Hades's voice was quiet. But his group picked the energy.
Rowan and Milo exchanged glances. Gavin, ever the unperturbed observer, merely blinked slowly. No one dared answer, the unspoken question hanging heavy in the air.
Hades hadn't moved from his seat. His hands were still folded in front of him, a picture of deceptively calm power, but now one finger tapped, a slow, relentless, threatening rhythm on the polished wooden armrest of his chair.
His eyes were on Alice.
She was still laughing faintly as she pulled the velcro strap from her leg, Dawin still crouched beside her, his hand near her ankle as he helped untie it. They made a perfect, infuriating picture of camaraderie and triumph.
"You told me this was a wellness event," Hades said to no one in particular, his voice low, deceptively even.
Rowan cleared his throat nervously. "It… it is, boss."
"That," Hades continued, his gaze never leaving Alice, "was not wellness."
