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?"
"I ate at your house."
Frustrated, he squeezed her. "That was three days ago, and you threw up afterwards."
"I had more important things to worry about than food."
"Claire, you are not superhuman."
No. She did not even feel regular human. She felt quasi-formed and misshapen. "I will eat."
A twitch curled Corday's lips. "Good." He sat her up, rubbing at her neck when her bones cracked. "And while you are eating, I am going to ask you what other crazy schemes you have planned. You don't need to keep secrets from me, Claire. Let me help you."
They had an audience; several sets of eyes watching their low, murmured exchange. Corday went to pillage through the crates he'd brought. A piece of fresh fruit and a packet of protein rich supplement in hand, he returned to her.
Others approached Claire.
A few even sniffed the black-haired Omega, backing away quickly as if she might taint them once the rumor had been confirmed.
If Claire noticed, she did not react.
Corday could see that Nona was right. No matter what she had done for them, Claire would not be tolerated by the pack for long. "Come home with me, Claire."
Claire looked to the man offering her an apple as if he'd gone mad. "I can't put you in that position. No."
"Then I'll come here every day until you change your mind." The Beta took her cold fingers and urged, "I want to take care of you. When you come to your senses, I will take you home."
Claire mumbled, looking to the fire, "Should the time come, I look forward to going home."
It was Nona who'd sat quietly through the exchange, who'd touched Claire's arm in understanding.
It was time for Corday to go. Claire stood, pulled him into a hug, dismissing the man as she teased, "Next time you visit, bring decent coffee."
He chuckled.
Suddenly serious, she gripped the fabric of his coat. "And if you are foolish enough to get caught, I will charge the Citadel to get you out."
Corday's laughter faded. "That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
Frustrated, running a hand through his hair, Corday argued, "You set the Omegas free. You moved mountains. It's time for you to rest."
Claire agreed. "Nona would not allow anything else. Now, get out of here, Beta. No boys allowed."
Corday did not want to go, but he gave her space, swearing he would return.
With the Beta gone, Nona placed an arm around her young friend, the old woman muttering, "He doesn't understand."
The broken Omega whispered, "He doesn't need to know."There were only four in the room: Corday, Brigadier Dane, Senator Kantor, and a stranger.
"There is a new member come to join the resistance." The typical exhaustion that had aged Senator Kantor since the Dome's fall, lifted. The pleased Alpha gestured to the beautiful woman at his side. "We made contact with my niece… This is Leslie Kantor."
Smiling softly at her uncle's heartfelt relief, the brunette Alpha female reached out her hand in formal introduction. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Corday."
There was a glint in the older man's eyes, long lost spark returning when Corday grinned and took her hand. "It's rare we get good news. Welcome."
Dwarfed in her layers, bundled up warm, Leslie offered, "And I hope I have more to buoy you. Before Shepherd's invasion, Premier Callas had been my betrothed. Our circumstances had yet to be announced," she waved a flippant hand, "these things have to go through the proper channels, be approved by the Senate, and so on. In the interim, Callas arranged for me to have deputy access to everything… As it was done in secret, Shepherd's men are unaware that I can infiltrate their communications network."
Corday's mouth gaped. "Holy fuck…"
"Yeah, son." Senator Kantor chuckled. "Holy fuck."
This changed everything, gave the resistance an actual chance. "Do you know where he's hidden the contagion?"
Leslie shook her head. "No. The language they communicate in, it's difficult to understand. But that does not mean we can't crack it. I just need time."