Page 125 of Iridian

I often thought about that question Taylor had once asked me, about what it meant to be Iridian. Back then I hadn’t had a clue how to answer, but now I did. Being Iridian is being just like every conscious being out there, no matter the species. We’re all the same, and we’re all one thing—lost souls waiting to be loved so we can find our way home.

That’s how I felt now—home,not in a penthouse, but in my skin. Thanks to Taland andto Taylor, too.

There was still so much to do, so many things to figure out. Not just about how this new system would work and how much of the old would remain, but with the soldiers, too. With thecurse. With all this power that I had now and what I could do with it.

I never asked to be here, and I never imagined that this was where I’d end up, but I was not going to back down now. Together, we would make it, Taland and I. We would see the world as we wished it was when we were only kids because there are ways. There are always other ways. I have faith in that.

And most importantly, I have faith in myself.

I’ve tiptoed through most of my life. Now I am going to slam my feet down with all my strength to let everybody know that I am here.

—THE END