone sprinted back to their squads and lined up in orderly rows, not daring to look back.
Only when the chaos faded and most of the students had cleared out did Kurt finally turn toward Raven, cautiously respectful.
“Raven,” he said, tone tentative, “some of Regalhold’s top families are holding a private event tonight to discuss the nomination slots for the Hundred–Man Unit. With your talent and strength, you’d be a natural fit. Would you be interested in going to take a look?”
Kurt had no idea Raven already had the authority to approve candidates herself, let alone that she was the newly appointed fourth general of Vyrdenia. He hadn’t been present at the training site, nor had he been invited to Lorne’s banquet. As far as he knew, Raven was simply an extraordinarily gifted student–and it would be a shame if she didn’t at least try for a place in the Hundred–Man Unit.
But more than that… if it was his recommendation that got her in, and she owed him a favor, then maybe–just maybe—his
time in that wheelchair would come to an end a little sooner.
Raven raised a brow at his words. “Take a look?” she said with a faint smirk. “Someone’s trying to sell nomination slots now?”
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13.04 Mon, 21 Apr
Chapter 146
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Kurt quickly shook his head. “Not exactly selling… more like offering opportunities. I’ll take you there tonight. You’ll see for yourself.”
Raven nodded. “Fine.”
She wasn’t particularly interested, but now that someone dared to commercialize something as serious as Hundred–Man Unit entry, her curiosity was definitely piqued. And besides, she had nothing better to do that evening.
The rest of the morning passed in a haze of pain and regret–most of it radiating from the instructors.
Cries of agony echoed across the training grounds, with Caleb suffering the worst and Leopard coming in a close second.
The rest of the instructors, witnessing their misery, mentally carved one rule into stone:
Never. Ever. Cross Raven.
Some injuries, they realized, you just don’t walk away from. Not physically. Not psychologically.
By the time noon rolled around and training was finally dismissed, students and instructors alike dragged their broken, exhausted bodies off the field like survivors of a war.
Raven, meanwhile, strolled across the grounds like nothing had happened and stopped in front of the man who’d been watching her the entire morning–eyes never leaving her, as if she were the only thing in his world.
She smiled.
“Come on, baby,” she said, her voice low and sweet.
Cassian blinked, momentarily thrown. “Where to?”
Raven raised the book in her hand, her lips curving into a slow, wicked grin. “Somewhere quiet,” she purred, eyes glinting, “so we can test this whole cold CEO meets his fiery little mistress thing…”
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