Page 93 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

I sigh.

Luckily the server arrives with three drinks and a large plate of colorful finger foods.

My mouth waters, and I dig in first. Harek jumps in after me, and my father jokes with the server. The food melts on my tongue, and I scarf down close to half of it before I know it.

The server glances at my father. “Should I bring out another platter?”

“Might be a good idea.” He looks amused. “Perhaps bring out two, Jeje.”

Einar is a far cry from what I expected after everything I’d heard and read about hunters.

“Two. Got it.” She walks slowly away, her gaze lingering on his.

I wipe my mouth. “We haven’t eaten since this morning.”

“No need to explain. If you’re hungry, eat. I owe you a lifetime of meals.”

“You do?”

“Of course. That’s how many I’ve missed out on. I never had any idea you existed—that thought never even crossed my mind when Tyra disappeared.”

“Did you look for her?”

“All over. I put my tracking skills to the test, but I never caught even a whiff of her whereabouts.”

I turn to Harek. “Where does our pack get access to magic?”

“There’s a line of witches we have an alliance with. I wouldn’t be surprised if your mother reached out to them.”

“So my siblings are protected?” I ask. “Assuming they don’t kill anyone.”

“That would be my guess.”

“Can we find out?”

“It would seem she kept all of that to herself. My parents never mentioned her seeking the witches to me.”

“But it doesn’t mean she didn’t.”

He frowns. “I really doubt it. They kept me in the dark about a lot as I grew up, but once I was a teenager I demanded answers. When I returned to tell them about Gunnar and the sword, I asked if there was anything else I should know. They couldn’t think of anything.”

“Then I need to talk to the witches.”

“No!” Harek and my father speak in unison.

Jeje returns with the two plates of food, but she must sense the tension because she drops them off without a single word and scurries away.

“Why not?” I demand. “The witches must know more about my mother if she went to them. She was apparently the world’s best secret keeper, and nobody other than the coven will be able to help me.”

“I forbid it.” Einar folds his arms, his eyebrows drawing together.

“You can’t stop me.” I stare him down.

“I’m your father.”

“And I’m an adult.”

Harek shakes his head. “Eira, the witches are dangerous. Their magic isn’t like what you’ve seen here.”

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