I'm woken up the following morning by the delightful sensation of a rough, sandpaper-like tongue enthusiastically licking my face. I groan and roll over, snuggling deeper under the covers.

"Pluto, leave me alone. I'm sleeping."

A few blissful moments of undisturbed peace pass. Then a tsunami-like force lands on my back as Pluto returns, pawing at my back and digging his claws in when I don't respond. I shriek, leaping up like a piping hot poker has been stabbed into my back.

"Ow! Pluto!" I throw the covers back and glare at the large cat perched at the end of the bed. He watches me smugly, his tail twitching from side to side. "What have I told you about trying to wake me up in bed? We've talked about this — your claws are too long to do that anymore! You're going to shish-kebab me one of these days!"

Pluto sneezes and flicks me with his tail. I glower and peevishly throw a pillow at him.

"Go play with someone your own size."

Pluto chuffs, almost like he's laughing, and jumps off the bed — to reveal Hades, standing at the foot of my bed.

I yelp, scrambling to cover myself up with the comforter. "Oh my god— Hades! Have you been there the whole time?!"

Hades ignores my question.

"You will start your training today. Be ready in half an hour."

I stare in wordless shock at him, my mouth agape. Once he's sure I understood his instruction, Hades nods and blinks from view.

Embarrassment steals over me. I cautiously glance around my room several times, before timidly getting out of bed. The patter of my bare feet on the marble floor echoes softly as I dart over to the bathroom and lock the door soundly behind myself.

I may be in love with the guy, but that still doesn't make me comfortable with him barging into my room, unannounced, while I'm still in bed. Disney's Anna has nothing on me when it comes to horrendous bed hair.

By the time Hades returns, I've had a chance to freshen myself up and change into some more respectable jeans and a flowing bohemian top. I double-check my appearance in the mirror and grin to myself in satisfaction. I still couldn't quite believe that Kezia had actually managed to convince Calla to modernise my wardrobe. Even my threats of releasing Pluto on her hadn't been successful — even though I never would have been able to follow through with said threats, considering the planet-sized soft spot Pluto had for her. That wouldn't have mattered though, apparently, as my threats must have paled in comparison to whatever it was that Kezia had said to her. I had to admit, I was a little terrified for Calla — I had no idea what Kezia had said to make her change her mind, but it couldn't have been anything good. Or healthy. Or safe.

"Are you ready?" A quiet voice asks from the bathroom doorway. I jump, banging my knee against the counter in fright.

"Would you stop that?" I demand, whirling around to glower at Hades. My knee throbs painfully. "Your random unannounced appearances really freak me out."

"I apologise. That was not my intention."

"Let me give you a tip then: knock." I deadpan, rolling my eyes. I flick off the bathroom lights as I walk out to join him. "Or, I don't know, start wearing a bell."

"A bell?" Confusion creases Hades' features. "What would I require a bell for?"

I bite back a smile, shaking my head. "Don't play dumb. I know you know."

"You know I know what?" He raises an eyebrow. "I do not know what you are trying to insinuate, Evie. I am merely confused as to why you think I need a bell."

"You seriously don't know why—" I stop myself when I see the twinkle in his eye. I narrow my eyes. "Oh, you're an ass."

"This coming from the one who believed me without a shadow of a doubt." He replies bemusedly. My eyes narrow even further.

"I didn't believe you!"

"I believe you." Hades nods seriously, chuckling at the foul look I throw him. He offers me his arm. "Shall we proceed?"

I stick my tongue out at him childishly, but grab his hand anyway, instead of his arm like I normally do. Hades doesn't say anything, but from the way he stills for half a moment, I know he notices the small gesture. Then he steps forward and transports us out of my room.

The moment my feet land on the floor, I open my eyes to a completely unrecognisable room. That surprises me a little; I thought I'd successfully discovered all the rooms in Hades' palace in my previous explorations.

The room is small and circular, framed by golden-flecked marble columns that branch up to meet in the middle of the roof in an elaborate star. A crackling fire sits behind a large, ornate black throne, scattering golden, flickering undertones across the dark maroon walls. Intricate, glittering golden decorations adorn the columns, and when I peer closer, the small figurines come to life on the columns. I smile. They're all red-figure depictions of different myths that involve Hades.

"This room is amazing, Hades." I glance over at him. "How come I've never seen this room before?"

"Because I concealed it from you."

"Why?"

"It was a safety precaution." He tells me. My brow furrows in confusion. "This is the judgement room."

"Oh. This is the judgement room? " My mouth forms an 'O' of recognition when he nods. "This is where you judge the souls, where you decide their afterlives?"

"Where we judge the souls." Hades replies with a smile, turning to look at something behind him. I follow his gaze, and a small grin worms its way onto my lips. There was one thing I hadn't noticed earlier, and it was sitting next to his big, painful chair: my favourite, green sofa.

