Rowan and Loma ran hand in hand all the way back to his garden while Alaric pretended to chase them. Wren waited for him at the beginning of the path, and Rowan wondered if he'd been standing there the whole time. His eyes lit up when he heard Rowan's laugh ring out in the space between them.
The pink daisies Rowan had created with his happiness had spilled out from the woods to cover every inch of space that wasn't already taken up by flowers in a soft, pink carpet the color of Loma's flushed cheeks.
Loma released Rowan's hand, allowing Alaric to swoop her up onto Cosmos in front of him and claim her lips as a prize for winning the chase. Another laugh bubbled free from Rowan's chest as he kept running directly into Wren's arms.
He claimed his own prize by smashing his mouth against Wren's, breathing in the man's air with their kiss as if it was necessary to stay alive.
