Page 31 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“What?”

“You—”

A shot rings out through the air. Then another.

Harek leaps forward and knocks me to the ground. My sword skitters away.

More shots.

My breath hitches, but I manage to scramble toward the weapon.

Harek hurries my way. “We better get back to the nest now.”

“Do fae use guns?”

“Rarely. Magic is better. Comeon.”

“Why is it better?”

He throws me an exasperated glance before pulling me toward the nest. “I can tell you later.”

“Fine.” I yank myself free of his grasp and start toward the nest.

Voices sound. There are at least several of them. I recognize one.

Gunnar.

I freeze in my tracks.

Harek looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

“That’s Gunnar,” I whisper.

“All the more reason to hide.” He reaches for me again.

“He isn’t going to stop until he finds me.”

“Exactly. Hiding is your best option. Let him move on.”

“I need to stand up to him. Look at the way all the fae have run from us. He’s only human.”

Harek’s mouth falls open. “Have you lost your mind? We’re outnumbered! He isn’t going to follow us into a fae city. We just need to get you to the nearest one.”

“If he can’t get in, how are you supposed to?”

“Because I’ll be with you.” He gives me a look that’s part desperation and part demanding. “Let’sgo.”

I glance between him and rapidly approaching voices. “I thought the fae overlords banned guns.”

“They did. Rich people like your stepfather secretly pay the blacksmiths.” Harek reaches for me like he’s about to drag me toward safety. He misses as I lean away from his grasp. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear his eyes flash a copper color. “They have guns, and Gunnar is unpredictable. That makes them more dangerous than fae.”

That’s a good point, and as much as I’d like to see if I can use my orange glow against him, I don’t have any idea how to use it. I can’t even control when it brightens and dims. So far it’s been more of a warning than a defense. It has to be why my mother wanted me to have the sword, which I don’t know how to use.

Another shot rings out. Gunnar shouts my name. They’re close.

Neither my palm nor my sword glow now. It must mean neither will help me against the humans. My stomach sinks.

Harek grabs my arm and pulls me toward the nest.

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