Hermes didn't even realize he'd stood up until his chair clattered back against the wall. The TV glow painted his face, Raphael's calm golden eyes staring down like judgment.
"That…" Hermes' voice cracked. He clenched his fists, shaking. "That son of a—"
"Calm down," Ymir cut in, his tone sharp, controlled.
"Calm down?" Hermes spun toward him. His chest heaved like it might tear open. "He just… he just outed me to the entire world! He—he—"
Ymir's eyes narrowed. "You knew this was coming."
Hermes froze. "What?"
"You thought you could hide forever?" Ymir's voice was flat, like steel dragged across ice. "From someone in a rival guild, no less? Raphael had leverage. It was only a matter of time before he used it."
Hermes wanted to scream, to punch something, to claw at the walls until they cracked. But Ymir's words dug deeper than any blow. His legs felt weak. He collapsed back onto the couch.
The TV droned on, Raphael's voice cutting like a knife.
