"Calla!" I wave my hand around wildly until I hit something. Guilty satisfaction steals through me when she yelps in pain. "Can I please open my eyes now? I've been sitting here like a statue for the last hour, and my nose is really starting to itch!"

"I'm starting to understand why Zola was so adamant about throwing you into the lava lake." Calla grumbles.

"There's a lava lake here?" I find it really hard to convey my shock with my eyes still closed. "What for?"

"Hell." She replies simply, making me laugh. I feel her presence move away, and she clears her throat. "You may open your eyes now."

I open my eyes hesitantly, peeking at my reflection cautiously. A small smile grows on my face.

"What?" Calla fusses with my hair, misinterpreting my stunned silence for disgust. "Is it not what you want? Please don't tell me that you don't like it; I won't have enough time to—"

"Calla!" I interrupt her, grabbing her hands before she works herself up into an even bigger red-faced fluster. "Stop worrying! You've done an incredible job!"

I look back at my reflection again and my smile grows. The outfit she's created for me is absolutely stunning.The skirts of the dress I'm wearing are long and silky, swirling around my feet in pools of dark, fiery red. The bodice of the dress is a light cream, with lace made from the same dark red criss-crossing over top in elegant flower silhouettes. She's styled my hair in light curls so that it spills over my shoulders in strawberry-blonde waves, and she's left my makeup simple, with dark red lipstick and a soft smokey-eye that causes my green eyes to pop. She'd really listened to me when I said I wanted something more modern and I couldn't help but love her for that.

"Really? You truly like it?" Calla sighs when I nod, a look of relief fleeting over her features. "Oh thank the gods. Everyone was expecting me to run out, screaming for murderers to appear like Zola did."

"What?!" My eyes widen in horror. "Oh my god, am I the problem child of the Underworld?"

"What's a problem child?"

"A child that... well... causes problems!" I bury my face in my hands, my cheeks reddening. "Oh god, I'm that one person you all whine and moan about during your breaks, aren't I? You all must hate me."

"We don't all hate you." Calla grabs my wrists and pulls them away from my face. "It's just Zola who's going around calling you names. The rest of us think you're lovely."

"Is that supposed to be reassuring?"

Someone knocks on the door.

I know that knock.

"I'll get it!" Calla squeaks, practically running to the door. My heart skips a beat.

No big deal. It's just a ball. With a cute guy — I mean god. No big deal at all.

I let out a long breath, squeezing my fingers into fists at my sides as I slowly turn around. Hades stands behind me, his tall figure framed by the doorway. My heart stutters again.

"My Lord." Calla bows deeply, before fleeing out the room faster than you can say 'Cerberus'.

"Um." I link my hands behind my back. "Hi. Again. Hi again. Hi."

Smooth, Evie. Real smooth.

"Calla appears to have been much more successful than Zola." Hades replies sagely/. He gives me a minute, but rare, smile. "You look absolutely breathtaking, Evie."

"Thank you." I blush beet-red. "You do as well."

He's dressed in the same things he always is.

Hades laughs, his smile growing. All of a sudden, the realisation hits me like a meteorite.

He's never looked more attractive than he does in this very moment.

My blush deepens right down to my pinky toe. Evie Mae Autumn, what are you thinking?

"Evie?" Hades steps forward, his handsome features smoothing out once more. "Are you ready?"

"Oh yes, right. That. Ready as I'll ever be, I guess." I laugh awkwardly, my fingers twisting together.

Hades studies me. "You are nervous. Why are you nervous?"

"Several reasons." I shrug. "Probably the biggest reason right now is the fact that you're acting really... well, pleasant."

Hades raises a bemused eyebrow. "Why is that a reason to be nervous?"

"Because..." I gesture to him, unable to find the right words. "You're you."

"Your articulation skills are impeccable, Evie." He shakes his head, his blue eyes twinkling.

I narrow my eyes playfully. "Your sass is not appreciated, Hades. And you can't exactly blame me for being nervous. You're not exactly the warmest person under the planet, so this is a bit of a difference!"

Hades falls silent. He offers me his forearm, a stoic expression on his face. My heart sinks.

Hi, foot? Meet your new acquaintance, my mouth.

