Chapter 16. Violet

Aria’s POV

It's strange how I'm pretty calm. I smiled at the green canopy of leaves over my head, then sighed at the soft pale moonlight that filtered in from the cluster of fluttering leaves. I shut my eyes and slowly turned around as I listened to the symphony of sounds made by the forest critters. I exhaled and opened my eyes, and they locked on glowing violet ones, and I smiled—a soft, kindly smile. The kind an old lady wearing a pink knitted sweater and sitting in a rocking chair will give you before offering you a freshly baked cookie from her enormous jar. The kind a tired mother gives her wrinkly yet beautiful newborn right after it pops out. Yes. That's the kind of smile I had as I looked into those violet eyes and gave myself an imaginary pat on the back for how calm I was.

Purple eyes followed us.

For some reason, he came along with us.

We were to leave to find the Glass Seers, with nothing but a picture and a poorly drawn map... oh,