"What's my sofa doing here?"

"You are going to be spending a lot of your time here." Hades explains, his hands finding their way into the pockets of his trench coat. "Whatever chair you feel the most comfortable in was chosen as your 'throne,' which is why you now see a replica of the sofa before you."

"Hang on." I burst out laughing. "That is the chair you feel the most comfortable in?"

"It is an extremely old chair."

I try to resist the teasing retort rising up in me and settle for an air of sincerity. "Okay then iron-ass, how exactly does this work?"

Hades ignores my jab and motions me toward the sofa. I throw myself down on it, crossing my legs and looking up at him expectantly. He laughs a little. "I am sorry Evie, but nothing is going to happen today. I just thought that, now you are officially my consort, it was high time that I showed you where you will be spending most of your time here."

"Aw." I pout. "Well okay, then metaphorically how exactly does this work? This isn't exactly what I imagined when I pictured a throne room."

"You were imagining a gloomy, mediaeval room with an endless line of people streaming out of it."

I grimace sheepishly. "Maybe?"

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head in mock disappointment. "That's very primitive of you, Evie. No, that is not the way I 'run the show,' as you humans have a tendency to say."

"Boo." I wrinkle up my nose. "Cinema gave me such high expectations."

"I am sorry to disappoint." Hades chuckles. He turns and points ahead of me, towards an open doorway that connects to another, larger marble room. "Through there is where Minos and Rhadamanthos are based. They will handle the majority of the judgments that come through here."

"The majority?"

"Yes." Hades nods. "There will be some cases that they find too difficult to judge, or too important, that will be referred on to us. We will have the final say in those judgments."

"Too important?" My eyes light up. "Does that mean you've judged some of the most important people in history? Ooh, did you decide Caesar's afterlife? Was he anything like the history books said he was?"

"Even if I did, I would not disclose that information with you." Hades replies amusedly. "I am sure you will find out at some point."

"I'll be able to find Caesar in the Underworld? Oh, this changes everything—"

"Evie. Not right now." Hades places a hand on my shoulder when I start to get up. He smiles when I huff in disappointment. "We have more important priorities at present, would you not agree?"

"No comment."

"Evie."

"I'm sorry, I'm kidding. Totally kidding." I nod seriously. "I think."

"Evie." Hades gives me a look. I hold my hands up and blink innocently.

"What? I was kidding. I'm totally, completely serious."

He sighs in exasperation, but I don't miss the small twinkle in his eye.

"Stand up, Evie." When I obey, he takes my hands and pulls me to his side. "Now close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Trust me, Evie." I eye him suspiciously for a few more seconds, before I obligingly close my eyes. His cold fingers briefly touch my forehead. "Now open them."

I open my eyes, and jump so high that I just about fall over the sofa. I slowly turn to gawk at Hades.

"Who the hell is that?! Where did they come from?!"

"It does not matter." Hades walks over to stand next to the middle-aged man who had suddenly materialised in the centre of the room. He waves his hand, and it passes through the man's arm briefly. "This is just an impression that I have briefly projected to your mind."

"This is mind-talking?" I ask incredulously. The man flickers before me like a bad television image. "I didn't know you could project real people!"

"I have had an eternity to practise." Hades waves his hand and the man disappears. "That is how the souls will appear to you, like a projection in your mind. They will make a case as to why they think they deserve the Elysium they prefer, and we will decide whether they truly deserve it or not."

"So, it's like I'm watching some movie where I decide the ending?" I laugh feebly when he gives me a look. "Sorry. I like to make jokes when I'm nervous."

"I would recommend saving those jokes for my ears only once you officially start designating fates." He replies wryly. I mimic him silently, poking out my tongue. He chuckles. "There is no reason to be nervous, Evie. I will always be here to support you. You will never be alone unless it is necessary, particularly at the beginning."

"What about when it's necessary?" I ask weakly.

"You will be fine, Evie. Trust me." He smiles. "I will always be with you, even when I am not here."

The smile that ricochets across my face is so big that it hurts my cheek.

"We will return here later. There is one more place I need to show you." He squeezes my fingers. "Hold on tight. You do not want to get lost in our next destination."

"Okay." I frown and tighten my grip on his fingers. This time, when we blink out of the room — as I'd unceremoniously decided to dub Hades' favourite mode of transport — it hurts a little more than usual.

"Where are we now?" I ask, inadvertently stepping closer to him as I peer around our new surroundings. It felt like we had stepped onto the set of a horror movie. I couldn't see anything. Suffocating darkness presses onto the edges of my vision, and every time I move my head, the darkness seems to grow. Only one thing stands out of the darkness: a small, crevice-like opening that almost looks like the entrance to a cave. A smattering of choking vines and twisting, grey flowers decorate the edges of the crevice like a macabre flower arch, the flowers somehow making the sight even more terrifying. The moment I fix my gaze on the entrance, my heart starts thudding in my ears, and a chill washes down my spine. The mere presence of the doorway is enough to cause terror to fill every cell of my body, like something completely evil is hidden away inside it.

