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"Yes" Silver eyes lost their mirth, their shifty furtiveness, and narrowed in disapproval

That was so"

Shepherd developed a hooded expression, answered as if reluctant "Your picture has led to a rash of violent murders of black-haired women who look like you My men find more every day"

Claire's voice hitched, the sliver of hope she'd had shattered "You're lying!" But she was already cru believable

Gently, Shepherd asked, "Now do you understand just what the citizens of this city are?"

Head in her hands, Claire began to weep, the responsibility for each unknooman's death carved into her forever

He had outain; he had won

Even scooped into circling ar herself for what her flyer had inspired and how utterly stupid she was for not recognizing what it could lead to, Claire sagged to the floor He was inside her in seconds, purring and petting, holding her tightly so she would not hurt herself by fighting back She cried the entire ti even as she clis When that didn't work, Shepherd proclaiood, and even he knew that she could not have suspected such an outcouilt, she was pure, her ideals were noble… the city did not deserve her

He told her he loved her

She quieted a little

The following twenty-four hours, Claire could hardly bear to leave the nest Shepherd left her in peace so long as she ate everything he brought her, including fried potato wedges with mayonnaise and a chocolate shakeChapter 14When Claire woke the following day, Shepherd bathed her, dressed her, and brought out the handcuffs so that he could take her to see the sky Deep down, she knew self-pity would get her nowhere She wanted to rally, to get back to forging progress, because she owed it to those murdered black-haired wo to hold on to

Shepherd tried to give her that so

He carried her to the room with theHe locked the door and showed her his latest gift Her ainst the wallpaper, his Followers having dragged it all the way from Claire's ransacked apartment