LUCY
Wasn't he a high-ranking Lieutenant?
I distinctly remember the silver mark of honor pinned to his formal uniform.
What was an officer of his standing doing in the deep dungeons at this hour of the night? This wasn't his station. This wasn't his duty.
I watch his mouth open and close like a fish out of water, his tongue darting out to wet his dry lips, completely paralyzed by the weight of my gaze. He looks dumbfounded, caught between an urge to lie and the absolute terror holding him fast.
I look down at myself; I am not even emitting any alpha energy; I am just standing here, cold and deeply curious, and somehow… he is still terrified. Must be my new identity. I welcome its advantages now.
"Do you want your head to drop first?" I press, my voice dropping into a dangerously flat register.
The man shakes his head, his knuckles trembling where they grip his own thigh. "We… we planned to whip her as per the schedule, Your Highness, and then…"
