Corday pulled down the scarf around Claire's neck. Nasty bruises sat on display. "Would you call this something treated as precious?"
Nona took in the marks, tears gathering in her eyes. Words were difficult. "It's more than just the pair-bond. Everyone here knows she is mated to Shepherd. They will not trust her. They will drive her off."
Corday glared at the collection of women stealing glances in their direction. "Claire saved their lives."
"Listen to me, boy," Nona urged, fervently whispering. "That does not mean every Omega in this room deserved it. It would only take one to bring us all down again."
Had the Omegas not learned? "The women who turned her in last time were hanged by Shepherd. I watched their executions myself."
"You and I both know that fear makes people do very stupid things."
"Then she comes home with me."
Nona, her face full of compassion, agreed, "That might be best."
Looking down at the sleeping woman in his arms, Corday felt shaken … because he knew what was wrong with his scheme. "But she won't stay unless I lock her in."
Nona nodded. "I think you're beginning to understand. Keep purring. It will calm you both."
Puzzle pieces were his specialty; Jules understood the finite operation that motivated people, he was second only to Shepherd in that particular skill. He was also the only other person who'd had any access to Claire over the last few months. He knew what she smelled like, even pregnant. He knew her voice, and had pegged her at once for a brooder.
She was almost sweet in her misguided agenda, and Jules grasped exactly what had drawn Shepherd so strongly. Claire was an enigma, all wrapped up in a little moral bow.
Claire was everything Shepherd falsely believed Svana to be.
His commander had never lived amongst Dome civilization, not like Jules had before he'd been imprisoned. Shepherd's rearing underground-surviving the extreme of Undercroft society-had wired the man to thrive in acute circumstances. No matter how preternaturally brilliant Shepherd was, his lack of empathy in dealing with conventional people was obvious. Yet he was an amazing leader, drew men to his standard, could see the world in a way others could not.
He'd freed the outcasts … even before the breach.
One man had driven back the nightmare underground. Shepherd had organized a feral population; given slaves purpose, hope. Yet, like all prisoners, if Shepherd wanted something, he took it; and God help you if you disappointed him.
Shepherd remained incapable of understanding Claire's hesitations.
Even for all the Alpha's aggression, there was no one in the world Jules admired more. His respect even withstood the flaw in his superior-Shepherd's universe began and ended with Svana.
The fact the two Alphas were lovers was no secret. Even Jules had witnessed Svana's enthusiasm for Shepherd for years. He knew the story of how she had drawn him underground, approached Shepherd as if she were an angel with her passcodes and rare food. At the time they'd both been young; perhaps they had seduced one another-two miscreant wild things enslaved by the system. But where Shepherd had been born in hell, Svana had come from heaven.
He practically worshiped at her feet. He had made himself the mission for her; built her an army.
She claimed to be special, chosen …
Worst of all, it was true. All of it.
She owned something no amount of money could buy; a valuable bloodline.
Svana was the key to freedom, to a new world, to a land where no one would look down on them for Da'rin-where no one would hiss the word 'outcast'. With her help, all of them would be heroes, redeemers, saviors.
They would all be reborn.
Svana had not been born in Thólos Dome. Instead, she'd been gifted to the people of Thólos …
None of this was public knowledge, of course. Very few knew Svana had arrived on a transport two decades ago as part of an Interdome trade of viable females. Even less knew who that child in rags really was. Her adopted parents didn't know; and from Jules's investigation, even Premier Callas was not privy to such information. The secret belonged to Shepherd and to the chosen Followers of the man sworn to lead them to freedom.
Svana was cunning on her own; she used her position to develop access to everything … secrets, money, favors-even lovesick teenaged Shepherd.
It was a fancy she'd grown out of. Shepherd, on the other hand, had been entirely unaware of the fact that his beloved had moved on. She knew what she was doing, feeding his regard for her, nurturing his devotion. It seemed pathetic, had you not seen what the two of them could accomplish together.
