Crown Of Hearts
Chapter 52: I cannot lose you

Chapter 52: I cannot lose you

Damon did not want to worry Alexander so he pushed his thoughts aside and put a smile on his lips.

"Yes, I am fine." He replied and they resumed their journey back to the house.

"Alex, have you given any further thought to practicing your magic?" Damon asked.

"Not really. Why?"

"Well, it could come in handy when you set out on your quest into the dark forest. It will make it much more bearable to know that you can protect yourself when you are out there." Damon explained and Alexander brought his hand up to his lips and placed kiss on his knuckles, an action that made Damon blush.

"I appreciate the concern love but I have my sword." Alexander smiled only for Damon to frown.

"It’s not enough! There are dangerous magical creatures out there. Don’t you understand, I don’t want to lose you. I cannot lose you..." Damon’s outburst was unexpected even for him.

This man had turned him into an emotional wreck.

Alexander snapped form his surprised daze once he saw the unshed tears in Damon eyes.

Good Lord, his boyfriend was scared and it was his fault so it was up to him to fix it.

"Listen to me, you are not going to lose me. Ever. Okay?" Alexander consoled as he hugged Damon but his tiny sniffles told him he needed to do more.

"Honey, I will do whatever you want, please don’t be upset." Alexander promised as he stroked Damon’s back.

"So you are going to practice your magic?" Damon asked as his soft sobs quieted down.

"Yes." Alexander replied in a heartbeat, realizing that his quest had had a bigger effect on Damon than he had realized.

The man was terrified and for all the right reasons.

Alexander wasn’t guaranteed that he could make it out of the black forest alive but all he could do was be optimistic.

His relationship depended on it.

They made it back just in time to get ready for supper and as Aya set the table, Alexander went into the kitchen to speak with his mother.

"Mother, I was hoping to speak with you." Alexander said once he spotted his mother taking out a fresh bunch of dinner rolls from the oven.

"Me too but you go first." She replied and Alexander inhaled deeply to get more courage to make the request that was probably going to shock his mother.

"I was hoping that you could allow me and Damon to tell Aya about our relationship. She is family and we want her to hear it from us." Alexander spoke much faster than he normally did because he was nervous.

His mother was quiet for a long while.

"So, what do you think?" He asked and she drew her lips into a thin line, something she did whenever she was seriously contemplating a thought.

"You can tell her." She replied eventually, the reluctance in her voice making Alexander know that this was all really hard for her.

"Thank you. I know this is hard and I want you to know that I appreciate it." Alexander smiled.

"You are welcome dear. If this is what makes you happy, then I support you." She returned his smile and Alexander happily swopped her up in an excited hug.

"Wait...what did you want to talk about?" Alexander asked as he stepped out of his mom’s embrace.

"Oh... that. It’s already sorted. I was going to tell you that even though it may take me a while to adjust to your relationship, just know that I support you." Nadine smiled and Alexander’s chest warmed up.

"I love you mom and thank you. This means a lot to me." He said as he placed a small kiss on her left cheek before dashing out of the kitchen to find Damon.

He needed to share the good news.

A small gasp of surprise escaped Damon’s lips when he was suddenly hugged from behind and knowing it was Alexander. he leaned back, a smile adorning his lips as he closed his eyes.

"You caught me by surprise." Damon whispered as he inhaled the familiar masculine scent that always made him relax.

"I hope you are not complaining." Alexander smiled as he nuzzled Damon’s neck.

"No, I like it." Damon assured.

"I have good news. My mother has allowed us to tell Aya." Alexander said and Damon turned to face him, his arms wrapping around his neck.

"How do you think she will react?" Damon asked and Alexander cupped his cheek in a gentle caress.

"She will be surprised but she already likes you so, I think she will be happy for us." Alexander replied and Damon smiled.

"So, when are we going to tell her?" Damon asked.

"As soon as possible. How’s dinner?"

"That will work. I am just so happy that we don’t have to hide our relationship anymore." Damon confessed and Alexander leaned in, placing a lingering kiss on his lips.

"Me too." Alexander breathed as his lips kissed and nibbled on Damon’s jaw.

Damon’s breath hitched at the feeling of the warm lips that were now kissing a trail down his neck.

"Alex...dinner" His voice was quite breathless as his fingers tangled Alexander’s black curls.

"Mmmh...." Alexander murmured as he reluctantly put some distance between them and after making sure they looked presentable, they headed down for dinner.

Damon got to sit next to Alexander and he couldn’t help noticing that his boyfriend’s mom was being a lot nicer to him.

He could see that she was really making the effort to make him feel comfortable and Damon was glad that he was no longer receiving glares.

Halfway through dinner, he was a little surprised when Alexander held his hand that was on top of the table.

Their eyes met briefly as Alexander cleared his throat to gain his family’s attention.

"Aya, there is something that we want to tell you." Alexander said and Aya’s eyes brimmed with curiosity.

"Damon and I are a couple. He’s my boyfriend." Alexander smiled as he placed a kiss on Damon’s knuckles.

Aya remained silent for a while, her small face quite unsuprised.

"I had a feeling something was going on between you." She admitted as her eyes lit up.

"Does this mean that Damon is now part of our family?" She beamed as her eyes darted from her mother and brother.

"Yes." Nadine replied and Damon’s heart warmed at the fact that he was being accepted by Alexander’s family.

"Welcome to the family." Nadine announced as she raised a glass to celebrate the couple.

"Thank you." Damon murmured, his eyes a little teary.

"Mom, does this mean I can also have a boyfriend?" Aya asked and everyone chuckled at the excited ten year old.

"Not until you are eighteen." Nadine replied and Aya pouted.

"That’s eight years from now." She noted, her voice deflated. Eight years sounded like decades.

"It’s not such a long time and besides, when you get a boyfriend, you might marry and leave the house. Do you want that?" Nadine asked slyly, well aware of what her young daughter’s response could be.