I scowl at myself and place my palm on his proffered arm. Without another word, Hades begins to lead me out of my room, and it takes all of my concentration not to trip over my new heels. Hades glances down and notices my scowl. An indecipherable look creases his features.

"Is something the matter?"

"No." I bite my tongue and avoid his gaze, unsure what to say.

Do I even know what I want to say?

Hades doesn't reply, but I almost think I hear him sigh. Instead, he nods at a couple of servants standing on either side of two large, black doors. The servants simultaneously bow, turn to face each other, and push the doors to the ballroom open.

The murmuring hubbub of conversation fizzles out as the doors swing open, and all eyes turn to us. I blush and lower my gaze, tightening my grip on Hades' arm. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Spencer, waving at me enthusiastically from the bar. I shake my head.

Some things never change.

"Look up." Hades murmurs in my ear. "Or they will think—"

"I do not want to look at them. Funny that." I can't help but laugh a little. "You're a fickle lot, aren't you?"

Hades doesn't respond. When I peek up at him out of the corner of my eye, he's smiling.

"Evie." Minnie — or Athena, as I should probably start calling her — greets me with a warm smile. "You look beautiful."

I smile back and take a step forward. Then I realise who I'm attached to. I glance questioningly up at Hades. He nods and steps back, moving away to talk to two, slightly older, bearded men. Though I don't recognise them, from the way they conduct themselves and greet Hades with lukewarm indifference, I can only assume they're Zeus and Poseidon.

"Hey Evie!" Selene exclaims, appearing next to Minnie with a glass of champagne clutched in her hand. "Don't you look gorgeous?"

"Says you!" I laugh, gesturing to her. Her strapless dress looks like it's created from the leaves of the forest itself, with deep, dark green hues at the bottom that transforms into iridescent light green lace in the bodice. She looks so achingly beautiful it hurts — but then again, she is a living goddess.

"Don't you try to be humble, E. You and I both know that you're rocking that dress." Selene pauses, taking a long sip of her drink. She raises an eyebrow at me. "So, how are things?"

Her emphasis on 'things' leaves nothing to the imagination. I narrow my eyes and elbow her.

"Homeostatic."

"While the attempt to cut me out of the conversation is endearing, I do know what homeostatic means." Minnie says dryly. "What's going on?"

"Nothing!" I exclaim hastily. I divert her attention to Selene's drink. "Where can I get myself a drink of that?"

"You can't." Selene deadpans, giving me a stern look. I huff. "Pout all you want, it's not going to work. This is wine that only immortals can drink, and I am not having you getting drunk off it again! Remember Spencer's Easter party?"

"Oh yeah!" I reminisce. Then I frown. "I don't remember that party."

"I heard my name!" Spencer sings, stumbling into view with a massive grin. A wine bottle hangs loosely from his fingertips. "Evie! What are you doing here? It's only supposed to be dead people and the world's most dysfunctional family allowed down here! Unless," He lets out a loud gasp. "Are you a god and you haven't told me? Evie!"

"No, Spencer. That's just you." I pat his cheek, stifling a laugh. "I'm still human, I promise."

"I knew it!" Spencer cheers. Then his eyes widen. He grabs my wrist and whispers loudly. "Did you know that this is where the dead people stay? Is that why you're here? Are you dead people?"

I give him an exasperated look. "I'm as dead as Hades, Spencer."

"That's not a joke, Evie. Hades has been dead inside for a long time, but you haven't. You're the complete opposite. That's why you're so good for him. For everyone." Spencer says seriously. My smile turns upside-down. Spencer glances over my shoulder and his eyes light up. "Ooh, I've never seen her before! Maybe she'll snog me! I love these parties!"

He runs off and sidles up to a waitress, a coy smirk on his face. I turn back to Selene and Minnie and purse my lips out into a pout.

"I'm begging you; hook me up with what he's having."

"You're real funny, E." Selene rolls her eyes. "Do you really think we want another one of those running around?"

She points at Spencer, who is attempting, and failing, to lean seductively against a marble pillar. My nose wrinkles.

"We both know I have more decorum than Spencer."

