Page 75 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“I’ve grown up around all of this and studied a lot. There was a time I was fascinated by the concept of the hunter. That was when your grandfather was in his prime. He was handsome beyond measure, and I was hardly the only fae who took an interest in him. But he had no desire to mate and risk having offspring.”

“Then how did my father come about?”

“All the hunters eventually fall in love, my dear. It’s the nature of the beast.”

The magic inside my stomach starts to swirl back and forth, making me slightly nauseated. “Do you know anything about hunters absorbing magic?”

She gives me a double take but takes another sip before answering. “Absorbing magic?”

“Yeah. What do you know about that?”

Vivvi scoots away from me, almost unnoticeably. “Are you absorbing other fae’s magic?”

“It’s happened, and I don’t like it.”

She tilts her head. “How so?”

“It makes me feel sick.”

“That’s fascinating.”

“Not really. I’d really like to get it out of me.”

“You can feel it right now?”

I press my palm on my stomach. “Right.”

“How did you come to absorb it?”

My breath catches in my throat. If I explain that, I’ll have to tell her that I killed some fae. She isn’t going to want a killer under her roof. Or am I thinking in human terms? Even though I’ve apparently never been human.

Vivvi scoots closer again. “You can trust me.”

My mouth dries. “Can I have more tea first? I’m feeling a little… off.”

“Because of the magic that doesn’t belong to you?”

I nod, my heart pounding faster now. Killing might be more acceptable among fae, but I still don’t know how she would feel about it.

“Certainly, darling.” She gives me a kind smile before leaving the room with my mug.

My muscles relax, but my stomach doesn’t feel any better. Does she know Harek has killed? He’s a werewolf, so she must know. Maybe telling her wouldn’t be so bad after all. It isn’t like my palm has glowed around her.

Or maybe it would be the worst decision I could make. I have to keep it a secret just in case. If she presses for details, I’ll tell the stories without mentioning the magic came to me after the fae died. If I end up fully trusting her down the road, I can give more details then. For now, Harek and I don’t know why shebrought us in. Was it to help some lost fae, or does she have other motives?

Not knowing is what concerns me, as much as I love everything she’s gifted to us. I never imagined I’d be in a private library after just having the best meal of my life, a hot bath, and magical tea. If only my stomach would calm down, then everything would be perfect.

Vivvi returns, handing me a new mug. “Chamomile and peppermint. It should help your stomach.”

I’m a little disappointed that it’s just a normal drink, but I thank her and sip. It seems to have a little something extra added, giving it a surprisingly sweet taste.

“Does that help?” She sits next to me, tucking her legs underneath her.

“Actually, it does.”

“Good, good. Now tell me more about your ability to absorb the magic of others.”

I jolt. If she notices, she doesn’t indicate it. I take another sip. “I don’t understand it. It comes from the fae like a mist and enters me.”

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