Tower of Thorns Tower of Fangs Volume 5 Chapter 27 My Heart Is Yours

 " My heart, it beats, beats for only you..

My heart is yours"

Chapter 27  My Heart Is Yours

When you're inflicted by the passion and happiness of love, everything and anything is wonderful. There is joy and happiness in the world. Everything is perfect, everything is wonderful and you feel truly alive. The last days of summer arrived quietly. As though the season itself wished to linger. As though the world understood something precious was nearing its end. Golden sunlight poured through the forest canopy. The lake shimmered beneath endless blue skies. Flowers bloomed along hidden paths. And Moon was happy. Truly happy. Perhaps for the first time since descending from the heavens. He smiled more now. Laughed more. Slept peacefully. The old gods noticed. . Even the fairies noticed. Tiny winged spirits often followed Moon and Nico together. Curious. Watching. As if witnessing a story. As if witnessing something sacred. One afternoon Moon sat beside the lake. His feet rested in the water. The silver fairies danced around him lazily. A few slept in his hair. Others perched upon his shoulders. The celestial hummed softly. A melody with no words. An ancient song from somewhere beyond the sky. Nico watched him from nearby. Unable to stop smiling. Moon noticed immediately. He always noticed.

The celestial tilted his head.

"Again."

Nico laughed.

"What?"

"You are staring."

Moon sounded genuinely puzzled.

Nico looked away.

Then immediately looked back.

Which only made Moon more confused. The sight was adorable. The future White King felt his heart ache. Not painfully. Beautifully.

Moon looked toward the lake. Toward the reflection staring back at him. Then quietly asked:

"Do humans always feel like this?"

Nico blinked.

"Feel like what?"

Moon thought for a moment.

Then smiled softly.

"Warm."

The answer caught Nico off guard.

Moon touched his own chest.

As though trying to understand it.

Trying to understand himself.

"I like being near you."

Simple. Honest. Entirely Moon.

Nico's heart nearly stopped.

Moon continued.

"When you leave..."

His dark eyes lowered slightly.

"I miss you."

The confession sounded innocent. Unaware. Unprotected.

Nico felt both joy and terror.

Because Moon had no defenses. No walls. No suspicion. The celestial trusted completely. Loved completely. Believed completely. And Nico feared such innocence. Because the world did not deserve it. Neither did he. Moon suddenly stood. The fairies immediately scattered. Silver lights swirling around him. The celestial approached. Barefoot. Graceful. Weightless. Like moonlight learning how to walk.

Nico forgot how to breathe. Every time. Every single time.

Moon stopped directly in front of him. Close. Very close. Close enough to hear his heartbeat.

Close enough to see his own reflection inside Nico's blue eyes.

The celestial stared. Longer than usual. Studying him. Memorizing him.

Then Moon smiled. The smile. Not the one he gave others. Not the polite one. Not the curious one. The real one. Warm. Gentle. Belonging only to Nico. And suddenly Moon reached out. Taking Nico's hand. The contact startled him. Because Moon rarely initiated touch. The celestial's fingers intertwined with his. Natural. Comfortable. As though they belonged there. Moon looked down at their joined hands. Then back toward Nico. And said the words that would haunt him forever.

"I trust you."

The world seemed to stop. The lake. The forest. The wind. Everything. Nico stared at him. Unable to speak. Moon smiled again. Completely sincere. Completely vulnerable. The celestial squeezed his hand gently.

"I trust you more than anyone."

The words struck harder than any weapon. Because Nico knew they were true. Moon trusted Tapio. Trusted Ashkar. Trusted the fairies. But this was different. Moon trusted Nico with himself. Entirely. Without reservation. Without fear. The celestial seemed to realize something then. A small realization. A quiet understanding.

 Moon looked away. Almost shy. Then softly said:

"If you asked..."

The sentence trailed off.

Nico waited.

Moon's cheeks became slightly pink. A rare sight. Beautiful. Embarrassed. Human.

The celestial laughed softly at himself. Then finished.

"If you asked for anything..."

His dark eyes met Nico's.

"I would give it."

The future White King's chest tightened painfully.

Because Moon meant it. Every word. Moon was not speaking romantically. Not dramatically. Not poetically. Simply honestly. The way children tell the truth. The way stars shine. The way rivers flow. Naturally. Without deception. Without games. Moon lifted their joined hands slightly. Smiling.

And quietly said:

"My heart is yours."

The forest became silent. Even the fairies stopped moving. As though the world itself had heard. As though something ancient had taken notice. Nico froze. Because he suddenly understood. Moon wasn't speaking metaphorically. If Nico truly asked Moon would give him everything. His trust. His love. His loyalty. His life. Everything. The realization terrified him. Because no one should ever trust another person that much. No one. Yet Moon did. Without hesitation. Without doubt. Without fear. Nico's eyes filled with tears.

Moon immediately looked concerned.

"Did I say something wrong?"

The question nearly shattered him. Because Moon still didn't understand. Didn't understand how precious he was. Didn't understand how dangerous this trust could be. Didn't understand what he was placing into Nico's hands. The future White King quickly shook his head.

"No."

His voice cracked.

"No."

Moon relaxed immediately.

Smiling once more. Relieved. Happy. Trusting. Always trusting.

Nico looked at him. At the celestial he loved more than anything. And for the first time Fear entered his heart. Not fear of losing Moon. Not fear of death. Fear of failing him. Fear of betraying that trust. Fear of becoming unworthy of it. 

Far away hidden among the shadows a black fox watched everything. Every smile. Every touch. Every word. And carried them all back to Eemil. Who listened. And smiled. Because he finally knew exactly where to place the knife.

That night Moon slept peacefully. Dreaming of Nico. Dreaming of forever. Dreaming of a future where nothing could separate them.

While elsewhere Eemil sat beneath a moonless sky. Planning how to destroy it all.