Page 49 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“Why?”

“They like living a quiet life.”

I pull away from him. “I want to see the libraries, gold streets, and jewels. Let’s go!”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do—get you there.”

“You’re sure it’s in this direction?”

“Yeah. My father has only talked about it at least a thousand times.”

I shake my head, unable to believe anyone would pick Skoro over the metropolis where gold and jewels are so common they decorate with them. And that doesn’t even touch on the books—they need multiple libraries to put all of them.

We set off, and Harek tells me the stories his parents have passed onto him about fae cities. My mind lights up with ideas, and I try not to think about them not allowing us in. Him a werewolf and me a halfling. I can definitely imagine that happening with us being so low on the chain.

But if we could get inside… it would be beyond my wildest imaginings. Bright colors, happy music, magic as a way of life. What else could they have? Academies? Theaters? Amusement parks? All things my mother told me about when I was a little girl. Things I now realize she must’ve seen with her own eyes.

The possibilities seem endless.

For the first time since I was a child, I have hope for my future.

Chapter

Eighteen

My feet are startingto ache, and that’s saying something considering I spend most of my days walking around the barnyard, scooping manure. If anyone should be able to handle a trek through the forest, it’s me.

Harek stops, and I nearly bump into him. “Sorry. We should eat some more food.”

“Is it safe?” I glance around, still on edge from the last group of vampires we narrowly escaped from. Apparently this part of the woods is their territory, but Harek says we don’t have any other choice but to go through if we want to reach the metropolis any time soon.

We nearly collided with three separate groups, but thanks to quick thinking managed to stay away.

He digs into his bag. “Should be.”

“Shouldbe safe?”

“We need to eat, and I can’t smell any.”

“If you say so.” I couldn’t smell the others, so I can only guess his sense is heightened even in his human form. I’m too tired to ask.

He gives me some food, and only then do I realize how famished I am. My stomach growls, and I practically inhale the meat.

Harek hands me another chunk, but I don’t take it. He nudges it closer. “Take it.”

“We should save it.”

“Nah. We’re close. The food there will be much better.”

“But how will we get any? I doubt they’ll take Skoro’s coins.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

My stomach growls again, so I take the food. If we have to work to eat, then so be it. I’m not sure what to expect when we get there, but I’m hungry. “What will happen when we get there? I assume they have guards at the gates.”

“That’s what I expect.”

My stomach knots. “What if they don’t let us in?”

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