Page 30 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

I haven’t been trained in any form of fighting. Gunnar only taught my brothers to be protectors, and now I see why. My sisters and I are nothing more than someone to marry off so he can get money. We either care for the animals, the house, or the smaller kids. Now that I’m gone, he’ll probably put a servant on manure duty.

If nothing else, Idohave this sword. My palm might not grow bright enough to be seen in the daylight, so while helpful in the dark, it might do nothing when the sun is up. At least with the weapon I can look opposing. My right palm glows faintly brighter with each step.

The fae standing in front of Harek is even taller than him but skinny like an imp in the stories Mother told me as a child. Gunnar never liked her telling fae stories, so he wouldn’t allow her to tell my siblings. Or maybe she told only me because I’m part of that world. She knew she needed to prepare me for something she didn’t fully understand.

Now I have to look at everything from my life in a new light. She believed in this so much she gave Harek’s family this sword to give me. That means she knew Gunnar wasn’t safe withthis secret, but she trusted my best friend and his parents. It reaffirms what I already knew.

I slink around the bush covering me and march toward Harek, holding the sword as if I have all the confidence in the world. I push my shoulders back and stand tall, keeping a tense expression on my face—all things I learned from my horrible stepfather. Apparently he isn’t completely useless.

The fae’s eyes widen and he gives me a double take. His skin takes on a greenish hue, and his teeth sharpen.

My heart rate spikes. Hopefully he can’t detect that—I think only vampires and werewolves can pick up on those subtleties, but what do I really know? I knit my eyebrows together, giving the impression that this green skin-and-bones giant doesn’t bother me.

Harek whips toward me, his eyes full of a similar surprise. He didn’t really expect me to stay hidden in our nest while he faces off with this creature?

The fae takes a step back, his gaze glued to my sword. “What do you want?”

Its etchings glow so brightly my eyes almost ache looking at it. I turn my attention to the impish fae. “Me? You’re the one botheringus.” I take a few steps closer, holding the sword even tighter. “I’m not afraid to use this.”

He nods, licking his lips. “I don’t mean any harm.” His voice gets even higher. “The two of us were just having a discussion.”

I glance at Harek. “There isn’t a problem here?”

My friend stares at me for a beat too long before shaking his head. “I think he was just leaving.”

The imp-like creature races away without a word.

“What was that?” I lower my sword and lean on it, my legs turning to jelly.

“You didn’t think I could handle him?”

“Did you expect I’d cower in the nest and do nothing?”

We stare each other down before he relents. “No, I shouldn’t have expected that.”

“What was he? Some kind of imp?”

“Basically.” Harek nods toward our sleeping area. “Let’s gather our things and get moving.”

Now that I know we’re safe, a yawn escapes. “I thought we were going to sleep through the day?”

“It sounds like things aren’t normal right now. I think we might be better off traveling in the light than sleeping in shifts. I know what I said earlier, but this is better.”

“You and that imp were discussing the state of the fae?”

“I didn’t have to. We’ve seen more fae in the last day than I’ve seen in the past year.” His expression turns grave. “Something is going on, but I don’t know what. I was hoping that guy would have some insight, but you scared him off.”

I laugh.

“It isn’t funny.”

“Actually, it kind of is.”

He cocks a brow. “How?”

“I’m just a halfling. Half as threatening as a regular fae.” I sigh. “Probably even less, and nobody’s going to want me. Look at how all the fae flee from me—I don’t fit in anywhere, and I never will. I’m more of an outcast now than ever before.”

He hesitates.

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