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Chapter 1

Collar of his coat flipped up to protect his neck fro cold of the halls, Shepherd returned at last fro called away by his soldiers He found histhe air But, mostly she was expectant and blissfully unaware of just as going on above ground

And he would never tell her

Shepherd made no move to approach the panicky woman, he simply stood as Claire looked hia searched out any hint of what had called hi of his knuckles, relieved when she found nothing out of the ordinary

His Claire was angry, but farnormal

When the Oa stepped forward to touch hiain, Shepherd spoke “You are hungry, little one We will eat first”

We will eat first?

Shepherd did not go to the door to fetch food Instead, he went to where he stored his clothing and began pulling off his coat, armor, and boots Bunchedit to her Unthinkingly, Claire took it and put it, as he expected, in her nest

Distracted by the task, the Oe the scented fabric and re old to be washed

A knock sounded, Shepherd barked for the visitor to enter

Jules came in with their food, set it down and left in seconds—the trivial familiarity he shared with Claire completely concealed by his indifference She found it , especially the way Shepherd shifted to put his body between her and the Beta

When the door closed, Claire found it very difficult to suppress a snort

“What is funny?” thehis eyes

“You are funny, Shepherd” Claire arranged herself at the table “That ht me meals dozens of times when you are not here—so youat him as if he were not your friend You have serious issues”

Shepherd only grunted in answer Dressed only in trousers, he cauard his Oerous men”

But not dangerous women

Glancing at the food, Claire felt wholly disillusioned She began to coed for himself This, the meal, was a show—a shohere she was not spectator, but entertainer She was expected to perfor hi herself their agree ue Instead, Claire focused on the beautiful dinner, thethe food

It seeoodtoit would be both pointless and so Shepherd would not respond to