Leon continued pulling until he managed to drag it completely free before tossing it aside with a loud crash.
What lay beneath was an underground staircase, its steps disappearing into the darkness below.
Leon's first instinct was to turn toward Addison with an almost triumphant expression, clearly hoping for a little praise for uncovering such a well-hidden passage. However, the moment he saw how anxious and visibly distressed she was, he swallowed whatever cheeky remark he'd been about to make.
There was no point in showing off now.
Instead, he stepped aside and allowed Addison to approach. Before letting her peer inside, he carefully inspected the entrance, checking for any immediate signs of danger or possible traps. Only after making sure the immediate area appeared clear did he give her room to look.
