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I passed her and entered the corridor.

She followed.

Good.

I began checking the safehouse evacuation route automatically, verifying each junction before I reached it.

“What exactly pinged us?” she asked behind me.

“A dormant location beacon.”

“And who can do that?”

I did not answer.

The silence lasted only a few seconds.

“Telling me nothing is getting old.”

“I am aware.”

“No.” She caught up with me. “I don’t think you are.”

I stopped at the next junction and opened a concealed wall panel. A secondary access route appeared behind it.

Talia stared into the dark passage, then looked at me. “You have a secret hallway.”

“Maintenance exit.”

“It’s hidden behind a wall.”

“Yes.”

“That makes it a secret hallway.”

I stepped inside.

She muttered something in English under her breath. I did not understand every word. I understood enough. Something about fuck and crap-ton-of-dust.

“That language is unnecessary.”

Talia came in behind me. “You abducted the wrong human if profanity bothers you.”

“I did not abduct you.”

“I think we’ve established we’re never agreeing on that.”

I sealed the panel.

Darkness swallowed us for less than a second before low emergency lighting activated along the floor.

The route descended sharply.

Talia stayed closer than she had in the main corridor. Not touching me. Close enough that I could hear the subtle change in her breathing.

“You dislike confined spaces.”

“I dislike underground secret passages controlled by armed strangers.”