Page 36 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

I turn back to him. “You were really going to tell me about all of this?”

“Yes, definitely. I didn’t mean for you to find out like that, but I couldn’t let those dung lickers hurt you. I’m not sorry for what I did, but I am sorry you found out like that.”

“It’s a lot to take in.” I heave in a deep sigh.

“Which is why I wanted to wait to say anything since you’re already dealing with so much.”

“I guess I can appreciate that.”

Harek gives me a playful nudge. “You guess?”

I shrug.

His expression turns serious. “Before we get back to traveling, I need to return to the city and warn my parents about Gunnar. Now that he knows I’m a werewolf...” His voice trails off and a pained expression crosses his face. “They need to be prepared.”

“We’re going back?”

“Just me. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”

“Safe like this nest?”

Harek shakes his head. “There’s a cabin protected by magic. Humans can’t see it.”

“Why didn’t we go there last night?” I ask. “That would’ve been helpful.”

“Obviously, but I didn’t think humans would be a problem. I was wrong, and that’s why I’m going to have you stay in the cabin until I come back.”

“I want to go with you. Gunnar has my father’s sword.”

“It isn’t safe.”

“Then what makes it safe for you?” I cross my arms and glare at him.

“I’m used to sneaking in and out of the wall. Plus I can run a lot faster in wolf form. I can leave and return before you know it if I do this on my own.”

“But Gunnar has the sword. I need it for my magic to work! At least I think I do.” I hold up my normal right palm, trying to make sense of it. “It hasn’t turned orange since I lost the weapon. The only thing that makes sense is that I have to be near the sword. It lit up at your house when I was near it, even though I didn’t know it was there.”

“I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t promise anything. We might have to try and get it later.”

“How can I enter a fae territory without any of my powers?”

“You’ll be fine.”

“And you know this how?”

Harek glances up at the sky. “I need to go before it starts getting late. It’s going to take some time getting you to the cabin.”

I really don’t see how anything could get worse, but I don’t tell him that because things can always get worse.

We start on our trek to a secret cabin. Hopefully a half-human can see it, otherwise I don’t know where I’ll be able to hide while Harek returns home to warn his parents about Gunnar. They’ll have to leave the town. Once exposed, the leaders will throw them out into the wild.

All because of me.

Chapter

Fourteen

This cabin is tiny,cramped, and offers me nothing to do but think about how my life has fallen apart completely. The only good thing is the dried meat and fruits. I devoured them the moment Harek fled and I realized just how famished I was. Now I’m full but miserable.

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