LOGINI can hardly believe it. Before my friends can say anything else, I squeal and throw my arms around them both, jumping up and down. Liam and Brian and the twins are the one major thing I’ve missed dearly since leaving Bo’Arrocan, and to find that they’re finally considering living in Ordan full time
“On schedule, believe it or not,” I reply. “The Bo’Arrocan branch is finally running smoothly, and the Ordan location just graduated its first class of seniors. Six of them got full scholarships to prestigious art schools.”“That’s amazing, Iris.” Alice squeezes my arm. “You’ve created something tru
IrisFive Years Later…“Fifty years of marriage, and they still make each other laugh like that,” Arthur says, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. He hands me one and clinks his against it, and we watch as my parents twirl on the lawn, my mom throwing her head back at something my fa
“Gee. Thanks,” I manage to laugh weakly. “I’ll see you all next week.”“You most certainly will not,” Arthur, Hunter, and Alice all say in unison, making me roll my eyes.Outside, Arthur’s car is waiting, parked haphazardly half on the curb. He must have driven like a maniac to get here so quickly f
IrisEight months later…“And that’s why the colors on this side of the color wheel are considered ‘cool’ colors,” I explain to the class of children sitting in a semicircle around me. “They remind us of water, ice, and the sky.”I’m demonstrating on a large color wheel chart when a sharp pain rips
And through it all, Augustine’s breathing grows slower, shallower.Then, quietly and calmly, she goes.Her hand turns limp in mine. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlines. The doctor steps forward, checks for a pulse, then shakes her head.“Time of death, 10:47 AM,” she says quietly.I br
Arthur’s face crumples, and suddenly he looks exhausted. “Oh, Goddess, I’ve made such a mess of everything,” he whispers. “Miles… I said terrible things about Miles. About you. I accused you of—”“You weren’t yourself,” I say firmly. “Whatever you said, whatever you did, that wasn’t you.”“But I hur
IrisAlice’s office is blissfully quiet. My hands are shaking as I turn the lock, and for a moment I just lean against the door, trying to catch my breath.We made it. We’re alone. Away from Veronica’s watchful eyes and the crowd of people who would love nothing more than to witness another public s
The idea of marking her, right here and right now, sent a thrill through me. But I pushed that thought away. I knew she was my mate, of course—I had felt it the moment I met her—but I didn’t want to scare her away with my intensity.She was a human, after all. Did she even feel the same level of att
ArthurThe woman in the baby blue dress leads me toward the dance floor, and all I can do is stare at the back of her head and stumble after her. Half of me feels like I should pull away and return to Veronica’s side, which is where I truly belong but the other half refuses to leave this woman.It’s







