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
IrisI can’t sleep. It’s partly due to worry about Miles—his fever has gone down with the medicine my mother had on hand, but he’s still restless—and partly everything else that’s swirling around in my head.Selina, the residency ending, Arthur, my wolf… it’s all too much to process while lying in a
Arthur frowns. “You want to use this as a PR opportunity?”“That’s not what I’m saying,” I protest, although it’s not entirely untrue. “Look, I hate what Selina did. I’m furious and scared and I never want her anywhere near Miles again. But I also think that maybe, with the right help, she could be…
IrisWe don’t even have a chance to stop at home first. After getting all the details from Ezra about the Selina situation, Arthur tells him to take us directly to my parents’ estate. Miles stays asleep throughout most of the ride, completely unaware. I envy his blissful ignorance.The Willford esta
The rest of our vacation passes in a similar fashion—lazy mornings, outdoor adventures with Miles during the day, quiet evenings together after he goes to bed. I work on my sketch whenever I have a moment alone, refining details and making notes about colors and textures for the final piece.This va







