The silence between them stretched comfortably as they drove through the quiet streets, the occasional car passing by.
Sophia glanced at him from the corner of her eye, the warmth of his presence settling the tension she carried from the day.
It had become a routine—him picking her up, no questions asked—and she couldn't help but feel grateful, knowing that beneath his aloof exterior, he was trying to support her without making a show of it.
"Thanks to you," she began after a moment, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her jacket, "I might finally be able to get my own apartment. I don't want to keep staying at Aurora's forever. I feel like I'm burdening her. Also, I won't be a burden to you and I would have enough for my transportation fares."
Hades shot her a glance, one brow raised. "Did I ever say you were a burden?" His tone was polite, but there was a quiet seriousness to it that made Sophia freeze for a second.
She blinked, taken aback.
"No... you didn't," she said, her voice uncertain.
She bit her lip and turned to look out the window, watching the city lights blur past.
Inwardly, her heart raced, a mix of emotions swirling inside her.
The mate bond was always there, simmering beneath the surface, but it wasn't just that. Her old feelings—those she thought she had buried—were starting to resurface.
Hades was caring for her, going out of his way to make sure she wasn't alone or stranded, but there was Aurora, always looming in the back of her mind.
She knew Hades had feelings for Aurora; it wasn't a secret. And as much as she appreciated his kindness, the thought of betraying Aurora, even in her heart, felt wrong.
The silence lingered between them, the air thick with unspoken words.
Hades's voice broke through it. "My place?"
Sophia's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with surprise.
"His place?"
Her mind raced.
Why was he suddenly suggesting that?
Did he want something more from her?
Her thoughts spiraled as she tried to piece together what he could possibly mean.
"No," she said quickly, her voice firm, almost too sharp. "No, just drop me off right away."
There was no hesitation in her tone, though her heart pounded in her chest.
She couldn't allow herself to believe that he wanted anything more than to help her out of a sense of duty—or worse, that he only saw her as a sex tool.
Hades glanced at her, then laughed, a soft, genuine sound that caught her off guard.
"No?" he echoed, clearly amused. "I think you've misunderstood."
Sophia frowned, her confusion deepening. "Misunderstood?"
Her cheeks flushed as she realized what he was implying. "I didn't—no, I didn't mean that. I wasn't assuming anything."
She stumbled over her words, trying to cover her tracks, but the heat of embarrassment was already rising up her neck.
Hades turned his attention back to the road, his lips still curled into a faint smile.
"Relax. I wasn't suggesting anything inappropriate," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "I just wanted to introduce you to someone I'm meeting in a few hours. Someone who might help you."
Sophia's brow furrowed in confusion. "Someone? What are you talking about?"
He didn't respond right away, focusing on navigating the winding streets.
When he finally spoke again, his tone was casual, almost nonchalant. "I heard about your old documentary work. And the books you were working on about witches. They never got the attention they deserved, did they?"
Sophia's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't talked about that part of her life in years, and yet, here he was, bringing it up like it was common knowledge. "How... how do you know about that?"
"I have my ways," Hades said simply.
He glanced at her again, reading the surprise in her expression. "I figured you could use a little help getting those projects back on track."
For a moment, she was speechless.
Her mind raced back to the days when she had been so passionate about her work, when she had poured her heart and soul into those documentaries and writings, only to have them fall into obscurity.
No one had cared about her research, her deep dives into the history of witches, and the thought of trying to revive it had always felt impossible.
But now... now Hades was offering her a way back into that world.
Inwardly, Sophia's heart swelled with gratitude. "But no one wants to see or read that," she said, her voice soft, almost defeated.
Hades's lips quirked into a smile. "Wait and see," he said, his tone carrying a quiet confidence that sent a thrill through her.
"Wait until I invest in it," he thought to himself, but he didn't say it aloud.
Sophia felt a glimmer of hope, something she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, things were finally starting to turn in her favor.
---
The drive to Hades's mansion was filled with an unusual quietness.
Sophia stared out of the window, her thoughts swirling.
The familiar road to his mansion brought back memories she thought she had buried—nights filled with passion, where their connection had felt electric, unbreakable.
But tonight was different. They were here for business, nothing more.
When they arrived at the grand estate, Sophia stepped out of the car, her eyes sweeping over the mansion's entrance.
It looked the same, yet everything felt different. She reminded herself that she wasn't here for him or for any of the unresolved feelings lingering between them.
She was here because he was helping her.
As Hades led her inside, he gave her a brief nod before heading upstairs without a word.
Sophia watched him go, feeling the slight tension between them.
But before she could dwell on it, his head maid approached, smiling warmly.
"You must be tired after a long day at work," the maid said kindly. "Would you like to freshen up? There's a guest room prepared for you, and I can style your hair if you'd like."