Mo Xing smiled, and for once she could see his vulnerability laid bare, the carefully constructed walls momentarily lowered. His golden eyes caught the dappled light, revealing depths she'd only glimpsed before. "Thank you, my Little Tempest." He leaned in and gently kissed her forehead.
Li Hua closed her eyes and inhaled his familiar scent of night bloom flowers and pine. Her heart beat faster, and for the first time in both her lives, she could picture someone who could stand beside her through it all. As he pulled back, she squeezed his hand and smiled up at him.
"Thank you, my Golden Shadow," she whispered, the nickname slipping out naturally.
Mo Xing's eyes widened slightly before crinkling at the corners with genuine pleasure. His rich laughter filled the space between them as he reached out to ruffle her hair. "Golden Shadow," he repeated thoughtfully, savoring the words. "No one has ever named me so perfectly."
