Claire was not inhuman. She had natural feelings and felt a discord in the link, the sudden uneasy throb in her chest that seemed saddened by the mere thought of the bearer of the bond’s death. Deeper still, she suspected his death would not equate to her freedom—too much had been done. She would languish as she had when the bond had been damaged. She would die. Unsure how to answer his question, she rubbed her hand over her face and refused to respond.

“The thought upsets you.” Again it was the gentle, manipulative voice and the soft touches of a man she knew pretended to be something he was not. “You need not fear. You would always be cared for.”

Sometimes it seemed as if Shepherd could read her very thoughts. Other times it seemed he was so far off base it was as if they lived on separate planets.

Claire had to get off his lap, she needed to think. Shepherd allowed it.

Smoothing back her hair, she thought to press on another subject. “I cannot make myself understand. What is it you want from Thólos? You are king with a list of ambitions, but you let your lands decay. You rule everything under the Dome, but hate your subjects.”

Shepherd put his elbows on his knees, spoke with acumen as the Omega paced. “My number of loyal Followers have swelled beyond even what I imagined. Hardship distills the soul.”

The things she had seen in the streets of Thólos, the depravity—it made the truth of his words sting. “Those who joined since the breach are traitors who chose your doctrine out of a misguided sense of survival.”

“True, but the majority of the terrorism in Thólos was perpetrated by its own citizens. I did not get involved.”

Swallowing, Claire wrung her hands, looking for something she could use. “I know. I asked for help… remember? You didn’t help me.”

The shine of approval lit Shepherd’s eyes. “But I did.”

Claire thought she might lose her cool. “I will not have this fight with you.”

“Think of your assault of the Undercroft,” the giant reminded her. “Think of what you accomplished for the Omegas. What occurs in Thólos defines character. You are exceptional.”

That was far from true. Ashamed, Claire turned her eyes to the floor and confessed, “Did Maryanne tell you what I had to do to convince her to help me?”

“I have not discussed such things with Ms. Cauley. What was done is forgiven and your motivation understood.”

“I threatened her,” Claire admitted, certain he must see how his occupation had affected even her. “I threatened her with you.”

Shepherd could not help but laugh outright. “How charming you are. Do not trouble yourself. You would never have followed through on the threat. We both know that.”

But she had still done wrong to her friend. “I hated doing it, Shepherd.”