Chapter 118 Damon true face!

Chapter 118: Chapter 118 Damon true face!

Noah hadn’t expected the emperor to be like that.

Honestly, after everything he had heard about Damon Ashborn, he had expected something different. Something terrifying. Something that would make him understand immediately why everyone seemed so careful whenever the man’s name was mentioned.

But after seeing him fight, Noah couldn’t help feeling slightly disappointed.

What do you mean dead people are more powerful than you?

That was honestly ridiculous.

Noah didn’t doubt that the man was beyond breathtaking. Damon looked almost unreal, like some being that had stepped out of another world entirely. His appearance alone could make people forget whatever they were about to say.

But removing all of that aside, Noah hadn’t seen anything particularly special coming from the emperor’s hands.

And now he was supposedly his heir?

Even more ridiculous.

Noah folded his arms and looked around at everyone.

"So all of you are actually okay with Lysander taking us? Nobody is making a face or throwing a tantrum?"

As he suspected, they had already come to an agreement.

Oliver, whom Noah had recently realized was also a witch, remained quiet. Noah still didn’t know exactly how Oliver had become one, but he had a feeling Lamia knew the entire story and was simply refusing to tell anyone.

Well, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

At least Oliver wasn’t being too secretive.

Then again, who was Noah kidding?

He didn’t even recognize Lamia anymore.

The trembling omega who had once looked like he might collapse if someone so much as raised their voice at him seemed to have disappeared completely.

In his place was someone strong.

Fierce.

Confident.

And honestly, a little terrifying.

"In a situation like this, we have to compromise," Killian finally explained.

He had noticed the annoyed expression on Noah’s face and already knew exactly where this conversation was heading, so he was trying to prevent another unnecessary argument.

"Lysander’s place is a good option. It will keep you hidden until you’ve mastered your powers. That’s what Oliver and Lamia are here for too."

Noah listened quietly.

"I know it might feel like we’re limiting you," Killian continued. "Almost like we’re putting you in a cage, but trust me, that’s not what this is."

He stepped closer.

"You can still move around. Maybe not too far from the cottage, but you won’t be locked inside. We’ll make this work. You won’t be alone."

Damian came closer as well and gently slipped his hand into Noah’s.

"I don’t trust Lysander."

Noah glanced at him.

"And I don’t think I’ll ever be completely comfortable with him being around us, especially considering his history. But right now, with everything that’s happening, he’s powerful enough to protect you from whatever is coming next."

Damian squeezed his hand.

"That’s why we decided to go."

Noah nodded slowly.

He understood where Damian was coming from.

Besides, he wanted to know Lysander’s history too.

Nobody had told him anything useful about the man, and the vague messages left behind by the people who came before him only made everything more confusing.

There was clearly a connection between him and Lysander.

Noah could feel it.

Whenever he left the demon, there was always this strange emptiness inside him. And whenever Lysander appeared, there was a pull he couldn’t explain.

It wasn’t enough to form a solid theory.

But it was enough to make Noah curious.

There were too many missing pieces.

Too many things overlapping.

Too many secrets surrounding him.

And if he stayed at the school any longer, he was probably going to discover another monster hiding beneath his bed.

"I’m not angry," Noah finally said. "I just don’t like feeling like I’m a burden that everyone has to carry around."

Marcus immediately shushed him.

"This isn’t a burden."

He stepped closer, his expression suddenly softer.

"If I had to give it another name, I’d call it a blessing."

Noah blinked.

Marcus grinned.

"Do you know what it feels like to be this close to a pureblood and actually have romance with one?"

He winked.

"It’s fucking sexy and hot."

Noah stared at him.

Here he goes again.

Of all the times to start acting flirtatious, Marcus had somehow chosen the middle of a supernatural disaster.

But Noah couldn’t help smiling.

Marcus had a way of making everything feel slightly less terrifying.

"I want to do this," Noah admitted. "We’re all here willingly. Nobody is forcing us."

He glanced toward Lysander.

"At least if he wasn’t involved, I’d be a lot happier."

Marcus laughed before leaning forward and kissing Noah’s cheek.

"I’ll take that."

Across from them, Eugene blew Noah a kiss.

Noah rolled his eyes.

"Idiots."

But he was smiling.

With one final glance toward the burning remains of the school, Noah finally decided to let it go.

For now.

He turned his attention toward Lysander.

The demon had already moved closer now that everyone was together.

Oliver, however, seemed to have reached the end of his patience with Lamia’s constant remarks.

At one point, he had apparently threatened to seal Lamia’s mouth shut with magic if he said one more thing.

Noah didn’t understand half of their arguments.

But strangely enough, he found their banter adorable.

He was already shipping them.

Hard.

"So," Lysander said, spreading his hands slightly, "are you all ready to pass through my world?"

Everyone froze.

Lamia’s eyes widened.

"Wait."

He pointed at Lysander.

"Are you talking about Talon? As in Hell? Because I didn’t bargain for that dude."

Lysander waved him off.

"Oh, you people are so jumpy."

He chuckled.

"I was only having a little fun."

He began moving his hands through the air, twisting his fingers as though he were writing invisible symbols.

Lamia yawned.

"We’re still waiting."

Oliver shook his head.

