As soon as Alec took over, Adam quieted, letting Alec handle the situation. He was shaking slightly from nerves after speaking to an authority figure like that, and clenched his hands in order to hide it. Despite how Alec had said that he wasn’t good with people, Adam thought he was a pretty decent diplomat. Better than Adam, at any rate.

He shifted a little closer to Alec, ready to defend him again if Maryse resumed criticizing. They were partners now, and Adam intended to see to it that Alec regained his place as Head of the Institute.