Lira and Thalia

The dining hall was nothing short of breathtaking. A long table of dark polished wood stretched down the center of the room, illuminated by the soft, flickering light of an intricate chandelier overhead. The walls were lined with tall, arched windows that seemed to open into endless darkness, and the faint hum of Underworld energy thrummed in the background, a reminder of where she truly was.

Hades sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding yet oddly comfortable, like he belonged to this grandeur in a way that didn't need announcing. Aurelia was seated to his left, the only other place set for dinner. She glanced at the table, her eyes catching on the crystal glasses, the silverware that gleamed in the dim light, and the delicately plated food that looked like art more than sustenance.

Hades leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Aurelia's. "Tell me, Aurelia, how do you find my humble abode?"

Aurelia, her cheeks flushed from the wine, smiled shyly. "It's... it's breathtaking. I've never seen such a magnificent place. The attention to detail is astounding."

Hades' lips curved into a satisfied smirk. "I'm glad it meets your approval. "

"Are you always this formal?" she asked, her tone light but teasing as she gestured toward the setup.

Hades poured wine into her glass, his movements slow and deliberate, the liquid catching the light like dark rubies. "This is normal," he said simply, his tone calm, almost matter-of-fact. "A meal should be enjoyed, not rushed. I prefer to keep things… refined."

Aurelia glanced at the table again, taking in the crystal glasses, intricate silverware, and perfectly plated food that looked like it belonged in an art gallery. "Refined might be an understatement," she remarked, her tone laced with teasing. "I don't think I've ever had a meal this fancy in my life."

Hades' lips curved into a faint smirk, his gaze meeting hers. "That surprises me. You carry yourself like someone accustomed to luxury."

She raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly in her chair. "Do I? Because most of my life has been spent clawing my way out of chaos, not lounging in luxury. But I guess that's something you'd know a lot about."

He regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable, though there was a spark of intrigue in his dark eyes. "The Underworld is not all chaos," he said, his voice low. "And neither am I."

The way he said it made something in her chest tighten. She quickly reached for her wine, taking a sip to steady herself. "Fair enough," she said, breaking eye contact. "But I have to say, this place doesn't scream 'Underworld' either. Where are all the rivers of fire and souls in torment? You're really not living up to the branding."

Hades chuckled softly, the sound deep and rich. "The Underworld has many faces," he replied. "Not all of them are as dramatic as mortal legends suggest. This is one of the quieter corners."

"Quieter, sure," Aurelia murmured, glancing around at the opulent decor. "But it's still unsettling. All this beauty feels… deceptive."

"Deceptive?" he echoed, his smirk returning as he raised his glass to his lips. "Do you think I've set a trap for you, Aurelia?"

She shrugged, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "I wouldn't put it past you. You did bring me here without asking, after all."

His eyes gleamed with amusement, but he didn't respond immediately, letting the tension settle between them like a lingering shadow.

As the meal progressed, the conversation drifted to lighter topics, though Aurelia couldn't help but notice how Hades' attention never seemed to waver from her. The weight of his gaze was constant, even when he wasn't looking directly at her, and it made her acutely aware of every movement she made.

By the time dessert was served—a decadent confection of dark chocolate and figs—Aurelia could feel the tension between them crackling like static. She tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the rich sweetness of the dessert, but it was impossible not to notice the way his gaze lingered on her lips as she took a bite.

When the last of the plates were cleared, she sat back in her chair, feeling both full and oddly restless. She hesitated for a moment before breaking the silence. "I almost got lost on my way down here," she admitted with a small laugh. "This place is like a maze. I don't even know how I'm supposed to find my way back to my room."

Hades leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes catching the flickering light of the chandelier. "Then it's a good thing I'm here to guide you," he said, his voice soft but laced with something that made her stomach flutter.

As they walked side by side through the mansion's corridors, the sound of their footsteps echoed off the marble floors. Aurelia's dress swished with each step, the fabric caressing her curves, and she felt Hades' gaze burning into her.

As they walked down the dimly lit corridors, Hades' steps were unhurried, his presence commanding even in the quiet. The sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor filled the space between them, though it felt insignificant compared to the charged silence lingering in the air.

"You looked stunning tonight," he said suddenly, his voice low, almost too casual, as if the compliment had slipped out before he could consider it.

Aurelia felt her cheeks warm, though she managed a dry laugh to cover it. "Thank you. Would you believe that this was the most decent dress offered to me by your maids," she said, glancing at him sideways. "The others were basically nonexistent."

Hades groaned, his head tilting back slightly as though he were both amused and exasperated. "Lira and Thalia," he muttered, shaking his head. "Always so mischievous. I should have known they'd find a way to amuse themselves at my expense."

Aurelia smirked, finding his reaction oddly satisfying. "I'm guessing they enjoy tormenting your guests with questionable wardrobe options?"

His lips curved into a smirk of his own, though his gaze was focused ahead. "They enjoy causing a little chaos, yes. But I suspect they knew exactly how you'd look in that dress."

Her steps faltered briefly, and she shot him a look. "Oh? And how is that?"

He glanced at her then, his dark eyes gleaming with something that made her stomach flip. "Like temptation itself," he said, his voice smooth, though there was a hint of gravel to it.

Her breath caught, and she quickly turned her face forward, pretending not to hear the way her pulse suddenly thundered in her ears.

As they reached her chamber door, Hades suddenly spun Aurelia around, his strong hands resting on her shoulders. She gasped softly, her eyes widening at the sudden closeness. Hades' breath brushed against her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

"I can smell your arousal, Aurelia," he whispered, his voice low and gravelly. "That dress leaves little to the imagination, and I find myself wondering what delights await beneath it."

Aurelia's breath caught in her throat as his words sent a wave of heat through her body. She could feel his desire, his hunger, as if it were her own.

"I... I didn't mean to..." she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Hades chuckled, a deep, throaty sound that sent a thrill through her. "Oh, but you did, my dear. And I find myself unable to resist the temptation any longer."

His hands slid down her arms, his touch sending shivers of pleasure through her. With a gentle yet firm grip, he pulled her closer, pressing his muscular body against hers. Aurelia could feel his hardness against her soft curves, and a moan escaped her lips before she could stop it.

"All night I've imagined doing wicked things to you in that dress," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "Teasing you until you beg for release, peeling it off inch by inch, revealing your beautiful body to my hungry gaze."

Aurelia's knees weakened at his words, and she leaned into him, her hands instinctively reaching up to grasp his broad shoulders. She could feel his power, his raw masculinity, and it both terrified and excited her.

Then, in a swift motion, he released her, his hands sliding away from her face as though breaking a spell. Aurelia opened her eyes, her chest rising and falling in ragged breaths, only to see Hades already walking away. His broad shoulders moved with purpose, the long lines of his back rigid.

She stood frozen, her mind reeling and her body humming with an electric charge. The abruptness of his departure left her stunned, as though the air had been pulled from the room.

'What just happened?' The question echoed in her mind, but no coherent answer came.

She stared at his retreating figure, his dark silhouette disappearing into the dim corridor like a shadow vanishing into the night. Part of her wanted to call out to him, to demand an explanation for the fire he'd ignited only to walk away. Another part of her—perhaps the wiser part—remained rooted in place, unwilling to risk whatever madness had just transpired between them.

"What the hell was that?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.