Chapter 261
Raven
"Of course! Of course." Anderson beamed like I'd offered him a kidney. "If you need anything—anything at all—my door is always open."
"Great. I'll keep that in mind if I need to overthrow another techno-cult."
His smile faltered.
Leo snorted.
We escaped before things could get weirder, ducking into homeroom where Ms. Johnson was already taking attendance. She looked up as we entered, eyes widening when she saw me.
"Miss Martinez. How... how wonderful to have you back."
No detention threat. No lecture about tardiness. Just genuine, slightly terrified respect.
This is so weird.
"Thanks, Ms. Johnson." I slid into my usual seat by the window, Leo and Maya flanking me like bodyguards. Miles sat behind me, already tapping away on his phone.
"You realize this means no one will ever challenge you again," Maya whispered as Ms. Johnson started reading announcements. "You've basically won high school."
I slouched in my chair, watching students sneak glances at me when they thought I wasn't looking. Maya was right. The cafeteria battles, the social hierarchies, the petty drama—all of it felt meaningless now. I'd hijacked a clone army and watched my fiancé nearly die to save me. What was Tyler's opinion of my outfit compared to that?
"It's boring," I muttered.
"Boring?" Leo stared at me like I'd sprouted a second head. "You literally just complained about people trying to kill you every five minutes."
"Yeah, but at least that was interesting."
"You're insane."
"Probably."
My phone buzzed against my thigh. I pulled it out under the desk, expecting Nash with some overprotective check-in.
Instead, I got Scarlet.
SCARLET: Congratulations on the engagement, traitor.
I almost dropped the phone.
RAVEN: How the hell do you know about that?
SCARLET: Please. I put surveillance in the Pentagon years ago. Watched the whole proposal live. Very romantic. Also, you didn't tell me.
RAVEN: I've been slightly busy preventing the apocalypse?
SCARLET: Excuses, excuses. When's the dress shopping? I'm free Thursday.
I glanced up to make sure Ms. Johnson wasn't watching, then typed quickly.
RAVEN: Tonight. Beverly Hills. Bring your opinions and leave the tactical analysis at home.
SCARLET: No promises. See you at seven.
I pocketed the phone, already dreading Scarlet's commentary on neckline vulnerability and heel height versus sprint speed.
The bell rang. Students filed out in a much more orderly fashion than usual, several nodding to me as they passed. Tyler walked by without making eye contact, which was probably the smartest thing he'd done all year.
Maya grabbed my elbow as we headed toward geography. "So. Pentagon. Medal of Valor. Secret government briefing." Her eyes sparkled with barely contained curiosity. "Anything else you want to share?"
I thought about Nash on one knee. The ring that probably cost more than my parents' house. The promise of a life that was equal parts terrifying and perfect.
"I'm getting married," I said casually.
Maya stopped dead in the hallway. "What."
"Nash proposed. I said yes. Wedding's in three days."
"Three—" Maya's voice climbed an octave. "Raven, you're seventeen."
"Old enough in California." I grinned at her shocked expression. "Don't worry, it's legal. Mostly."
"Mostly?!"
Leo appeared at her other side, eyes wide. "Did you just say you're getting married?"
"Try to contain your excitement."
"Married," Maya repeated, like the word was in a foreign language. "To Nash Wilder. The billionaire mercenary who runs a private military company." She laughed, gesturing at Miles. "Thanks to Miles doing his usual stalker research."
"He prefers 'security consultant.'"
"Oh my God." She pressed both hands to her face. "This is... I need to sit down."
"We're in the middle of the hallway."
"I don't care." But she didn't sit. Instead, she grabbed my shoulders, eyes intense. "Are you sure about this? I mean, you've known him for, what, a month?"
Longer, technically. But I couldn't explain that I'd known Nash from the moment he let me go at that street race. That I'd felt the connection even before I understood what it meant.
"I'm sure," I said quietly. "He's... he's it for me, Maya."
Her expression softened. "Okay. Okay." She took a deep breath, clearly trying to process. "So when do I get to help plan?"
"Tonight. Seven PM. Beverly Hills. Scarlet's coming too—a friend from outside school."
"Tonight. Seven PM. Beverly Hills. Scarlet's coming too." I paused. "A friend from outside school."
Maya's smile turned knowing. "A friend from outside school? So... probably just as terrifying as you are?"
"Actually, she's worse."
"That's what I was afraid of."
"Which is exactly why I need you there." I pulled her toward geography before we could draw more attention. "I need someone with normal taste. Scarlet's idea of fashion involves things that can double as weapons and dresses you can run in."
"And yours doesn't?"
"I'm trying to be normal."
Maya laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "You've never been normal, Raven. That's why we love you."
Something warm bloomed in my chest. Not the quantum energy from Satan's Heart or the adrenaline rush of combat. Just... friendship. The normal, boring, wonderful kind.
"Thanks, Maya."