Page 95 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“But he’s only human?” Einar asks. “You’re sure?”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

Harek sits up taller. “He is. Your palm didn’t glow at all when he and his thugs showed up. He was a danger to you, but your powers didn’t activate because he’s not fae.”

My mind spins, and I turn to my father, realizing once again that he looks like a male version of me. There’s no way we’re talking about two different Tyras. He even said I look just like her, which I don’t see how since I’m clearly a replica of him. “That’s how it works, right? My hand won’t do anything unless I’m in danger by a fae?”

“It isn’t so much aboutusbeing in danger as it is about being in proximity to an evil fae. That’s how we know who to kill in order to restore the balance of nature.”

“But what if there are several fae, and only one is evil?”

“Then we have to figure out who the evil one is. Or take them all out.”

I gasp. “Even if the others are good?”

“Sometimes it happens. But think about it, would a truly good fae be with one who is evil?”

“They might not know!”

“Your intuition will grow with time. I’m at the point of being able to tell almost immediately who the problems are in a group.”

“You don’t need the glow at all?”

“The glow can be useful when I need to throw something a long distance.”

“That is pretty cool.” I can’t help but grin.

Einar nods toward the cooling food. “We should eat. I know you two are hungry.”

“Right.” I grab one of the appetizers.

Harek doesn’t. “What about getting her sword back? You’re sure it will help her get the souls out?”

“One hundred percent.” My father pops some food into his mouth.

“Has it happened to you before?”

“Anytime I find myself without my sword and I have to kill someone.”

I glance at his weapon strapped to him. “Do you ever not have it on you?”

“Rarely. Most everyone knows who I am, so even if I go somewhere that doesn’t allow weapons, I’m typically given a pass. People appreciate what we do.”

“Kind of like being an officer,” Harek says.

“A what?” My father reaches for more food.

So do I. “You don’t have police?”

“We have jailers, but nobody patrols for lawbreakers when they have me.”

My stomach knots, and it has nothing to do with the souls trying to get out of me. If my father is so good at what he does, then I’m not necessary. If only Mother had chosen a differenthusband, I might have been able to live a quiet human life never knowing any better, never activating either of my fae sides.

Now they’re both active, and either one could get me killed.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

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