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He raised an eyebrow. "Someone of your birth parents' stature can't keep things like this a complete secret, no matter how hard they tried."

"You won't tell anyone will you?" Alana pleaded.

"Your secret is safe with me," Elder Goman assured her.

She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, but you should tell Ethan. Secrets like this have a way of tearing relationships apart if kept for too long."

"I know it's just..." she sighed. "People have a way of treating me differently when they find out."

"I'm not surprised given your parentage," Elder Goman said. "But you can either choose to continue living a lie with Ethan; or you can tell him the truth. Either way, if he finds out before you tell him it won't bode well for your relationship."

"I know."

"You've lived your entire life as Alana Tarihowen, daughter of simple staff growers." He locked eyes with Alana, "But your birth family's name isn't a curse... Alana Kalon."

She smiled weakly. "T