Chapter 108: Chapter 108: A Warm Atmosphere

Chapter 108:

A Warm Atmosphere

It had been decided. Jace would be knighted as part of his reward for saving Princess Evelyn. Of course, she adamantly insisted he still call her Evie. She had lived her life as Evelyn, or Evie to her friends. She had a few of them, telling Jace all about it before he had to leave.

As a courtesy, he stayed for a while because of Evelyn's insistence, but also The Royalty. He learned that The Kings name was Dorian Val Rosemist. He had married into the Rosemist Family, and so took on the "Val" instead of "Vel" in his name. He was friendly, as was Camilla.

Of course, he'd be blind and foolish if he didn't sense the danger both of them gave off. Especially Camilla. He knew, they were both Ascended. While Ascended were rare, among the Elven Race they were a lot more common. Of course, most are recruited by corporations or served for guards of the rich. So, you didn't often see them on the streets regardless.

Jace had been informed before he left that while he was gifted the insignia pin, he should keep it hidden for now. It would attract too much attention. Of course, he was also instructed to use it whenever he needed, especially to see them. He was their daughter's savior after all.

The last thing he was told before he left was about the Knighting Ceremony. It would be held at Radiance and he would be informed of the time. Even though it would be a private ceremony there were still things to prepared. Balek would bring the sword and Jace would bring himself as well as his fiances. The Elder Council also had to be informed.

It would be the first high function Jace had ever attended, and it made him wonder just who Balek had been within The Nobles before he left. Jace knew he had been a member, but to think he acted as friendly as he did with The Royalty. To the point that Camilla even knew Liana. His suspicions arose but he put them to rest for now.

Jace had only one thought on his mind right now. To return to home and those who awaited him. It was a bittersweet parting from Evelyn, who clung to his leg, not wanting him to go. It took a lot of coaxing and a promise to see each other again before she relented.

-----

Jace was immediately bombarded the moment he got home. Their hugs and kisses were overwhelming, with Selene holding him the longest. He could feel that she missed him, even though had he just been gone for a day.

He held them close, basking in their warmth and love. "It's good to be home..." Jace smiled as he buried his head against them. He took in Selene's aroma, a pleasant floral scent mixed with the soft earthy tones of Liana, and clean citrust smell of Kiera. It was what told him he was home.

"Jace, there's something we need to talk to you about," Liana informed him as they sat down in the living room.

"Is everything alright?" Jace wondered, the pit of his stomach suddenly sinking at her words.

"Oh! Of course," she smiled sweetly, "It's nothing horrible, I promise you."

Jace was a bit wary, but if Liana told him it wasn't anything horrible, then he was apt to believe it. She wouldn't lie to him like that.

"I see, that's good," Jace smiled, relieved, "To be honest, I also have something to tell all of you."

"Oh?" Kiera seemed quite intrigued, "I guess it's our turn to ask if everything is alright."

She laughed, smiling playfully and giving him a teasing wink.

"Heh, I guess so," Jace stated, leaning back into the comfort of the recliner, "Do you want to go first, or should I?"

The three girls looked at each other, having a silent conversation, before nodding.

"We're quite curious what you have to say," Selene spoke up, her angelic voice soothing to his ears, "Did something happen on the job? I felt...something warm, almost calm."

"I also sense something has changed in you," Kiera intoned, lounging back on the couch with an alluring, curious expression, "Selene has as well."

Selene nodded, leaning back in the recliner opposit of his. She rested her head against her propped up hand. Her eyes full of curiosity and...something else. It was like her eyes would devour him. He's noticed it more and more. Even through their connection there has been times where he felt like he would be swallowed whole.

It was a strange, yet not unpleasant feeling. Honestly, it made him rather self-conscious and shy. Liana sat opposite Kiera on the couch, closest to Jace. She seemed to have a knowing expression, but kept quiet. "Something is definitely going on..." Jace thought, but pushed it to the side for now. Whatever it was, perhaps it had to do with what they wanted to talk to him about.

"Yeah, I've felt...calmer," Jace admitted, "Everything feels crisp and more vibrant, but that's not what I wanted to talk about."

