Aria's POV
Several minutes later, I reached the end of the passage. A narrow c***k in the wall allowed me to look into another corridor. Two guards were carrying silver blades. Their conversation drifted toward me.
"Rotation changes in five. The boss doesn't want anyone near the office."
"I heard. I still don't understand why."
"Don't ask questions."
They continued walking. Only after they disappeared around the corner did I silently step into the hallway.
The corridor was nothing like the rest of the building. It had dark marble floors and black walls, no paintings, no decorations. Everything here felt cold, as though warmth itself had been forbidden.
Lydia suddenly froze. Wait.
I stopped instantly. "What?"
Something smells wrong.
I crouched slowly, closed my eyes, and extended
