The air grew colder the deeper they went. Shadows stretched long over the cavern walls, swallowing the last traces of sunlight that dared to follow them underground. Will Solace’s hand never left Nico’s, his fingers warm against the chill that clung to everything in the Underworld.

Nico had been silent for most of the descent — which wasn’t unusual, but this silence was heavier, threaded with nerves instead of thought. His shoulders were tense, his expression unreadable.

“You don’t have to look so scared,” Will said softly, trying to keep his voice light even though the echo made it sound small in the endless dark.

Nico gave a dry laugh. “Will, you’re about to meet my dad. The literal god of the dead. The ruler of this entire place. He’s not exactly a ‘bring your boyfriend home for dinner’ type.”

“Maybe he’s just misunderstood,” Will said, nudging him playfully.

Nico arched a brow. “He judges souls for eternity.”

“Okay, fair,” Will admitted with a grin. “But I’m a healer — maybe I can patch up your family’s public image.”

That earned him a quiet chuckle, and Will took that as a win.

As they stepped through the obsidian gates, two towering skeleton guards bowed low and let them pass. The throne room loomed ahead — vast, carved from black stone, its ceiling lined with faintly glowing minerals that looked like trapped starlight. A cold wind swept across the floor, carrying whispers that faded as quickly as they came.

And there, seated upon his throne, was Hades.

The god’s presence filled the space like gravity itself — dark hair, sharp features, eyes that seemed to hold both patience and eternity. When his gaze lifted, Will felt it — not cruel or furious, but impossibly ancient, assessing him in a single glance.

“Nicholas,” Hades said, his voice smooth and deep, echoing like it came from the walls themselves. “You’ve brought… a guest.”