Page 62 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

He studies the activity in front of us. “They appear to have coins.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“We don’t have any.”

“Clearly, but there has to be something we can do.”

“Let’s walk closer and see if anyone is paying another way.”

We walk around, watching and listening. Nobody’s discussing the money they’re using, but they’re having plenty of other interesting conversations.

“The festival this year is supposed to be the biggest yet.”

“I hear some of the winter city dignitaries will be here.”

“The academy had another fire in the first year’s dormitory.”

“Did you know another wild vampire coven was wiped out in the forest?”

“The hunter is weakening even more. I heard a sprite overtook him last week.”

“A sprite? Where do you get your information? From the nursery school?”

Laughter.

“I’m serious! If he doesn’t regain his strength, evil fae are going to start taking over. Things will go the way of Courtsview.”

“That wasn’t because of the hunter! The leaders allowed lawlessness to rule.”

“What do you think will happen if the hunter can’t do his job?”

Harek taps my shoulder and motions for me to follow him.

I wave him off, curious to learn more about the hunter. He sounds important, and the last thing I want is to make my new home here only to have the city fall apart—not that I can imagine anything bad happening here.

But Harek pulls me away. “We have to go.”

“I was listening to that conversation. Who’s the hunter?”

“Just a legend. I need to get out of here. They kick werewolves out of the city at night. I have to find a place to hide.”

“Who told you that?”

“Like you, I was listening in. They don’t like my kind around here.” He balls his hands into fists.

“Why? It isn’t like you’re going to shift without the full moon.”

“Apparently they don’t take that chance.” His gaze drifts to something behind me.

I glance back and see a well-dressed older couple staring at us. He has wings like an owl, and she appears strikingly human with silky hair the colors of a sunset, changing in waves along with the sky above.

Harek tugs on my arm. “They know what I am.”

Disappointment washes through me, but he’s right. We’re going to have to find a place to hide. He bursts into a run,and I follow. We pass vendors, shoppers, and a wide variety of delicious aromas.

The marketplace gives way to a large field where the strangest band I’ve ever seen plays a mesmerizing song for a large crowd gathered around them. I can see the notes coming from the musical instruments in bright colors, tempting me to fall into a trance.

I shake my head, grab Harek’s arm, and yank him toward the people. We disappear into a throng who are too busy moving to the music to notice a werewolf in their midst. We make our way around slowly, pretending to be into the music. It takes a while, but eventually we get clear to the other side of the band and break free of the crowd.

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