The command in his voice was not loud, but it was absolute. It wasn't a request; it was a force of nature, like gravity deciding to speak. Elena's knees buckled first. There was no conscious thought, no moment of decision. It was a primal instinct, a bone-deep recognition of something so far above her it was pointless to even consider standing. She dropped to the scorched, now-marbled floor, her head bowing.
A second later, Leo followed, a soft gasp escaping his lips as he knelt.
Zeus watched them, his head still tilted. The confusion in his stormy eyes deepened. Mortals always showed respect, but this… this was the deference given to a king they believed in utterly. The world felt wrong, but their fear felt right.
"Speak," he said, the word gentle but allowing no refusal.