"Darling, you wouldn't know what decorum was if it hit you in the face." Selene blows me a kiss. I huff in outrage, my mouth popping open. Selene laughs. She drains the rest of her glass and slips it onto the tray of a passing waitress. She twirls her finger in the air. "And now, we circulate."

With a wink, she breezes off, a chuckling Minnie close on her heels.

Rolling my eyes, I turn around and let my gaze wander around the room. I don't recognise over half the people in the large, marble ballroom; Spencer is still chatting up the blonde waitress, Minnie and Selene have been waylaid by Axel and Olly, and Hades is — big surprise — leaning against a pillar all by himself, surveying the room just like me. We lock eyes. I smile at him and wiggle my fingers in a wave. The corners of his lips twist up.

"Evie?"

I startle, and turn to see Leia gingerly walking up to me. She shoots me a timid smile.

"Can we talk?"

I groan, throwing my hands up in the air. "Oh come on! Really?"

"What?" Leia falters. She eyes me warily. "What did I do?"

I gesture to her. She cuts a striking figure, in a flowing, soft-pink silk dress that flatters her curves perfectly. "Just... look at you. You look amazing!"

"Darling, I'm the goddess of love and sexuality. I always look amazing." Leia laughs, tossing her golden curls over her shoulder.

"No doy."

"Oh, don't be like that. You look absolutely stunning Evie, and I mean that sincerely. We're all immortal gods; we're always going to be more impressive than everyone else. But you are authentically beautiful." Leia winks, hip bumping me. "On a more interesting note though, how are you getting along with Hades? We are all just dying to know!"

"Not that I'm extremely creeped out by all the attention, but I'm not that close with you." I start slowly, giving her a weak grin. "So I don't mind the small talk, but when things get personal..."

Leia's eyes light up greedily. She grabs my hand and drags me to the bar, forcefully plonking me down on a stool. "Well you're going to have to get used to me quickly then, because I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. I am the goddess of love after all. I can help." She sits down next to me and crosses her legs, tapping her nails on the bar. Her eyebrow arches expectantly. "So?"

I fold my arms across my chest. "No."

Leia gives me a look. "What a mature response."

"Perhaps you should say please."

For the second time in five minutes, I jump a mile into the air. I spin in my chair to face the tall, bearded man standing behind me. He studies me through dark, stormy blue eyes.

"Hello Evie. I have heard a lot about you."

"Hi." I eye him, slowly shaking his proffered hand. He holds my hand, and my gaze, for a moment too long.

"Poseidon, stop freaking the poor girl out." Leia rolls her eyes. "You know the only person who likes that weird, intense, staring thing is your wife. How is Amphitrite, by the way? Has she returned from her latest 'vacation'?"

Poseidon keeps his eyes locked on me. "I hope your time in the Underworld has been pleasant? I know my brother has a tendency to be... hostile, at times. It would be awfully distressing if he had made your time down here... challenging."

I take a step back and narrow my eyes at him. "What are you trying to insinuate? Hades has been nothing but a gentleman."

"What a candidly kosher response." Poseidon replies bemusedly. "I see my brother has indulged you on how to have an evasive repartee."

"We've already covered this, Poseidon. She doesn't consider us 'friends' yet." Leia sighs dramatically, her delicate features crinkling into a dainty pout.

From the way his heavyset eyebrow raises, Poseidon does not appear amused by Leia's childish performance. "Then perhaps we need to change that."

Realisation visibly dawns on Leia, and a small smirk curls up her lips. She clicks her fingers, and a drink magically appears in her glittering, pink claws. She pushes the sparkling glass into my face. "Here. Drink. You're going to be stuck with us for a while, so you might as well start spilling all your secrets so we can really get acquainted."

I stare at her. "Wait, what?"

Leia grabs my hand and wraps my fingers around the glass stem. "Drink. Then talk."

"Wait, no, Leia. I never said that I was going to —"

"Ah, buh buh buh." Leia places a finger over my lips. "Unless you're telling me how things between you and Hades are really going, then the only thing you should be doing is drinking."

I try a different tactic. "Leia, I'm human, I can't drink your—"

"I'm not that stupid, Evie. This stuff is human-approved." She scoffs, flicking her blonde culs over her shoulder. "Besides which, weren't you just begging Selene for a drink? You're literally looking a gift goddess in the mouth; now drink!"

