Page 27 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“How do you know about it?”

“My parents would point it out when they first started taking me out on hunts. They stopped mentioning it by the time I was big enough to hold my own crossbow, but I always wondered why people stopped using it.”

“It might be worth a try. If nobody uses it anymore, we’ll have less chance of running into more fae.”

“Not that we need to worry about them.”

“Bloodsuckers and shifters?” I ask.

“Did you see the way those two bloodsuckers ran from you? I’ve never seen anyone so scared. There’s something about that orange glow that frightens them. You’re better than any weapon.”

“And you don’t know anything about my glow?”

“No fae I’ve ever seen has done that, but there are many types I’ve never come across. Most stay in the cities and never venture into the woods. It’s the outcasts who spend their time out here where we hunt.”

I lean against a tree and take a moment to absorb everything I’ve just heard.

This is all too much. My mother dying. Having to leave my siblings and home. Discovering my new power.

“Do you want to try the abandoned path?” Harek asks.

“You said something about having a place to sleep? My head is swimming, and my body is exhausted. I think I need a break. Or would we be better off going back to your house for the night and starting over tomorrow?”

“We’re already out here, so we should keep going.”

“Then can we set up camp somewhere?”

“Like I said before, we’re better off resting when the night fae sleep. Otherwise, we’ll be unconscious while they’re roaming around, looking for bloody treats.”

I groan.

“The other option is to sleep in shifts, but that’ll make it harder for us to have the time to travel during the day. If we sleep in the light, we can both sleep at the same time.”

We don’t have any good options.

Harek places a hand on my shoulder. “At this rate, we only have a few more hours until sunrise. We should make the most of it and then we can find somewhere to rest.”

“Let’s do that.” Once we start moving again, my sleepiness will likely wear off—at least for a time. I did get a nap earlier. With any luck, that’ll be enough to keep me going.

“It’ll be for the best,” he reassures me. “You’ll see.”

I hope he’s right.

Chapter

Ten

It’sa good thing I brought my father’s sword. Not because I need it against bloodsuckers, shifters, or wild animals, but to cut down the vines and branches taking over this supposed trail. If I didn’t trust Harek, I’d think he was pulling a fast one on me.

By the time the sun starts to poke over the horizon, I’m ready to fall asleep standing up. I could seriously not wake for an entire week. My eyelids are barely staying open, and my arms can scarcely hold up the sword anymore. Between hacking plants and giving into sobs every so often, I don’t have any energy left.

I don’t care about anything aside from giving into the slumber calling my name.

“The sun’s up.” I point to it, even though Harek can see it. “Are we going to shelter anywhere or crash on the ground? I’m game for either.”

He points to a bush. “There’s a space underneath we can use. It might be a little tight, but I think it’ll work.”

“Sounds good to me.” I wipe vine juice from my sword and tuck it into my jacket.

---