"You do realize he’s the Prince of Hell, right? He could turn you into a rat and nothing would happen to him. Calm down."

Lamia immediately facepalmed.

"If you say so."

He paused.

"Okay, Daddy."

Oliver’s face immediately heated.

The word clearly had more than one meaning in his dictionary, and he had no idea whether Lamia had said it intentionally just to irritate him.

Lamia only smiled innocently.

Meanwhile, Eugene struggled with Rose’s unconscious body.

She had been left in his care, and he shifted her weight so that her head rested against his shoulder.

"Remind me why this is my problem?"

He adjusted her again.

"She’s so damn heavy. I don’t understand how someone this tiny can weigh this much."

Noah waved at him.

"Love you too, Eugene. Don’t worry. In a blink, we’ll be there. You just have to manage."

Eugene groaned.

"Easy for you to say."

Lysander’s fingers finally stopped moving.

The symbols he had drawn in the air began to change.

What had looked like meaningless marks suddenly transformed into a mysterious rune.

It glowed red.

Then it expanded.

A powerful force erupted from the center.

Before anyone could react, the rune swallowed them whole.

Their bodies disappeared into the red light as though they had never been there.

---

Far away from the destroyed school, Slyvia lay on muddy ground.

She whimpered as she clutched her wounded leg.

Her flames had failed to heal her.

Instead, the injury had become worse.

Every attempt to summon her fire only sent another wave of pain through her body.

She couldn’t stand.

She couldn’t run.

And then she heard footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Coming toward her.

Slyvia immediately looked up.

Her blood ran cold.

Damon Ashborn emerged from the darkness.

She stared at him.

This wasn’t the emperor she knew.

This wasn’t the kind man who had taken her in.

This wasn’t the person who had given her a place beside him.

The man walking toward her now looked like a monster wearing a familiar face.

"I know what happened, Slyvia."

Damon’s voice was calm.

Too calm.

"I showed you kindness when you were nothing more than a worthless child of a whore."

Slyvia began crawling backward.

"And you repaid me by spreading rumors that you were my ward."

He laughed.

"That you were special."

Slyvia shook her head.

"I—I didn’t—"

"Oh, don’t be scared."

Damon crouched before her.

"If I simply look at you, my youth will return."

His smile widened.

"That’s what I do, after all."

Slyvia tried to stand.

She barely managed to get onto her feet before vines burst from the ground.

They wrapped around her legs and slammed her back down.

"No!"

She struggled violently.

"Let me go!"

The vines tightened.

"I’ll expose you!"

Her voice cracked.

"No—wait! I won’t! I’ll keep quiet! I’ll pretend I never saw this!"

Damon continued approaching.

He lifted one claw-like hand and slowly traced it across her face.

Slyvia trembled.

"What do you want from Ashton?"

Her voice was barely audible.

"It’s not just about making him your heir, is it?"

Damon smiled.

"You’ve always been a curious one."

"How did you get the Heavenly Sword?"

His expression darkened.

"That’s none of your fucking business."

Slyvia tried to summon her flames again.

A massive fireball erupted from her hands.

She hurled it directly at him.

Damon caught it.

Just caught it.

The flames burned against his palm as he stared at them with amusement.

Slyvia’s eyes widened.

That should have been impossible.

He closed his hand.

The flames disappeared.

"You see?"

Damon looked back at her.

"I couldn’t reveal myself because of the crowd around us."

His smile became colder.

"But now?"

He stepped closer.

"I don’t care anymore."

Slyvia shook her head violently.

"No..."

"I’ll take your essence."

Damon inhaled slowly.

"Your power will become mine. It will help me capture my son faster."

His eyes gleamed.

"And who would have thought the ancestors of the dead would turn against the emperor?"

He laughed softly.

"Even the Devil’s Son is here fighting for my son."

His smile widened.

"Isn’t that interesting?"

Slyvia’s breathing became frantic.

"You killed them."

Damon said nothing.

"You killed the other heroes, didn’t you?"

Her voice rose.

"You killed your fellow heroes!"

Damon’s expression remained emotionless.

"You monster!"

Slyvia screamed.

"What did you do to them?"

Damon grabbed her face.

"You don’t need to know."

His claws dug into her eye.

Slyvia’s scream tore through the night.

Then something began leaving her body.

A faint glow emerged from within her, slowly being pulled toward Damon.

He opened his mouth.

The essence flowed directly into him.

He inhaled it.

Slyvia’s body began to change.

Her youthful appearance faded.

Her skin withered.

Her hair turned gray.

Within moments, she looked like an old woman who had lived for centuries.

Then her body disappeared.

Damon straightened.

His appearance slowly returned to normal.

He sighed.

"No matter where you hide, Ashton Lane..."

His eyes turned toward the distant horizon.

"I will find you."

He adjusted his robe.

"And when I take you, the Moonlight Alphas will go exactly where I prepared for them."

His smile returned.

"The four coffins are waiting."

He had almost everything planned.

The only problem was Lysander.

"That demon needs to be dealt with before he ruins everything."

Damon began walking away.

But there was one thing he had forgotten.

He wasn’t only dealing with a pureblood.

He was dealing with Noah’s allies.

And among them were Phoenix witches.

The very people who could become the greatest threat to everything Damon had spent years building.