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
I shake my head. “Nothing, I’m afraid. But I’ll do whatever I can to assist the investigation.”The detective nods, then excuses herself to continue her work. As soon as she’s out of earshot, Ezra leans in.“Alpha,” he whispers, “that sapphire—”“I know,” I cut him off. “But we don’t say anything ab
ArthurI watch Iris disappear through the doorway, and the ache in my chest nearly breaks me, just like it did six years ago when I came home to find her gone.My mate has left me.Again.And who could blame her? Not when I not only have another mate, but have failed to reject that mate, and have ev
I blink, caught off guard by his offer. “You’d… do that?”“I’m not going to let my mate and son leave when it’s me who’s the problem.” He reaches for my hands, gripping them tightly—too tightly for me to pull away this time. “What matters is that I’m going to fix this, Iris. I swear it. I’m going to
IrisThe stars hang low in the night sky, tiny diamonds scattered across a canvas of inky blackness. Below the balcony, in the distance, the fire is burning bright in the brazier. Dark forms sway and move around it, people dancing and mingling and laughing.Are they laughing at us? At me? At my publ







