When I got to the packhouse, I took off my jacket and boots in the foyer, then put on my slippers before heading toward the dungeon. I paused to take a deep breath, steadying myself, and then opened the door to head downstairs.
As I descended the stairs, I heard people in the cells shifting and retreating toward the back as my footsteps approached. Looking around, I counted another eight people locked up. Each occupied their own cell for now, but I wondered how many more Axel might bring in before the dungeon filled.
As I looked into each cell, I noticed anxious tension etched deep on the prisoners’ faces—wide, trembling eyes, lips pressed thin. When a few recognized me and realized Axel wasn’t with me, I saw relief flicker through their fear; their shoulders sagged, and the sharp edge o
