#Chapter 172

Violet’s POV I thanked the Goddess for the fine weather she was bestowing us with. We had alternate measures in case of rain, but there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Cameras flashed in the audience gathered in the historic town square smack dab in the middle of downtown Darkmoon. I stepped up to the microphone, more nervous than usual to speak in public. I took confidence in Kincaid and Lily at my back and Theo in my mind. You look beautiful, he shared through our magical connection, and I knew he was watching on TV. I reminded myself that with the time between hallucinations, I likely would not experience one today since the last one had been yesterday. Still, I couldn’t help but scan the crowd in case either of my dead parents were in it. A different familiar face caught my eye instead. Helene Hayward, Luna of Dark Forest. She smiled as we made eye contact. I took a grounding breath. “My fellow Darkmoon citizens,” I began, my voice booming through the speakers, “it has b