The book in Lucian's hand closed with a soft thud. Yet the sound made the woman in the chair jolt and her shoulders stiffened, her face turning ashen. He rose from his seat, setting the book on the empty chair.
"W–why have I been brought here?" the woman stammered. "Let me go—please—my shop is unattended. I—I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Your shop will manage without you," Lucian's expression remained unreadable, his footsteps quiet on the barn floor. He stopped behind her and said, "Word is that you have been selling information about vampires. Tell me if that is passing gossip."
"I don't know who said that!" the bound woman blurted. "I swear I don't know anything—someone must be lying about me—"
Lucian simply pressed his index finger on the nail that was already embedded in her palm and pushed it further. A painful scream erupted from the woman's mouth.
He watched her reaction with a detached look. When her breath crumpled into sobs, he spoke,
