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
The crowd gasps, then breaks into excited murmurs and applause. I stand frozen, unable to process what she’s just announced. Married? Tonight?“Veronica,” I begin, but it’s too late. The man she was just talking to makes his way through the crowd. Veronica grins and touches his arm, then turns to me
ArthurVeronica and I emerge from the small office just as the police officers march Iris and Ezra through the crowd in handcuffs. Watching Iris throw one last desperate look over her shoulder at me makes something stir in my chest.Iris. My mate.Before I can grasp the thought, Veronica takes my fa
IrisEverything went wrong. So terribly, horribly wrong.Ezra had finally found proof of Veronica’s embezzlement scheme that had been going on for years. Documents showing suspicious transfers from her charity’s funds into offshore accounts, falsified tax records, and receipts from expensive purchas
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







