Illumination – Part 2 

~ ZARA ~

It couldn't be true… could it?

It made sense. It made too much sense.

"Where was David born?" I whispered.

Stark frowned. "What do you mean?"

I swallowed and looked at Hildie, aware that she was watching and hearing all of this and I didn't know if she could be trusted.

Stark pulled her closer to his side and his face got hard. "She's going to be my wife, Zara. Do you really believe I would trust her if I had any concerns she might not be honest? She came to us from Agatha's ranks. She is… she is trustworthy."

I looked at Hildie again who raised her chin. But I saw her grip on Stark's hand tighten. It was the same way I felt when people cast doubt on me to David.

But that didn't mean he was right.

Spies and liars were good at what they did. I'd watched my father lie without blinking. Seen him deliver untruth so smoothly I would never have guessed if I hadn't already known.

I had to be so careful…