I bit my lip. My heart was drumming a ridiculous beat in my chest. Was it the thrill of sneaking out? The weight of being trusted with this? Or maybe just the way Axel looked at me like I was worthy of all of it?
He extended his hand. "Ready, wife?"
"God, stop saying it like that," I hissed, shoving my hand into his. "You're going to make me combust."
"That's the idea."
We stepped into the passage, the door sliding shut behind us with a soft thunk. I jumped.
Axel squeezed my fingers. "Relax. The other end opens right near the garden wall. No one ever checks it."
I arched an eyebrow. "And you know this because…?"
"Because I was a teenage boy once with way too much curiosity and a minor problem with authority."
"Only minor?"
"Well," he smirked, "the punishments were major."
The tunnel sloped gently downward. Our footsteps echoed slightly, and I tried not to focus on the creepy horror-movie vibe. Instead, I focused on Axel's warm, solid, and real hand.
