“Marybeth is our target now,” he says, still leaning against the table. “We need to find her as soon as possible. If we can deliver her to the Alpha Council, then perhaps they can find a way to break the compulsion she’s under and get a confession about who she serves.”
“How do we find her?”
“Tris said she has family in Greenhollow. She may have said that to throw me off her trail, but there’s a chance we could find her there.”
The name of the town sends a spike of alarm through me. “She has family in Greenhollow?”
“Yes. Does that town mean anything to you?”
I give a reluctant nod. “Father and I lived there for two years.”
“Did you know Marybeth during that time?”
“No. I never met her before she was appointed as my maid.”
Torben lowers himself into the seat across from me, expression keen. “How did she come into service at the palace?”
“Father asked Tris to appoint a human as my lady’s maid. He thought it would be good for me to have a human companion, since I was raised mostly amongst human society. I’m not certain how Tris came to select Marybeth, but the few humans who serve at the palace come from elite families.”
“Which the Hardings certainly are. They’re one of the wealthiest families in the Spring Court.”
My entire body goes cold. “What does Marybeth have to do with the Hardings?”
He furrows his brow. “Harding is her surname. Did you not know?”
I give a stiff shake of my head. “She never told me her surname. When we first met, she insisted on going by her first name only, like most fae do. How doyouknow it?”
“After I finished speaking with Tris yesterday, I looked at Marybeth’s file. Her name is Marybeth Harding, daughter of Clayton and Trisha Harding. Her parents live in Newton’s Crest. Her uncle, however, is Barton Harding, who lives in—”
“Greenhollow,” I finish for him as my stomach ties itself into knots.
“Which is where Tris stated Marybeth had asked to take leave to. It could be a clue or it could be an intentional diversion from the girl’s true location, but I think it’s worth investigating. Even more so if the Hardings hold any significance to you.” When I say nothing, he adds, “Do they?”
All I can manage is a nod.
“Do you happen to have any enemies in that family? Anyone who might wish you harm?” From his careful tone, he seems to already suspect my answer.
I swallow hard. “Yes.”
“Who?”
“Danielle Harding.” The name grates like sandpaper against my tongue. “Barton Harding’s daughter.”
Torben watches me for a few moments. When he speaks, his voice is soft. “How did Danielle Harding become someone you consider an enemy?”
“How do you think?” I say, my tone flat. “Because of my magic.”
“Will you tell me about it?”
I absently rub my ribs, feeling the ghost of a pain long since healed. Everything in me begs to stay silent. I don’t want to talk about Danielle Harding. I can hardly stand to think about her.
But if Barton Harding is Marybeth’s uncle…then Danielle is her cousin.
Marybeth has been related to my greatest nemesis—aside from the queen, of course—this entire time. She never spoke a word of it. Never hinted at being related to the Hardings. In fact, she rarely spoke about her past or her family at all. Only now does her insistence to go by her first name seem suspicious. If she knew of my history with the Hardings, then she might have hidden her familial ties on purpose. But was it out of shame? Fear that I’d hold the relationship against her? Or was it due to something far more sinister?
My stomach churns. I take a hasty sip of tea but it does nothing to settle my nausea. As I set my cup back down, it rattles against the saucer courtesy of my shaking hands.
I take a deep breath. “I can’t tell you about Danielle Harding without first telling you about Lady Christine.”
