Chapter 418: The Last Ascendant

He opened his eyes, wearing the same indifferent expression he had worn when something reached for them.

Damon wasn't fazed. He was just tired—too tired to even feel afraid.

Still Damon was too broken to fight and too sane to scream.

He hadn't yet healed emotionally or mentally. Not enough to feel those things again.

Still, his gaze came back into focus. Ignoring the pain, he scanned the surroundings quickly, searching for Matia… but she was nowhere in sight.

And then—his heart recalled what fear felt like, regardless of how tired he was.

"There's no need to worry."

A familiar voice. Female.

Valarie…

He turned his bleeding head toward the source of the sound.

But instead of a disembodied pair of lips…