Grey Blood - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Angelina wasn't sure how much time had passed since she had been added to the group chat, but she found herself checking it every few minutes.
Not because she expected anything.
But because it was new.
Because for the first time, she had a place where people actually wanted to talk to her.
As she sat on the couch, scrolling through the messages, another one popped up.
Caleb: Who's up for a game night?
Jace: Only if we don't let Damien pick the game. Last time he made us play Monopoly, and Leo nearly flipped the board.
Leo: That's because Jace kept stealing from the bank.
Jace: There's no proof.
Angelina's lips twitched.
The back-and-forth banter felt so natural.
So normal.
She hesitated for a moment before typing.
Angelina: What kind of games?
It was quiet for about two seconds.
And then—
Caleb: SHE'S IN.
Jace: Everyone cancel your plans. It's happening.
Leo: I'll set it up.
Damien: Angel, if you need an escape plan, blink twice.
Alec: No one keeps her up late. She needs rest.
Elias: Agreed. No more than an hour.
Angelina stared at her screen, warmth bubbling in her chest.
She had never really played games before.
She wasn't sure if she'd even be good at it.
But...
She wanted to try.
Angelina had never been to a game night before.
It was a simple thing. Just sitting together, playing, laughing.
Yet, as she sat cross-legged on the plush carpet in the massive living room, she felt like she was stepping into something new.
Leo and Caleb were setting up the board game, while Jace was arguing with Damien about house rules.
Nikolai sat at the far end of the couch, arms crossed, watching the chaos with his usual disinterested expression.
And when Angelina hesitated at the edge of the group, Damien was the one who noticed first.
"Come here, Angel," he said, patting the space beside him. "You don't want to sit next to Jace. He's a cheater."
Jace gasped. "That's slander."
Damien gave him a pointed look. "You literally stole money from the bank in Monopoly last time."
"There is no proof."
Caleb snorted. "The proof was Dad nearly throwing you out the window."
Angelina smiled.
She wasn't used to this kind of loudness.
The kind that wasn't dangerous.
The kind that wasn't meant to hurt.
It was playful.
And for the first time, she was a part of it.
"Alright, Bunny," Jace said, handing her the dice. "You're up first."
Angelina hesitated. "What do I do?"
"Just roll," Leo said, his voice gentle. "We'll walk you through the rest."
Taking a deep breath, she rolled.
The dice clattered against the board, landing on eight.
Leo smiled. "Good roll, Little Star."
Damien ruffled her hair. "See? You're already a pro."
Angelina's cheeks warmed, but before she could say anything, Caleb groaned.
"Nooo," he whined, dropping his head dramatically onto the table. "That means she gets Boardwalk. I was saving up for that!"
Angelina blinked. "I can give it to you if you—"
"NO."
All of her brothers answered at once.
She flinched slightly, eyes widening.
Leo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Angelina, you don't just give away Boardwalk."
Caleb pouted. "But—"
"No," Jace cut in. "She earned it."
Angelina glanced between them, the warmth in her chest growing stronger.
They weren't angry.
They weren't going to punish her.
They were just... playing.
And for the first time, she was allowed to play, too.
It didn't take long for things to spiral into utter disaster.
Caleb owed Damien rent and tried to get out of it by making puppy-dog eyes.
Jace landed in jail and kept whining about how unfair life was.
Leo was somehow winning without trying.
And Nikolai?
He just sat back and watched.
Angelina stole a glance at him. He wasn't playing, but he also wasn't leaving.
Right as Angelina was collecting more properties, her phone buzzed.
She looked down.
Elias: It's been an hour. Time to wrap up.
Jace groaned. "Seriously? He has a sixth sense or something?"
Leo smirked. "He's just obsessed."
Angelina hesitated before typing.
Angelina: Almost done.
Elias's reply was immediate.
Elias: Fifteen more minutes. No more.
Caleb sighed dramatically. "He doesn't let us have any fun."
Angelina smiled.
Her chest felt full.
By the time game night ended, Angelina's cheeks hurt from smiling.
It was a strange feeling—one she wasn't quite used to.
Not because she never smiled before.
But because, for once, it wasn't forced.
It wasn't something she did to make others comfortable.
It was just... real.
As the others started packing up the game, Angelina stood up, stretching.
She was about to head upstairs when she heard Leo's voice behind her.
"Not so fast, Little Star."
She turned, blinking at him.
Leo smirked, ruffling her hair. "You didn't think you could just go to bed without a proper goodnight, did you?"
Before she could answer, Caleb popped up next to him. "Yeah, Bunny. That's against the rules."
Angelina tilted her head. "There are rules?"
"Of course," Damien said as he approached, crossing his arms. "And rule number one is—you never go to bed without at least one of us tucking you in."
Angelina blinked. "That's... a rule?"
"It is now," Jace said, tossing an arm around her shoulder.
She hesitated, unsure of what to say.
No one had ever cared whether she went to sleep alone.
No one had ever noticed.
And now... all of them did.
As Leo and Caleb playfully argued over who would walk her upstairs, Angelina's gaze flickered toward the couch.
Nikolai.
He wasn't scowling.
He wasn't rolling his eyes.
But he also wasn't joining in.
She swallowed, gathering her courage before softly asking, "Aren't you coming too?"
The room went quiet.
Jace and Caleb exchanged looks.
Nikolai's jaw tensed, but after a moment, he exhaled.
"...Fine."
The journey to Angelina's room was noisy.
Leo and Caleb were arguing—again.
Jace kept throwing in dramatic one-liners.
Damien was trying (and failing) to keep them under control.
And Nikolai?
He was trailing behind, silent as ever.
Angelina... didn't mind the noise.
It was different from what she was used to.
This wasn't the kind of loud that came with fear.
It wasn't the kind that made her shrink into herself.
By the time they reached her room, Angelina had no idea what was about to happen.
Apparently, neither did they.
"Okay," Caleb said, flopping onto her bed. "How does this work?"
Leo hummed. "Well, first, we have to make sure she's comfortable."
Damien nodded. "And that she has enough pillows."
Jace smirked. "And that she isn't plotting to run away."
Angelina blinked. "Why would I—"
"Because you're tiny," Jace said, "and tiny people do unpredictable things."
She sighed.
Damien tsked. "Jace, she isn't a flight risk."
Jace crossed his arms. "That's exactly what a flight risk would say."
Angelina hid her smile behind her hand.
This was ridiculous.
But it was also... kind of nice.
Eventually, they did settle down.
Leo adjusted her blanket.
Caleb made sure her favorite stuffed animal was close.
Damien smoothed her hair, his usual mother-hen energy in full force.
Even Jace—after all his teasing—gave her a soft "Night, Bunny."
Nikolai lingered by the door, eyes unreadable.
Angelina met his gaze.
She half-expected him to leave.
But instead, he muttered, "Night, trouble."
Angelina's breath caught.
As the boys finally left, Angelina curled up under her blankets.
She wasn't trapped in the darkness of a cold, empty house.
She wasn't listening for footsteps she feared.
She wasn't holding back tears, too scared to make a sound.