---- The realization hit him like a jolt, she had been the one to save him.

His head lolled back into her lap, the soft warmth of her legs grounding him.

As his fingers grazed his forehead, he noted the fever had dulled, though not entirely abated.

The infection still clawed at him, festering just beneath the surface.

His gaze shified upward, toward the dawn breaking through the canopy of trees.

Birds chirped a melody that seemed at odds with the heavy stillness in his chest.

For a moment, he let himself be lulled by the peace of the forest, but his eyes inevitably returned to her.

Alex's lips were slightly parted, her breaths shallow and rhythmic in her sleep.

Her hair, loose and tangled, cascaded over her shoulders in wild tendrils, and her shirt, if it could still be called that, was torn almost entirely, barely concealing her chest.noveldrama

The tattered remnants bore testimony to her desperation last night.

She had sacrificed her clothing to make cooling cloths for him.

---- Chapter 471 A soft smile tugged at Damiens lips, a rare warmth flickering in his chest.

This girlthis impossible, infuriating girlhad refused to leave him when any rational person would have.

She had fought for him when he had surrendered to despair.

His mind replayed her expression from the night before when he had begged her to leave him.

The pain in her eyes had been visceral, as though he had asked her to carve out her own heart.

She was reckless and foolish for saving him.

She would regret it one day.

But right now, he wanted to thank her.

Then reality struck with cold precision.

His thoughts darkened as he remembered the war they were entangled in and the role she was unknowingly destined to play.

His stomach churned with guilt They would use her, exploit her in ways she couldn't yet fathom.

She deserved to know the truth, yet revealing it would unravel everything ---- Chapter 471 A soft smile tugged at Damiens lips, a rare warmth flickering in his chest.

This girlthis impossible, infuriating girlhad refused to leave him when any rational person would have.

She had fought for him when he had surrendered to despair.

His mind replayed her expression from the night before when he had begged her to leave him.

The pain in her eyes had been visceral, as though he had asked her to carve out her own heart.

She was reckless and foolish for saving him.

She would regret it one day.

But right now, he wanted to thank her.

Then reality struck with cold precision.

His thoughts darkened as he remembered the war they were entangled in and the role she was unknowingly destined to play.

His stomach churned with guilt They would use her, exploit her in ways she couldn't yet fathom.

She deserved to know the truth, yet revealing it would unravel everything ---- Chapter 471 A soft smile tugged at Damiens lips, a rare warmth flickering in his chest.

This girlthis impossible, infuriating girlhad refused to leave him when any rational person would have.

She had fought for him when he had surrendered to despair.

His mind replayed her expression from the night before when he had begged her to leave him.

The pain in her eyes had been visceral, as though he had asked her to carve out her own heart.

She was reckless and foolish for saving him.

She would regret it one day.

But right now, he wanted to thank her.

Then reality struck with cold precision.

His thoughts darkened as he remembered the war they were entangled in and the role she was unknowingly destined to play.

His stomach churned with guilt They would use her, exploit her in ways she couldn't yet fathom.

She deserved to know the truth, yet revealing it would unravel everything