After dinner, everyone went to their rooms. The dining room had been lively during the meal, with the twins chattering about the videos and how much they liked the pasta, Vale and Vera talking about the video they'd uploaded, and Ethan sharing a few stories from work to keep things light. Jace had mostly listened, stealing glances at Elias, while Viktor sat at the head of the table, quiet but watchful.
The food was all gone... plates scraped clean, bread basket empty... and the table cleared with everyone's help. Viktor even gave Ethan and Jace a guest room for the night, down the hall from the twins, with fresh towels and everything they needed. "Make yourselves comfortable," he said, his voice neutral. "Leave in the morning when it's safe."
Ethan thanked him, and Jace nodded gratefully, though he felt a bit out of place in the big house.
