Shepherd reached out to run his fingers through Svana’s hair, watching the brown slip right through his touch. “You would have preferred to carry the offspring of the man responsible for the corruption of Thólos. He threw my mother into the Undercroft. I would never raise a child of that monster as my own. What crawled out of you would never rule.”

Svana’s expression twisted into one of disgust. “So you seeded a weakling out of spite? I feel both honored and disappointed that you would act out so from petty jealousy, my love.”

His own great anger fell back behind an alarmingly placid expression. “Was it not your explanation that our love transcended the physical? My desire for a corporeal mate should mean nothing to you.”

The woman circled Shepherd in the dark, calculating her next move. Something seemed to register and Svana’s eyes grew warmly seductive; she licked her lower lip. “It is not too late should you wish to breed me. Think of the greatness of our combined power. The necessary drugs could be found and we could begin at once.”

“Even as glorious as you are, the chances of an Alpha female conceiving with Alpha male sperm are very slim—carrying to term even more so.” Placing his great hands on her shoulders, Shepherd outlined what was unchangeable. “Claire will bear my offspring and serve as my mate, and you will rule at my side once Thólos is in ruins and my army has delivered Greth Dome from those who usurped your family’s claim to the throne.”

“The Omega is unsuitable. A foul creature of this city is unworthy of such an honor!”

Shepherd hissed, agitated that she would further question him on the matter. “Claire was untouched, her body pure and receptive. I was her first. That is only one example of how Thólos has not tainted her.”

Svana laughed, scoffing. “An Omega of her age… No, dearest, such a thing is not possible. You have been fooled.”

“Through the bond she can hide nothing from me.” Where the flawless cadence of the words came from, he did not know. Nor did he miss the tiny shift in Svana’s expression when he said, “I have absolute faith in Claire’s former celibacy and her current fidelity.”

“Fidelity. I see… you question my behavior.” Svana understood his deeper meaning. Composing her face into an expression of pain she asked, “Are you trying to hurt me?”

“No, beloved.” Shepherd bowed his forehead to hers, working to calm the torrent of anger before it swept him away.

Her body softened against his, conformed to his strength, seeking to mollify. “If you wish to keep a pet then I expect that you will share her with me.”

The concept turned his stomach, felt incredibly wrong. “I am certain, given your introduction, that she would be unwilling to mate with you if asked. It is impossible.”