I open my mouth to argue. She narrows her gaze at me. My eyes widen. Slightly more scared than I want to admit, I take a sip, swallow, and hold my glass up. Poseidon bows his head in approval, raising his own glass in the air. Something flickers through his gaze, too quick for me to decipher. I give Leia a pointed look.

"Happy?"

Leia smirks, leaning back in her chair. "I will be."

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can do so, a hot wave suddenly washes over me. Leia's words echo through my brain like bouncy balls. I blink, unnatural warmth fizzling through my veins. My head grows light, like I've had one tequila shot too many, and I have to blink several more times before I can focus on Leia again.

"What?"

"Why dear Evie, you look awfully confused." Leia laughs gaily, leaning forward again. "Let me remind you of our conversation. As we were discussing, before my dear uncle so rudely interrupted us, how are things going between you and Hades? We have shared a drink together, so you must consider us friends now! Do tell; we're positively dying to know!"

I hesitate, glancing down at the glass in my hand. Why didn't I want to talk to her again? Leia wasn't wrong; she was being awfully friendly. What would be the harm in having a light-hearted discussion with her?

Leia places her hand over my own. Sympathy creases her features. "That isn't a happy face. What's wrong?"

"It's complicated."

Leia chuckles. "Everything about Hades is complicated. You can surely do better than that."

My gaze wanders over her shoulder to land on Hades, who's still silently standing in his corner. His midnight-blue gaze meets mine. My heart skips a beat and plummets into my stomach. I blush and glance away. Leia raises an eyebrow. I sigh.

"I don't know what you want me to tell you, Leia. I don't even know what to think right now. At first, the only reason I came down here was to honour the deal that I made with Hades, but then I discovered the 'deal' didn't exist in the first place, and suddenly things got complicated."

"Complicated? How so?"

I hesitate, pinching the skin on my elbow tightly. Poseidon clears his throat quietly, and when I look up at him he gestures for me to speak. Words start spilling from my lips before I can stop them.

"Because I got to know him. Hades. And even though he's as easy to read as a wall of ice, and unpredictable, and mind-numbingly confusing at the worst of times, I think I..." Even with my loose lips, the words that have been circling my mind for the past month still aren't able to break through the fortress of self-induced terror. I let out a sigh of frustration and cover my face with my hands. "It's complicated."

"You think you care for Hades." Leia states. I wince, and brace myself for an onslaught of ridicule. But it doesn't come. Instead, a comforting hand squeezes mine. "That's nothing to be scared about. Your relationship with Hades is complicated, but this is Hades we're talking about. His relationship with everyone is complicated. All you need to do is talk to him."

"Relationship?" My heart stutters. "What relationship?"

"Oh please, Evie." Leia waves her hand. "You are talking to the goddess of love. You and I both know what I'm talking about when I say relationship."

"No I don't."

"Please, dear. Denial doesn't look good on you." Leia finishes her own drink and clicks her fingers at my glass. As if attended by an invisible hand, it slowly fills up with the same glittering pink liquid as before. She winks at me. "Finish your drink and go and talk to Hades. I think you'll find that your drink will bring you some... liquid courage."

Leia blows me a kiss and sashays away, making a beeline for Axel. Poseidon bows his head at me and turns on his heel, leaving as silently as he had arrived. Feeling even more confused than before, I stare after their retreating backs, before hesitantly looking down at the glass in front of me. It glitters invitingly at me, small iridescent bubbles fizzing to the top. I hesitate for a moment. Leia's soft instruction echoes in my mind.

Finish your drink and go and talk to Hades.

All you need to do is talk to him.

I swallow back the ball of doubt lodged in my throat and pick the glass up. Determination floods my veins, and before I think about it I'm drinking the whole glass in one go. Leia looks back at me and smirks, mouthing 'good girl' from where she's standing. I nod at her and place the glass down on the bench. An effervescent feeling tingles through me. My eyes flit up and crash into Hades' own electric blue ones. He smiles. The fog clouding my brain clears away. My heart drops into my stomach.

Leia was right.

I like Hades.