Chapter 32
Lorne’s answer came quick and icy. “With your rank now, you don’t get to ask that!”
Rex’s fists squeezed tighter, veins popping like they might split.
After a few shaky breaths, his eyes locked in with determination.
“If you won’t tell me today, sir, then I’m done with a military that’s falling apart from the inside!” he said firmly.
Lorne snapped back, his voice frigid, “Giving up half a lifetime of rank for an answer? Alright, you’ll get it!”
Lorne spun around to the soldier behind him.
“Dig up every single thing Lieutenant General Valor’s done since she joined the military!” he commanded.
“Yes, sir!” the soldier snapped to attention.
He yanked a screen about the size of a phone from his arm.
His fingers flew across it with fast taps.
Ten seconds later, the screen flared up, text scrolling like mad.
“Sir, it’s good to go!” he said, standing straight.
“Show it to him,” Lorne said, his voice solid as stone.
“Yes, sir!” The soldier gave a quick nod.
Rex watched as the soldier passed him the screen. His trembling hand reached out to grab it.
The moment he read the first line, his eyes popped wide, pupils shrinking.
“No way… how’s that even real?” he mumbled, half to himself, floored.
Line after line listed missions he’d have called insane–yet Raven had crushed every one. The shock in his eyes dug deeper with each word.
By the end, his brain was a complete blur.
If this weren’t from Lorne, he’d have bet it was all a tall tale.
He couldn’t get his head around a teenage girl pulling off stuff like this.
“So, you still got an issue with me making her a general?” Lorne asked.
He looked at Rex with a chilly stare.
Rex shook his head, almost without thinking.
Right then, regret overwhelmed him like a crashing building.
Her age not fitting the rank? He saw how dumb that sounded now.
Promoting Raven stepping on the old–timers toes? Just his envy talking, plain and simple.
Next to her track record, all Rex’s gripes were nothing–less than nothing.
1/2
69%
+5
16:23 Mon, 14 Apr
Chapter 32
Now, he finally saw how off–base he’d been–and why Lorne was so ticked off.
Raven staying with the military this long? That was straight–up loyalty to the old days.
If they pushed her too hard, she could bail any time she wanted.
And if she did, Vyrdenia’s military would feel a blow they couldn’t shake off.
Making her stay? He hated to say it, but the military didn’t have the muscle for that.
And Rex–out of small–minded bitterness over her outranking him so young–he’d suggested kicking her down to colonel.
Looking back, Rex wanted to smack himself stupid.
Never in his life had he thought his mouth could screw him this bad.
Lorne didn’t bother looking at Rex again. He turned to Raven, his expression dead serious.
“Raven, the general spot’s yours. I’m keeping it open for you. Whenever you’re ready, it’s waiting,” he said, his tone steady and sure.
Raven cracked a small smile, a little warmth shining through.
“I just heard my man’s here in Vyrdenia,” she said quietly. “Can we talk about the general thing after I track him down?”
༢ ཏྟཱི69%u
She thought about that guy–the one who’d snapped at her to stay back when they first met, swearing he’d never fall for her, only to flip on that quick.
The one who looked like a total stunner but always stressed he wasn’t good–looking enough, scared she’d get swooped up by someone else.
The one who’d died saving her, still fussing over his banged–up face in his final seconds, worried it’d scare her off.
A flicker of urgency sparked in Raven’s eyes.
Lorne blinked, thrown off by what she said.
Then, all of a sudden, a huge grin spread across his face.
45
2/2
