Page 76 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

Her eyes widen with what appears to be delight. “How does it come from them? And how does it enter you?”

This is going to be a long night.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

The late morninglight shines in through the window. Despite sleeping in what has to be the world’s most comfortable bed, I hardly got any rest. I was plagued with dreams of finding my father and of him killing me on the spot.

It’s either him or me. We can’t both exist, if the lore is right. If Vivvi is telling me the truth. I’m not giving her my full story, so I can’t assume she’s telling me everything either. As much as I want to believe I’m starting to wonder if she has my best interest in mind, I know too much about the world to trust her so easily. And that’s saying something since I know so very little about this world.

When I finally give up on what should be the best night’s sleep of my life, I find Harek eating alone in the same chair he sat for dinner last night. He glances up at me. “Can you believe the beds here?”

“Super luxurious.” I yawn and plunk down across from him.

He studies me. “Did you get any sleep?”

I shake my head, not wanting to get into it.

“Why not?”

“I just didn’t.”

One of the servants arrives with a plate full of food and sets it in front of me.

My stomach roars immediately, so I dig in. I even drink the coffee without any sweeteners, not that it helps given how exhausted I am.

“Why didn’t you sleep well?” Harek asks.

“I had bad dreams.”

“What about?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that both my stepfather and father want me dead.”

He arches an eyebrow. “You haven’t even met your father.”

“There can only be one hunter, Harek. Do the math.”

“Doesn’t mean he wants you dead.”

“If I’m alive, he can’t be. That’s why my mother fled to Skoro—this is even worse than I thought. He didn’t just abandon us, but he wants me dead.”

“He might not. Think about it, Eira. He had to kill his father, so he knows the position you’re in. It sounds like he’s been hunting for well over a century. I’ll bet he’s ready to pass on the job to his offspring.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly why my pregnant mother ran away from him.”

“You should get a nap after breakfast. You won’t be so grouchy after.”

I glare at him.

“All you’re doing is proving my point.”

“Whatever.” I turn my attention back to my food and clear the plate without another word. The nutrition helps me feel a little better, though I’m still dragging.

“Do you want to head out now?” Harek asks after I set my fork down.

“We should say goodbye to Vivvi.”

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