House of Leights (Secret Keepers, #3)(15)

He nodded. “There is a possibility that we could survive without the stone. But it’s only a possibility. More importantly, we don’t know where the stone is, even if we wanted to return it to them.”

My face furrowed as I wrinkled my nose in his direction. “You don’t know where it is? You lost it!”

Of course they would lose it. Morons.

Brad flashed me a grin from across the table, followed by an eye roll. Yeah, we weren’t the biggest fans of the government. They pretty much stole all of our parents’ attention and time. All the while making really bad decisions for the average American citizen.

“We didn’t lose it.” Peter sounded slightly defensive. “Part of the initial security when the treaty was formed was that neither Daelighter nor human would know of its location. Except for four secret keepers. Human children chosen from a select group of one hundred families who were in on the initial treaty. All sworn to secrecy. All part of this sector of government.”

My father spoke for the first time in ages: “My family was one of the originals who dealt with the treaty. So, when your mother was pregnant and they called out through our group for any who would have a child born in 1999, we answered the call.”

I was on my feet now, staring between my father, mother, and Peter. “Explain everything to me right now,” I bit out.

“You’re one of the four secret keepers,” my mom said in her soft voice, confirming my fears. “I never knew anything until I married your father, and then I had to be initiated into their world. You’re the third keeper, born in Overworld, in the waters of House of Leights. Your blood holds energy that could lead the rogue Daelighters to the starslight stone, a powerful object, that in the wrong hand could destroy everything.”

“House of Leights is one of the four lands of the Daelighter people,” my father added.

I stumbled and almost fell back into my seat. Brad grabbed my hand, but I shook him off. “I need some air. I need…”

I dashed toward the door. I knew where the bathroom was, so I ended up in there, staring at myself in the mirror, breathing in deep gulps. The words born in Overworld continued to run through my head, over and over, taunting me with the fact that I was connected to these aliens – to aliens who were trying to kill me.

I was a secret keeper? That didn’t feel right. It didn’t make any sense to me. I was an ordinary eighteen-year-old girl. School and cheer and stupid boy drama. I had no qualifications to be part of something that could destroy Earth and … Overworld. I couldn’t even choose a damn college!

Panic clawed at my chest and I knew I was very close to hyperventilating. Scrabbling for the tap, I turned on the cold water, dropping my hands under the stream. Splashing my face a few times helped calm me.

I turned at a light knock against the door. “Maya, little one, can I come in?”

My mother would never think to barge in on me when I needed privacy. “Yeah, Mom, you can come in.” I managed to keep my tumultuous feelings out of my voice.

She pushed the door open and crossed the room without making a single sound. She was so graceful, which I was thankful to inherit, even though I’d never achieve her level.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she reached my side. “You deserved to know the truth long ago, but I knew that the moment you did, your life would cease to be normal. I didn’t want the same responsibilities for you that we have. Not until you absolutely had to deal with the reality.”

I lowered my eyes, staring at my black Converse. “This is why you’ve been gone so much through my life. Dealing with these Daelighters?”

She took a moment to reply. I lifted my head, and when my eyes met hers she let out a sigh. “Yes. For the most part they exist among us in peace, but there are always incidents. We also deal with their business ventures and liaise when they cross over to Earth.”

Sucking in more deep breaths, I forced myself not to act like a petulant teenager, even though I was angry that I’d missed out on so much of their lives because of these aliens. Mom must have seen some of that in my expression, because she hurried on to say: “Mostly, it was to keep you safe. Being here allowed us to be at the forefront of every piece of information coming in from Overworld. You’re one of four secret keepers, and until today, only your father and I knew how special you are. We hid you in plain sight, as close to the headquarters of our sector as possible.”

I should be appreciative of all the years I’d had being normal, but part of me felt like it had been too normal for me. How would I adjust to this new reality? I wasn’t prepared for it. I couldn’t handle it.

“You can handle this,” my mom said, and I realized I’d spoken the last part out loud. “You’re one of the strongest people I know. You’re more than capable of handling anything that comes your way.”

I wanted to believe that, but it sure as heck didn’t feel that way right now. Maybe if I had more information, it would make more sense to me. “If I’m the third secret keeper, and they’re after me now, that means the first two are…”

Please don’t say dead.





5





Mom shook her head and immense relief hit me. “They’re not dead,” she told me. “But the rogue – Laous – has taken the secrets from their blood. Secrets that will lead him to you. We can’t let that happen. We can’t let the stone fall into his hands.”