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Shepherd had to make use of this opportunity; he had to reason with her "I did not witness her touching you sexually and only learned of it later It will never happen again"

Incredulous, Claire's eyes ide at his nerve "And that makes it okay?"

The er towards me, hatred even, for as done"

"I do hate you I hate her But most of all I hate myself"

Rocking his hips, pressing the knot deeper, he insisted, "Tell me the reason you hate yourself"

She held his eyes, hers violently raging "We both knohy"

But it needed to be said aloud "Claire, your self-hatred stenized you had affection for me before circumstances caused you pain"

"Circuhed meanly, not at all impressed "She has a name It's Svana What you did to me has a name It's called betrayal"

Odd re in his consternation, Shepherd pressed his forehead to hers "You have ave you et, and try again"

Claire saturated her reply with every ounce of disgust she could muster "You are a very smart man with the skill to inspire others to follow you into evil, Shepherd, but your understanding of people is so primordial You claim to love me, so answer this: had I fucked Corday while you atching et?"

The id "No"

"So you see, it is impossible"

His eyes were full of a hundred things "You will forgive me"

Her black brow arched "Forgive what you can only call the circumstances that caused me pain?"

He knehat she wanted Growling like a beast, Shepherd gave it "I mated with Svana and dishonored you"

"You did"

"I did it to save your life"

Claire arched beneath hi"