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
We rock in comfortable silence for a while, listening to the chorus of crickets and the occasional distant howl of a wolf. Once again, my mind drifts back to the she-wolf we saw earlier.“Arthur?” I say, breaking the silence.“Hmm?”“Do you think… Do you think my wolf will ever emerge? Or is it poss
IrisBy the time we return to the ranch house, my legs feel like jelly. I never realized horseback riding would use so many muscles that I didn’t even know I had. Arthur and Miles, of course, seem completely unaffected, which is annoying but also very unsurprising.“Did you see how fast Thunder went
The sight of them together makes my heart swell, and I momentarily forget about my fear. This is what I always wanted—to see Arthur being a father to our son. To have these moments together as a family, making memories that Miles will carry with him forever.I thought we would never have this after
Iris“You want me to ride… that?”I stare up at Buttercup, who suddenly seems to be the size of a small building. The chestnut mare looks down at me with what I swear is amusement in her big brown eyes.“Oh, come on,” Arthur laughs, still holding Miles. “She’s the gentlest horse on the ranch.”“I do







