Page 69 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“You’re all done.” The servant gives me a pleasant smile. “Do you require anything else?”

“I can’t imagine what.”

“Lotions, vitamins, something to drink?” She looks at me expectantly.

“A bed?”

“Yes, I will take you to your room.”

My room—like I live here. I wish. I’m only a guest, but I’ll stay as long as Vivvi will allow. This place is like a dream and childhood story all wrapped into one.

She hands me a warm hand towel then heads out the door.

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this, but it’s so comforting I find myself pressing my face into it. It smells of herbs and sends a warmth through me.

She stops at a door. “This is where you’ll be sleeping. You’ll find clothes in the closet, as well as extra blankets and anything else you may need. Should you lack anything, I’ll be down the hall.”

“Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Is it okay if I explore? I saw a room full of books, and I’d love to see what’s in there.”

“Oh, certainly. The lady of the house is happy to share the knowledge she’s acquired. Some of it is from the mister.” She pauses. “May he rest well.”

I nod. “Thanks for everything.”

“Enjoy your night.” She takes the hand towel from me before hurrying down the hallway.

Rather than going into the bedroom, I meander to the small library. It’s more impressive than the one I’ve always gone to at Skoro. Shelves line every wall from top to bottom, and I can’t see even one empty space. I’m almost afraid to touch anything. It’s all so perfect. But she said I was free to do so.

I walk around, studying the spines. Some appear as old as time itself, but others are new and shiny. Could any of these tomes hold information about my father? About why my palm warms and forms orange mist balls? In all the stories I’ve ever heard about the fae, nothing like that has ever been uttered.

The window catches my attention, the city skyline stretching below. The houses look too small to be real, and tall buildings from the business district shine so brightly I’d almost think itwas daytime there. Down below, brightly colored fae fill the streets.

“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Harek asks from behind. He’s in clean night clothes too and smells of the same bath products I used.

“Yeah. I knew it would be better than anything in Skoro, but I had no idea it would be anything like this.”

“Me neither.” He comes over and rests an arm around my shoulders.

I start to lean against him, but then pull away. “How could you not tell me I’m a werewolf? Youknew. Somehow Vivvi picked up on that.”

“You were already going through a lot. I was going to fill you in when things settled down.”

“That wasn’t for you to decide! Now I’m going to shift into a wolf every month for the rest of my life!”

“I didn’t think you were going tokillanyone. How was I supposed to know you’d trigger your curse?”

“You should have told me!”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. If I could go back in time, I’d tell you everything long before I did.”

“Is there anythingelseI need to know?”

Harek sighs.

“Is there?” I stare him down.

He motions for me to sit on one of the couches in the middle of the room.

I glare at him before marching over. The cushion is so comfortable I practically become one with the furniture. “What more could there possibly be?”

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