Lila's POV
The air was heavy with the scent of pine and damp ground, and the route was narrow. As we moved through the thick forest, the sunshine hardly peeping through the overhead canopy, and the leaves crunched beneath our boots.
With stiff broad shoulders, Kian took the lead. With his hand on his sword's hilt, Nathaniel trailed closely behind. I carried Aria close to my chest as I strolled in the center. She gazed around, her eyes wide, her tiny fists gripping her favorite toy, Woof.
"Mama, where are we going?" Aria asked in a quiet voice.
I responded, removing a curl from her face, "to find something important." "Something your grandmother was aware of."
"Grandma?" Aria's expression brightened. "Is she pleasant?"
I gave a small smile. "Yes, sweetheart. She was so pleasant.
Howe
