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
Iris“That’s two daughters now,” my father fumes as he paces the length of the sitting room. “First Selina, now Iris. He has scorned both of my daughters, and—”“Francis,” my mother chides gently from her seat beside me on the sofa, “you’re not helping, darling. And Selina is no saint.”“Perhaps,” m
He looks like he wants to argue, but after a moment, he nods. “I understand.”I clean my brushes methodically, focusing on the familiar routine to keep myself from falling apart. Rinse in paint thinner, then water, then wash with soap, reshape the bristles, lay them flat to dry. Arthur watches me si
IrisI think I’ve finally found my rhythm again, after weeks of disruption. My brush moves easily across the canvas tonight as I paint a serene scene of a fat little bird sitting in a tree. That very bird is sitting in the tree outside my window, his bright yellow feathers all puffed up and glowing
Arthur“ALPHA PRESIDENT—OR LUNA’S GUARD DOG?”I sigh as I look at the news article on my phone screen, which displays a picture of me from the other day at Wellington Academy. My fangs are fully extended in the photo, eyes glowing red as I tower over the protesters.Beneath the photo is a statement







