Nearly Nine Years Later

Antony Holbrook stood inside a hedge maze with Iris, scowling at the nearest wall of twisted branches. He debated crawling through it to the other side and muttered, “I was a bloody spy for decades. I should be able to figure this out.”

Iris snorted. “You’re just testy because this might be the first time the lads and Lena can beat us to the center.”

Every summer, Antony and Iris would visit a new hedge maze with their kids. They’d meet up with Max, Lavinia, and their daughter, and have a contest to see who could solve it first. Originally, it had been the two families against one another. However, this year, the three cousins had decided to compete as their own team since they were ten and eleven years old.

Iris wrapped her arms around his waist from the back and said, “Just stop for a second and assess, aye?”

He turned in her arms and wrapped his arms around his mate. “Hmm, maybe I should take a break. You must be missing my kisses by now.”

She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched. “I’m almost afraid to admit it, but I’ll always miss your kisses. But I think we should just stay here for a bit and let the bairns win.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Let them? Are you the same dragonwoman who pushes everyone to their limits when it comes to self-defense training?”

“Only once they’re accustomed to the new skills. Next year, we can use all of our knowledge and really make a go of it. But this year? I say let them win. It’ll give them confidence and show they can do it. Plus, given how stubborn they all are, if they do lose next year, they’ll make plans and strategies about how to win the year after.”

“You’re brilliant, love. As always.”

She smiled. “I’m glad you still realize that.”

He laughed before lowering his head. He stopped just shy of kissing his mate. “If we need to stay here and pass some time, then I need a distraction. Do you know of anyone who can help?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against them. “Aye, I just might.”

Iris pressed her lips against his, and he took it deeper, reveling in her heat and taste. Even after all these years, he never got enough of her.

A group of high-pitched squeals made Iris pull back. “I think they’ve reached the center. Let’s go find them, aye?”

“Are you sure that wasn’t Max and Lavinia?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to mention that to them.”

“Go right ahead. Max squeals sometimes. It’s a fact.”

Snorting, Iris took his hand and tugged. “Come on.”

Now that he was more relaxed, Antony easily wound his way through the hedge maze. His sons grinned at him, and Alena did a victory dance. He murmured, “At least we beat Max and Lavinia.”

Lavinia’s voice came from behind them. “I heard that!”

Before he could reply, the kids swarmed around them and excitedly told them how they’d found the middle so quickly.

And by the time they were all out of the maze, eating ice creams and getting looks for being rather rambunctious, the sun came out from behind a cloud. Antony hugged his mate closer and tried his best to make his family laugh even harder. He’d embraced living in the light, and he was going to make the most of it every day, never taking those he loved for granted.