Page 68 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“I’m not sure, dear. Halflings are rare, so not much is known about them.”

A terrifying thought strikes me, and I turn to Harek. “How does a werewolf turn on their curse?”

He takes a deep breath.

Our host looks amused again. “Are you going to tell her?”

“You know so much,” he snaps. “Why don’t you?”

“If you want.”

He motions for her to continue.

She turns to me. “A werewolf triggers their ability to shift when they kill someone—either fae or human.”

Several thoughts hit me at once. I’ve killed a handful of fae over the last week, as their magic keeps reminding me of their presence. Harek shifts, so he’s killed either a human or fae when he was younger. My brothers have terrible tempers like theirfather, so the chances of them accidentally triggering the curse is high. And nobody knows for sure if being halflings will protect them. Now Harek’s parents aren’t there to watch over them after Harek killed Vog.

“Are you okay, love?” Vivvi’s eyes are full of concern.

“I… I don’t know.”

Harek gives me a pained and apologetic glance. “I was hoping that you being a halfling would keep you from triggering your curse. But your eyes have turned silver a few times, so I can’t deny it. Your inner werewolf is awake.”

“My eyes have turned silver? When?”

He looks away. “At the spring.”

When we kissed.

“That’s a sure sign?”

Harek nods. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you sooner.”

My breathing turns shallow. I’m going to turn into a wolf in less than a month.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

The silky brushbristles run along my scalp and down my hair. It’s so relaxing, I could fall asleep. I just got out of a hot bath, and if that wasn’t a luxurious enough experience, one of Vivvi’s servants gave me a bunch of products to use, including separate soaps for my body and hair.

It’s hard to believe people actually live like this on a regular basis. When I got out of the tub, it was a mixture of bubbles and dirt. Now I’m wearing silky pajamas that feel like they must be for royalty.

All of this does make me question why Vivvi is giving us so much. Does she feel bad for the poor, travel-weary werewolves? Surprisingly, it’s been easier to accept the fact that I’m a werewolf than it was to find out my father is fae. Or that Harek is. And has known about me this whole time.

I suppose I’m getting used to this world, whereas before everything fae-related was so far out of my mind it may as well not have existed. The fae were distant threats, but only if they came near Skoro and we didn’t follow their rules. None of it affected me, so I didn’t have to think about any of it.

Now I have no other choice. I’m a mix of two fae types, which is even more of a rarity than a halfling. From what I’ve seen around the city, plenty of them have friends that cross species, but marrying and starting a mixed family is a whole other story. Though I really have to question even that, given all my siblings are halflings and I’m whatever I am.

I’m not sure what that means for me—not that I’m in any position to think about that right now. But apparently that will make it easier for Harek and me to be together should things continue the way they have been. On the other hand, I’m not sure I want to share my life with someone who keeps hiding such big secrets from me.

If he’d have told me I’m a werewolf, I might’ve made different decisions when confronted by the fae. I’d have known what I was getting into. Instead of just killing the threatening fae, I was also subjecting myself to shifting into a wolf every month for the rest of my life. Fae live long lives, so that’s even more significant.

What if he knew and didn’t care? He might’ve evenwantedme to shift so we could do that together. It sounds like he enjoys running free with his parents in his other form.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t have a real choice. When I killed those fae, I didn’t realize what I was subjecting myself to. Maybe I’d have made the same decision, maybe not. Now I’ll never know.

The brushing stops, and I open my eyes.

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