Page 92 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“I am.” I sigh. “If performers hadn’t come to Skoro from time to time, I might not even know they exist for real. Kids whispered about fae like they were myths.”

“Hold on. You’re saying you were in Skoro all this time?”

“Right.”

My father’s eyes widen. “That’s so close. I traveled past there easily hundreds of times over the years. How did I never sense you? Or her?”

“Our pack has always had access to magic,” Harek said. “Maybe that’s how she kept everyone from being noticed.”

“The boy does talk.”

“I’m not a boy.”

A smile tugs on my father’s lips. “I’m a hundred and fifty years old. Everyone under a hundred is a kid to me.”

I stare at him. “You’re a hundred and fifty?”

He gives me a mock offended look. “You make it sound like I have one foot in the grave. I’m considered young by manyaround here, though I suppose you’re used to much smaller numbers. Is it true humans only live to be about eighty?”

“If they’re lucky,” Harek says. “Can we order the food now?”

I kick him under the table.

He pretends not to notice.

My father waves over a server, and she flirts with him. He speaks easily with her, as if he’s used to that kind of attention. Then he and Harek order, but I’m stuck. Apparently, I can only read fae when it’s about hunters.

I glance at Einar. “What was something you remember my mother ordering?”

He turns back to the server and says a food dish I’ve never heard of, and she manages to flirt back at him with just that.

Harek leans over to me. “He seems to enjoy the attention.”

“What guy wouldn’t? She’s pretty.”

“I only care if you notice me.”

Heat floods my face. I don’t think I’m ever going to adjust to him saying things like that, but at the same time I like it.

The server promises to be back with appetizers and she takes off.

“Do you come here often?” Harek asks.

My father nods. “Been coming here for decades.”

“You must travel a lot, given your skills.”

“I do. In fact, I have to head out again tonight. I’ve been hearing about more and more evil fae ravaging cities. My work is never done, and as usual, the nefarious activities always pick up when there are two mature hunters.”

“You aren’t weakening?”

“Those are only rumors.”

“We read it in the hunter book at the library.”

“Despite what you’ve read, I assure you I’m no weaker than I was before.”

They stare each other down.

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