The iron door to the council chamber had barely closed before Elise felt rough hands clamp onto her arms. The guards didn’t speak as they yanked her forward, their grip bruising her flesh. Her screams still echoed in her own ears, but here, outside the chamber, they fell into silence. No one rushed to her defense. No one whispered her name with kindness.The stone corridor was dim, torches casting long shadows that swayed with every step. The packhouse dungeon lay beneath the oldest wing of the estate, a place whispered about by pups who dared each other to sneak near. Elise had never seen it before, never thought she would.Her bare feet scraped against the cold floor. She tried to dig her heels in, but the guards only tightened their grip, dragging her like a sack of grain. Her nails clawed at the stone, leaving streaks of skin.“Please,” she rasped, her voice raw from crying. “Please, I didn’t do anything—”“Quiet,” one of the guards snapped, his voice flat, detached. “Orders are o
Last Updated : 2025-10-14 Read more