"This is a particular part of the Underworld that I hope you never have to enter." Hades stares at the door with what I can only describe as pure hatred. "I do not want you to come here unless I am with you or I am in dire peril."

"Okay." I reply slowly. "What is this place, Hades?"

"Tartarus." Hades says quietly. The blood freezes in my veins. "It is where Kronos and his supporters are locked away, but the only one who is active these days is Kronos. The others have fallen into a deep slumber, and do not tend to wake for anything."

I shiver and move even closer to him. "Why did you bring me here, Hades?"

"Are you scared?"

"Of course I am!" I exclaim. "There are Titans through there!"

"They cannot escape." He assures. "There are only two people in the entire universe who know how to open the gate: myself, and my consort."

"Me?" My eyebrows shoot up. "Why me? Why not Zeus or Poseidon?"

"When it comes to the Titans, particularly Kronos, my brother is extremely paranoid." Hades says somewhat amusedly, like there's an inside joke that I'm not a part of. "He trusted me when I assisted in their imprisonment, and not without reason. That is why he agreed, when the time came, to trust my consort as well."

"Well, that's not terrifying." I shudder. "Not that I'm ever going to want to open it, but how does one release the demons?"

"You are right to be scared, Evie. Let that fear protect you. It is the safest thing guarding you from this cave aside from myself."

"Even Pluto?"

Hades chuckles quietly. "Including Pluto. Although, I do believe that both Pluto and Cerberus would give Kronos a good run for his money."

I smile a little, but the smile disappears very quickly when I look back at the cave entrance. Unease squeezes the air out of my lungs again.

Hades glances over at me. He starts rubbing small, comforting circles on the inside of my wrist with his thumb.

"Two specific factors are required to open, or close, the gate. You must utter the word 'carcerum,' while touching the cage's bar with your blood. Or my own, of course."

"Blood and Latin words?" I shake my head. "You lot are gruesome as hell, you know that?"

"It was a means through which to seal the gate that we decided upon several thousand years ago. Forgive us for our more primitive and effective means of locking away the Titans."

"It's a little extreme though, don't you think? You could have just slapped a big ol' lock on Tartarus and hung the key around your neck or something."

Hades ignores my feeble attempt at a joke. He turns back to the cave, his expression hardening. "Evie, you need to promise me that you will never open the cage. Catastrophic consequences aside, I cannot bear the thought of what Kronos would do to you if he escaped."

"Of course, Hades. You don't need to ask me twice." I tug on his hand, prompting him to turn and look at me. "Does the fact you're telling me this have anything to do with the— "

"Yes."

I bite my lip. "Hades, don't you think that—"

"Not now, Evie." He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. "Soon."

"But don't you think that—"

"Please, Evie." He beseeches me with his gaze. I sigh after a moment's hesitation, and nod.

"Okay. Let's go."

"Thank you." He sighs in relief, offering his arm once more. I roll my eyes and grab his hand instead.

"You'd think you would have learnt by now." I mutter, just as he blinks us into the library.

"Learnt what?"

"That you don't have to offer your arm in such a formal way anymore." I give him an exasperated look when he tilts his head to the side in confusion. "I like to hold your hand, Hades."

"Ah. Forgive me, then." Hades turns away. He busies himself with taking off his black trench coat and slinging it over the back of the sofa. I try really hard not to notice how well his black t-shirt hugs his chest. He pauses, giving me a curious look. "Are you alright?"

"Uh, yes, mm-hmm." I gulp and duck my head forward so my hair hides my burning cheeks. "What are we doing here?"

Hades doesn't reply immediately, turning around and tucking my hair behind my ear so he can peer into my face. I clear my throat, gazing up at him with a nervous smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I could ask you the same question." He responds lightly. My blush deepens. Hades smirks slightly. "Is there something wrong, Evie?"

"No. I'm fine. Stop it." I cover my cheeks with my hands and glower at him. "Why are we back here, Hades? I thought you were giving me the full Underworld tour."

Hades chuckles. "I will show you around the rest of the Underworld over the next few weeks Evie, rest assured. But for now, I thought starting your training on your projection abilities was a better use of our time."

"Wait, what? You're serious?"

"Deadly serious." He smirks when my jaw drops.

His mouth didn't move an inch.

I purse my lips and give him a look. "Stop showing off, you ass."

Why do you feel the need to insult me? He asks, once again in my mind. It is extremely rude.

"Well there's a thin line between love and hate."

His eyebrows shoot up. "Between love and hate, you say?"

I stop dead in my tracks. My heart stops. "I uh..."

Silence.

I clear my throat and smile falteringly up at Hades. "So, how do I do the mind talk?"

Smooth, Evie. Really, really smooth.