Chapter 260
Raven
The private jet touched down at LAX just as the sun was setting, painting the smog-choked sky in shades of orange and purple that would've been romantic if I wasn't already mentally cataloging seventeen different escape routes from the airport.
Old habits.
Nash squeezed my hand as the plane taxied to a stop. "Welcome home, future Mrs. Wilder."
I turned to look at him, this impossibly beautiful man who'd somehow convinced the Pentagon to do my calculus homework and still made my pulse race like I was seventeen and stupid. Which, technically, I was. At least the seventeen part.
"I'm keeping Martinez," I said, because watching him pretend to be wounded was becoming my new favorite hobby.
"Of course you are." He brought my hand to his lips, kissing the obscene diamond that now lived on my finger. The thing probably cost more than most people's houses. "Though I reserve the right to call you Mrs. Wilder in bed."
Heat flooded my cheeks. Damn him and his ability to make me blush like some Victorian maiden.
"You're insufferable."
"And you love it."
I did. God help me, I really did.
The aircraft door opened, and Finn appeared at the top of the stairs, looking far too cheerful for someone who'd just flown us across the country. "Hate to interrupt the newlyweds-to-be, but we've got three separate security teams asking when you want your detail to start."
Nash's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. The protective instinct that had nearly gotten him killed at The Surgeon's facility was already rearing its head.
I squeezed his hand before he could launch into full bodyguard mode. "Tell them I'll be fine. I'm just going back to school for a few days."
"School." Nash said the word like I'd suggested cliff diving without a parachute. "You just saved the world from a techno-organic apocalypse, and you want to go back to... homeroom?"
"I want to go back to normal." I stood, stretching muscles that still remembered being drained of blood seventy-two hours ago. The Satan's Heart pendant shifted against my sternum, warm and humming with that quantum energy that had let me hijack seventeen thousand clone soldiers. "Or as normal as my life gets."
Nash studied me with those ice-blue eyes that saw too much. "You miss it."
"I miss having friends who don't carry automatic weapons." I paused. "Well, except Scarlet. But she doesn't count."
"I'm standing right here," Finn called from the tarmac.
Nash pulled me close, his hand sliding to the small of my back in that possessive way that made my breath catch. "Three days. We have the venue booked, the caterers on standby, and approximately forty-seven world leaders who want to personally thank you for not letting them turn into silver goo."
"Romantic."
"I do my best." He kissed my forehead, then my nose, then—finally—my lips. Soft and sweet and tasting like promises. "Go be a normal teenager. But Raven?"
"Hmm?"
"Text me if someone tries to kill you. I'd hate to miss the fun."
I laughed against his mouth. This beautiful, deadly, completely insane man who thought assassination attempts were quality couple time.
"Deal."
---
Westside Prep Academy looked exactly the same as I'd left it three weeks ago. Same sprawling campus, same perfectly manicured lawns, same pretentious stone archways that screamed "we're better than you."
Except now people were staring.
Not the usual "oh look, the weird girl who threatened Tyler with a butter knife" stares. This was different. This was...
"Holy shit, is that Raven Martinez?"
"The one who stopped the clone apocalypse?"
"I heard she killed The Surgeon with her bare hands."
"My dad works for the State Department. He says she got the Medal of Valor."
The whispers followed me up the front steps like a living thing. Students parted in the hallway, creating a path that reminded me uncomfortably of the clone soldiers at The Surgeon's facility. Except these kids weren't brain-washed, just awestruck.
And maybe a little terrified.
A sophomore girl—Jessica something, who'd once "accidentally" spilled coffee on my notebook—stepped forward with wide eyes and trembling hands.
"Miss Martinez?" Her voice cracked. "I just wanted to say... thank you. For saving us. My mom was at the UN summit when those diplomats collapsed. If you hadn't stopped him..."
She trailed off, eyes shining with unshed tears.
I had no idea what to say. You're welcome for preventing your mom from turning into a meat puppet? Sorry I had to kill a few thousand people to do it?
"Your mom's safe," I settled on, keeping my voice gentle. "That's what matters."
Jessica nodded, wiped her eyes, and practically bowed before scurrying away.
"Well." Leo appeared at my elbow, eyes sparkling with barely contained glee. "This is new."
I turned to find my three favorite weirdos—Leo, Maya, and Miles—practically bouncing with excitement.
"RAVEN!" Maya shrieked, launching herself at me for a hug that nearly knocked me over. "Oh my God, you're back! You're alive! You're—"
"Crushing my ribs," I wheezed.
"Sorry!" She pulled back, eyes shining. "But seriously, we've been going insane! The news said you were at the Pentagon and there were explosions and clone soldiers and—"
"Master!" Miles interrupted, shoving his phone in my face. His glasses were slightly crooked, like he'd been running. "You have to see this. Four million likes. Four million. Someone made a TikTok compilation of you being terrifying. It's called 'Raven Martinez: Dead Inside Stare Challenge.'"
Leo threw an arm around my shoulders, grinning like an idiot. "Our girl's gone viral. I've been telling everyone I know the world's most badass assassin-slash-hero."
"You can't tell people that," I hissed.
"Too late. Already printed t-shirts." He pulled one from his backpack. It had a poorly Photoshopped image of my face with the caption: I SURVIVED RAVEN MARTINEZ AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY SHIRT.
"You're insane."
"You love us," Maya said, linking her arm through mine. "Come on, tell us everything. Is it true you got the Medal of Valor? Did you really meet the President? Is Nash Wilder as hot in person as he is in photos?"
"Maya!"
"What? I'm asking the important questions!"
Miles was still typing frantically. "Master, I've been tracking the media coverage. You're trending in forty-seven countries. The State Department released a statement calling you 'a national treasure.' There's already a petition to make a movie about you."
"Please no."
"Too late. Three studios are bidding."
Leo squeezed my shoulder. "But seriously, Raven. You saved the world. Like, actually saved it. That's so cool."
His voice had gone soft. Genuine. Behind the jokes and the t-shirts, he was actually worried.
"I'm okay," I said. "Really. Just weird being back after... everything."
"Well, get used to weird." Maya beamed. "Because we're never letting you out of our sight again. Right, guys?"
"Right!" Miles and Leo chorused.
And despite everything—the stares, the whispers, the weight of what I'd done—I couldn't help but smile.
These idiots were my friends. And they weren't going anywhere.
We started walking toward homeroom, and the sea of students continued to part. Some nodded respectfully. Others pressed their hands to their hearts in some weird quasi-salute that made me want to crawl out of my skin.
Principal Anderson appeared at the end of the hallway, flanked by three teachers who looked like they'd rather be anywhere else. He straightened his tie, cleared his throat, and executed the most awkward salute I'd ever seen.
"Miss Martinez." His voice boomed with forced authority. "On behalf of Westside Prep, I want to personally thank you for your service to our nation and... and humanity." He paused, clearly reading from mental notes. "Your bravery and dedication are an inspiration to us all."
Every teacher in the vicinity snapped to attention, hands over hearts.
I wanted to die.
"Uh. Thanks?" I managed. "Can I just... go to class now?"