The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven) novel Chapter 128

Chapter 128

The moment Raven heard the students‘ complaints, her entire presence seemed to turn even colder, an icy edge settling

over the air.

Slowly, she turned her head and issued her order to Leopard, her voice as chilling as steel.

“Leopard, I don’t care what method you use–make sure every last one of them takes the pill in their hand. And if anyone refuses, you’ll swallow theirs for them.”

The moment Leopard heard her words, his heart skipped a beat, anxiety prickling beneath his skin.

For a moment, the students were taken aback. But it didn’t take long before a few of them jumped to Leopard’s defense, their voices urgent and frustrated.

“Leopard, just strip her of her squad leader position already. If you keep indulging her, she’ll only get more out of control!” “Exactly. You’re our instructor, not her lackey. When did you start letting someone like her boss you around?”

“Look, I know you and Caleb are tight, but is it really worth putting yourself out just to protect a woman like that?” Word had spread from Brianna that Raven and Caleb might have something going on, and everyone at the academy knew Raven was from Bastion–a background considered lowborn.

To the students, the only explanation for Leopard’s obedience was that he was showing loyalty to his friend Caleb. But, they thought, there had to be a limit. No woman was worth this much.

What none of them expected, however, was the look on Leopard’s face. Rather than annoyance, it was grim–almost frightened.

“Enough! All of you, shut up!” Leopard barked, his voice slicing through their protests.

The students stared at him, stunned. Anyone with half a brain could see they were looking out for his best interests, so why was he snapping at them?

And yet, when they met his eyes, they caught a glimpse of something shocking–was that fear? Was Leopard actually afraid of Raven?

The realization sent a ripple of unease through the group. But before anyone could react further, Leopard’s voice rang out again, cold and uncompromising. “Now. Swallow the pills in your hands. Or I’ll help you do it myself.”

The students hesitated, uncertain and glancing at each other. Why was Leopard listening to Raven? Was there something going on between them? Or was he just afraid of her?

Leopard didn’t waste another moment.

“Three,” he began to count down, his eyes fixed and deadly.

“Two.”

“One.”

By the time he said “one,” only two of the students still held onto their pills. Leopard’s gaze zeroed in on them, his pressing down like a physical weight.

presence

Under that pressure, one of the two hastily shoved the pill in his mouth.

The other, realizing he was now the only holdout, quickly followed suit.

Raven met his glare with a cold, indifferent glance and said nothing. She simply strode over to Jaxton, withdrew ten more pills from the military’s secure box, and offered them to him with an outstretched hand.

“Eat them,” she commanded.

Jaxton stared at her, his gaze dropping to the pills in her palm. For two seconds, he didn’t move. Then, with a scornful snort, he looked up and sneered, “You think I’m an idiot?”

Without warning, he lashed out at her wrist, aiming to snap it in one ruthless move.

He put his full strength behind the blow, determined to break her.

A gleam of anticipation sparked in the eyes of the remaining twenty or so students. They’d been waiting for someone to put Raven in her place.

If not for Leopard’s overwhelming strength, they would have done it themselves.

This nobody from nowhere–how dare she strut around like she owned the place?

As Jaxton’s hand shot toward her, most of them could already see the scene play out in their minds–Raven’s wrist cracking, her crumpling to the ground in pain.

But just as Jaxton’s hand was about to connect…

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