Page 18 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

No snoring sounds from anywhere in the house. I’ve napped with Harek enough times over the years to know the guy snores. He sounds like a wild boar stuck in a trap.

I toss and turn some more, waiting so long I nearly fall asleep myself.

Then finally I hear it.

Snoring.

Now is my time. I need to get out of here unnoticed. I sit up.

Creak.

I hold my breath. Is every sound amplified, or does it only seem that way since I’m trying so hard to be quiet?

Nothing else sounds in the house other than some light snores from another bedroom, so I swing my legs over the side of the bed and quickly stand.

Silence.

I pull on my boots and grab my bags. Listen. Take slow, measured steps toward the hallway. Hold my breath again.

Everything is still quiet, so I step out of the room. My bag catches on the doorknob, pulling the door.

Creeeak!

I freeze. Wait. Then pull my bag free of the knob and nudge the door out of my way.

Creak…

If I can’t even sneak out of Harek’s house, how do I expect to make it through the woods full of bloodsuckers, shifters, and the undead to the fae city on the other side?

I’m doomed. Maybe I should give up now.

No. I’m doing this. My hand alone scared off that menacing fae twice. Imagine what I could do with a weapon, and Harek’s mom said I could take one of theirs.

I’m doing this. I have to. There’s no other choice. I have to find out who my father is—who I really am.

Footsteps sound.

“Eira? What are you doing?”

Harek.

I burst into a run.

Chapter

Seven

I makeit all the way to the weapon shed before Harek reaches me.

He leans against the structure and catches his breath. “What are… you doing?”

“I told you, I have to get out of the settlement.”

“You aren’t even going to stay the night?”

“No. I can’t risk it. Gunnar’s too dangerous.” I open the shed and feel around, hoping for a weapon.

“And the fae in the woods aren’t?”

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