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
But this Arthur… this Arthur looks at me and sees something far more valuable than power.“The ranch is in the independent territories,” Arthur goes on, opening the safe in the closet now and rifling through the papers, jewels, and cash we keep stashed there. “Silas’ authority doesn’t extend there.
IrisI sit on the edge of our bed, watching in stunned silence as Arthur hurries around our bedroom like a man who has just become possessed. He yanks open drawers, grabbing handfuls of clothes and stuffing them haphazardly into the open suitcase on the bed. It’s so unlike his usual methodical natur
Arthur is quiet for a long moment, his jaw working as he thinks. I can practically hear the gears turning in his head, weighing options, considering consequences. Finally, he looks up at me, and places his hand on my belly.“I’m going to accept his terms,” he says firmly.“What?” I blink at him. “It
Iris“What?” The word slams out of me like a gunshot in the cramped space of the van. “He can’t just… he can’t just kidnap our son and force Arthur to give up the presidency! That’s not how any of this works!”But the grim faces of the officers around us tell me that it might not be so simple. Even







