Page 98 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“We should sleep on it and make a decision when we’ve had some time to think it through.”

“I’ve already thought it through.” I stand taller. “All my life I’ve wanted to know about my father. Now I have the chance.”

“And he may kill you one day!”

“He seems glad to have found me.”

Harek frowns and taps his foot. “We don’t know anything about him. He could be leading us to his house for the express purpose of feeding us to his dragon.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because you’re making his powers weaken!”

“He said they aren’t.”

“So? He could be lying. Why else would there be rumors about him weakening? About a city getting ravaged because of evil fae? Even if he isn’t weakening, something is going on. He’s not doing his job. Maybe he’s been tracking you. What if that’s why the evil fae are running wild?”

I glance over at my father, who is checking his teeth in his reflection in a store window. “He’s not intent on killing either one of us. Look at him. If he wanted us dead, he wouldn’t take his eyes off us.”

Harek runs his hands through his hair. “You know, itislike we’re a threat to him right here. He probably expects you to try and kill him—and he’s ready for it. He just doesn’t want us to know.”

“I think it’s pretty obvious I couldn’t kill him even if I wanted to, which I don’t.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that one of you is going to have to kill the other one at some point. Why bother getting attached to him? It’ll only make it harder for you to protect yourself.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “Because he’s myfather.”

He doesn’t argue.

Einar glances our way, clearly ready to get going.

I turn back to Harek. “I’m going with him. You can come with me or not.”

“I’m not leaving you!”

“Great. Let’s go.”

“But know that I think this is a terrible idea.”

“Noted.”

He frowns, but I march toward my father.

“Are you two ready to come with me?”

“Yes,” I say.

Harek stands next to me. “Are you sure going over now is a good idea? It’s almost dark.”

“All the better for sneaking in and out unnoticed.”

My friend doesn’t look convinced. “You don’t know that jerk.”

“And he doesn’t know me.”

“Fair point.”

“Good,” I say. “We’re all on the same page. Let’s see the dragon and fly to Skoro so I can get my sword back and finally get these souls out of me.”

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