Her pride shattered. “No,” he said, voice hoarse. Roxy lay still, her body exhausted, her purpose fulfilled. “Are you certain?” Verena asked quietly. The belt cut into her mouth as her jaw clenched. “Then let me break. Nothing could prepare a body for this. Her body was already tense. Each movement brought fresh waves of agony. This tale does not seek comfort or triumph. Nothing could prepare a body for this. She lay on the cold stone floor on her side and forced the leather belt back into her mouth. Her hands clawed at the stone floor, her legs trembling violently. The alarms began to scream across the compound. Caelen stood over her, full height restored. ***
They stood in the reclusiam vault, far below the main decks of the Lux Invicta. Her legs shaked. Roxy lay still, drenched in sweat, her face contorted in silent pain. When a captured Astartes — Brother-Sergeant Caelen — was discovered deep behind enemy lines, a desperate plan was devised. The pressure was overwhelming. They beat her.
