Chapter 216

Iris

It feels like I’ve only been asleep for a few minutes before I wake to the sound of Miles’ voice coming from down the hallway.

“It’s Solstice morning! Presents! Daddy, Mommy, wake up!”

Arthur groans beside me, burying his face deeper into the pillow. The sun isn’t even up yet; the room is gray with the light of early dawn. “Your son is awake,” he mutters. His voice is gravelly with sleep, and if Miles weren’t still shouting from down the hall, I might want to tangle with him beneath the sheets for a while longer.

“Before sunrise, he’s your son,” I mumble back with a snort. We get up anyway despite the early hour, and after pulling on robes and slippers, we shuffle out to the living room.

Miles is already sitting cross-legged in front of the tree, sorting through the colorfully wrapped packages that Arthur and I placed there last night. Unlike us, he looks like he’s been up for hours; knowing him, he probably hasn’t slept since three in the morning, too excited to keep his eyes closed any longer.

“Can I open one now? Please?” he begs by way of greeting as we enter the room.

“Let us get our coffee first,” Arthur calls over his shoulder as he heads for the kitchen. “Then we’ll open presents.”

Miles groans dramatically. “But that takes forever!”

“It takes two minutes,” I laugh, ruffling his hair as I pass. “I think you’ll survive.”

Indeed, two minutes later—although judging from Miles’ complaints, it’s actually been ten years, and he’s halfway to death’s doorstep—we return to the living room with mugs of coffee in hand.

“Alright, present time,” I announce as I take my place on the couch. Arthur perches on the arm of the sofa beside me, one hand gripping his coffee mug while the other rubs circles on my shoulder.

Over the next hour, we open gifts. Miles is delighted with each present—new books, art supplies, a remote-controlled car, and a telescope for stargazing. The only present he groans over is a new set of clothes for school because, and I quote, “Clothes are boring!”

Arthur seems equally pleased with the watch, books, and new loafers I got him, and I’m touched by his gifts to me: a new set of paintbrushes, a leatherbound sketchbook, and my favorite of all, a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny pendant shaped like an artist’s palette.

“You’re sure you don’t think it’s tacky or anything?” Arthur asks softly as he fastens it around my neck.

I vehemently shake my head. “No. It’s perfect,” I murmur, turning to plant a big, wet kiss on his lips.

“Eww, gross,” Miles comments from his spot on the floor, where he’s already busy with his new art supplies.

Arthur and I laugh, and I decide this is as good a moment as any. “Miles, sweetheart, Daddy and I have something important to tell you.”

Miles looks up from his crayon drawing of a house surrounded by trees that have colors that would never be seen in nature. “What is it?”

I glance at Arthur, who nods encouragingly. “You’re going to be a big brother,” I say, smiling as my hand comes to rest on my belly. “Daddy and I are having another baby.”

I expect surprise, maybe some questions, but Miles just nods matter-of-factly. “I know,” he says, returning to his coloring. “It’s a girl.”

Arthur and I exchange startled looks. “What do you mean, you know?” Arthur asks.

Miles shrugs. “I saw it in my dream. The wolf told me.”

A chill runs down my spine. My mother’s warnings about Miles’ abilities suddenly seem very real.

“Well, so much for surprises,” Arthur murmurs. But when I look over at him, he’s smiling. And I can’t help but smile, too, even though the gender reveal has been ruined less than ten weeks into the pregnancy. A girl. We’re going to have a girl.

After that, we make pancakes shaped like hearts, play with Miles’ new toys, and read his new books. It’s the kind of perfect family holiday I used to dream about during those lonely years after I left Arthur, and I keep touching my belly, sighing wistfully as images of future holidays with more children to spoil flit through my mind.

Briefly, I think back on Arthur’s admission last night—about potentially not running for a second term now that we’re having another child.

The thought doesn’t exactly fill me with joy. Arthur always wanted to be President, after all, and it feels like he’s holding himself back for my sake more than his.

But I have to admit that it’s also an exciting thought, finally living the happy family life I’ve always wanted. Above all else, it has always been my dream to settle down with my mate and children and just spend my days painting.

Would we spend more time here, I wonder? Or more quiet nights in our apartment back in Ordan? Or, in an unexpected turn of events, will we go to Bo’Arrocan to live near Brian and Liam and the twins?

By early afternoon, Miles is starting to wind down. I realize it’s time for a nap when I notice him rubbing his eyes, and despite his protests, I carry him to his bedroom while Arthur putters around outside, chopping firewood and checking on the animals.

As I’m laying him down, however, Miles’ eyes suddenly blink open and he grabs my arm.

“I had another dream last night,” he says. “About the wolf.”

Something in his voice gives me pause. “What happened in the dream?”

Miles is quiet for so long I think he might be starting to fall asleep. Then, he whispers, “There was red stuff on the snow. Lots of if. The wolf was sleeping in it.”

My blood runs cold. Is he talking about blood? About the wolf being dead? “Did… anything else happen?” I ask.

“I woke up after that,” Miles says with a shrug. “But I think the wolf was scared, Mommy. I think you should check on her.”

I don’t want to frighten him further, so I offer him a watery smile and brush that little dark curl away from his forehead. “It was just a dream, sweetie.”

“I guess,” Miles says, although he’s clearly unconvinced, and so am I. “But it looked so real. And the snow…”

He trails off, and I follow his gaze to the window. Outside, fat snowflakes are falling steadily, already coating the landscape in a thick, white blanket. It should be a beautiful scene, and it is, but after what he just told me… A shiver scuttles up my spine.

“Try to sleep now,” I say, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “We can talk more about it later.”

Miles nods, his eyes drifting shut again. Within minutes, he’s fast asleep.

Careful not to wake him, I tuck the covers around him before moving to the window. The snow continues to fall, transforming the ranch into a winter wonderland. It’s beautiful and peaceful, even more so when I catch a glimpse of a shirtless Arthur steadily chopping firewood out back.

But I can’t shake the image Miles described.

Is the wolf I saw all those months ago, the same wolf I saw in my visions, truly dead? Or at the very least is she in danger?

I need to check, if only to ride to that ridge again and see if she’s there. It’s a long shot, but right now, I feel too cooped up to stay inside any longer.

And so, after explaining that I’m going for a ride to Arthur, I saddle my horse and set out into the snow.