That Jules hated. She was necessary for the plan. Shepherd, all the Followers, needed her.
But she also needed them. Without Shepherd's army there was no way the woman could reclaim her birthright. Svana was the only surviving offspring of Greth Dome's ruling family; a monarchy that had been deposed and disposed of. Insurgents had killed her parents, and had foolishly thought to extend mercy to a little girl considered too young to remember.
Svana may have been small when her life under Thólos began, but she had been coached to corrupt from birth. But, just like her parents, she believed herself beyond reproach.
The affair with Premier Callas … Whether the Alpha admitted it or not, Shepherd had been forced to face a glimpse of what she truly was.
In response, Shepherd had acted against his beloved; he took an Omega mate. A fact, Jules had known Svana would not be pleased about once discovered. Was this not the very reason Shepherd had kept the Omega obsessively hidden? Not a soul was allowed near her, and even Jules had been cast out for only looking once … until recently.
The Beta did not know what had spurred Shepherd to take quarters away from his room for days; he didn't ask. He had instead been stuck dealing with an irate ruler who possessed far less patience, and a pregnant Omega who looked heartbroken each time he brought her another of the blasted trays.
For reasons unknown, Shepherd had reduced Claire to a position of breeder, not mate. Jules accepted it and did his duty. It was less than a week before the lieutenant opened the door to find Miss O'Donnell on the floor, altered, and trapped in a room with an odor Jules had smelled in his leader's quarters before-the spiced scent of Svana's Alpha slick. The Omega who should have been nesting was as far away from the bed as she could get, so still she seemed corpselike. It was the only reason he'd spoken when she asked his name.
On closer inspection, it had been impossible for Jules to miss the split lip and the discoloration on Miss O'Donnell's neck. Even more, he had recognized the look in her eye when Shepherd approached outside Undercroft; every nuance of her expression Jules had read with precision. The Omega was devastated-not just afraid-emotionally crippled, and clearly suicidal no matter Shepherd's denial on the subject.
And that was where the issue lingered. Jules presumed the obvious assumption was correct. Shepherd had mated with his long time consort … and he was aware of their habit of sharing heated Omegas.
Claire had reacted badly to whatever the Alpha female's visit had inspired.
The situation was irreparable in the allotted time. Shepherd's denial and Svana's vindictive nature had done the damage. If what Jules suspected was true, Miss O'Donnell now had good reason to hate the man beyond just the initial fear of her situation and misunderstanding of his true agenda. Even more, Shepherd's current demands that Miss O'Donnell be returned to resume her position as his mate made the situation far more complicated.
It would almost be more convenient if the little Omega just died, the entire situation being nothing but troublesome. But she was carrying what would be Shepherd's heir.
Claire was important now.
The ground was hard beneath her, the unyielding floor setting her hip to aching. But there was the smell of safety … a well-known Beta. They were wrapped together, covered in his coat like an overripe bug cocoon.
She cracked open an eye, finding Corday already watching her, his expression too controlled to read.
Claire admitted guilt. "I knew you'd help Nona if she used my name."
Corday put his lips to her forehead; he held her tighter. "She told me what you did. You held a gun to your head, Claire."
She had done that … and she had been very scared. "I did."
He could play the belligerent game just as well as she could. Still holding her, he moved his face until their noses were touching. "Claire, please."
Claire glanced to the side and absently worried her lip. "I'm not sorry for setting these women free."
"I don't want you to be!" Urgent, Corday whispered so the spying women might not hear. "What I want is for you to trust me. You don't need to fight alone."
But she did … both Corday and Senator Kantor had explained their position. "I am not going to attack Shepherd or his pig army. The Omegas are free, it's done."
"I don't believe you."
Still bone tired, Claire sighed. "I give you my word that I will not attack Shepherd. Such a thing would be pointless."
"Look at me," Corday urged, face grim and determined. "Swear it."
She held his gaze. "I swear I will not attack them."
The Beta seemed satisfied. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"