Page 44 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“It isn’t?” Disappointment washes through me. “Are you sure? How much do you actually know about fae?”

He turns to me. “Not as much as you likely think. My parents basically raised me as a human until it came time for my first shift. They taught me enough to keep me safe while out in the woods hunting or shifting.”

Things start to come together. “That’s why you guys always get most of your food in one week’s time.”

“Yes, we get the most when we shift for those three days around the full moon.”

It surprises me that nobody ever picked up on that, but I don’t say anything. There’s far more to take in and try to make sense of other than hunting food to sell at the market. “You haven’t seen anyone else’s hands glow like mine?”

“My experience with other fae is limited to those in the woods. The ones in the cities are entirely different—they’re civilized and have more complicated magic systems.”

“Is it true vampires and werewolves live out here, away from the cities?”

“Mostly. Some are civilized enough to handle city life. Obviously, my parents and I have made it work without raising any eyebrows. We aren’t the only ones.”

“Why live with humans and not fae?”

“It’s what my parents preferred. Human life is a lot less complicated, and they like that.”

I rub my temples. “When were you planning on telling me?”

“Eventually. Things are far more complicated than you realize. Especially now that you have these powers.”

“Whataremy powers?”

“You’re asking the wrong person.”

“My mother never told you or your parents about my father?”

He shakes his head. “I’ve been watching you like a hawk, trying to figure out what magic you have.”

“Do your parents know?”

“No, they’d have told me.”

I grab a pillow and hit it. “Why didn’t my mother tell anyone?”

“Everything she did was to protect you.”

“It’d have been more helpful to know. I wish she’d have said something sooner.”

Harek sits next to me and puts an arm around me. “She must’ve thought she had more time.”

I should shove him away, but his touch is comforting. “Or she feared Gunnar overhearing. Once she got sick, he made sure I was never alone with her.” My voice cracks. “The only time I got with her was right before she died.”

He turns and pulls me into a full embrace. “I’m so sorry, Eira.”

I give into sobs and let him rub circles on my back. Even though I’m mad at him for keeping so much from me, I need my best friend now more than ever. I can yell at him later.

After I’ve had a good cry, I feel refreshed. Even the sloshing magic has eased up.

“Are you hungry?” Harek asks. “I grabbed some food from home.”

I nod, not trusting my voice.

He pulls some dried meat from his bag, and we eat in silence.

Once we finish, I turn to him. “What happened when you got to Skoro? Are your parents leaving?”

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