"What is it, then?" Liana asked, crossing her legs and leaning towards Jace, "You do seem to be a bit out of it as well."

"Do I?" Jace sighed, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, "I guess it was obvious. I've been out of sorts for a while now. The job I went on was...more than it seemed."

Jace began to explain in detail everything about the job. From the messages he received after accepting to his arrival in Pendleton. How he rescued Evelyn with his newfound skill to, yes, the nosebleed. He was a bit nervous explaining that part, but their tense expressions relaxed quickly as he told them how he handled it. They were relieved and so was he.

Then came the part of explaining his return with Evelyn. Their faces softened as he spoke, and through his bond with Selene, he was able to feel how tender she felt at his story. When he talked about Evelyn, he noticed how gentle he was with his words. She had an effect on him and his angels noticed.

Things took an interesting turn when he told them about his meeting at Radiance. Liana seemed to pout, stating her father should have told her. Even more so when Jace explained that he met The King and Queen of The Nobles.

"Auntie Camilla!?" Liana exclaimed, her eyes wide, "That father of mine! He didn't tell me she was visiting...."

"Wait...Auntie?" Jace felt something from the way she spoke, "You don't mean like, actual aunt, right? You mean like how I call Greeneyes, Auntie Zahra?"

Liana then got an amused look on her face, as if some big revelation was being made. She propped herself up rather proudly, a smug smile on her face.

"Nope!" She exclaimed giddily, "Real Auntie. She's my father's sister."

"I'm sorry, she's what," Jace could only stare in disbelief.

Liana was beaming proudly at this revelation. "Liana...is royalty?" Jace had known about her mother's origins, but he never really questioned Balek's. He had been in The Nobles, and that's where he met Nadine. Jace thought he must have taken Nadine's last name when he married her.

"I...had no idea," Jace slumped back, rather overwhelmed with this revelation, "Damn. Here I thought Balek was just some normal citizen who joined The Nobles when he was young."

"Heheh," Liana giggled, quite amused, "Nope, but he doesn't really like to talk about it. It wasn't that important to who he was, or who I am. So, please...Jace."

She reached over her hand, placing it upon his gently. A tender touch with an even more tender gaze.

"Don't change how you see us..." She was almost pleading, which broke his heart, "I don't want you to treat us differently because of this..."

Jace looked around the room. His gaze passing over Selene and Kiera. Selene seemed to be thinking of something while Kiera seemed just as surprised as he was. "I guess there's something about Liana that even she didn't know..." Jace took a breath, casting his gaze back upon Liana.

Placing his other hand over hers, he held it tightly.

"Of course," Jace smiled sweetly, "You'll always be Liana to me. From the little girl who followed me around, making sure I was alright, to the beautiful woman who I love with all my heart, and who still makes sure I'm alright. Your bloodline doesn't define you. You define you."

Liana blushed, smiling sheepishly.

"...Thank you," Liana spoke softly, relief in her voice, "That means a lot, Jace."

He was definitely surprised at this revelation, and hoped to learn more, but for now he had told them everything. Including the Knighting Ceremony that was to be held some time, but he wasn't sure when.

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"Jace, Liana," Selene spoke up suddenly, a slight seriousness to her tone, "You met Queen Camilla, right? And you're...her niece?"

The two of them nodded. Taking a deep breath, Selene sighed as she placed her hand over her face. Jace could feel some conflict within his heart from their bond.

"What's wrong?" Jace asked out of concern.

"It's nothing, just..." Selene tried to dismiss it, but as she looked towards Jace, it seemed she couldn't lie, "I've met her. She was at a few of my father's functions when I was younger."

"Really?" Liana inquired, "Did anything happen between you two?"

"Not...exactly," Selene sounded apprehensive, "It's just...I'm a bit more nervous now."

It was at this moment that Jace saw the red of her ears. "She's blushing. Is she...flustered?" Jace couldn't help but find her incredibly cute in this moment. She was trying to hide her flustered face behind her hand, but couldn't. It was an amazing sight to him who had seen her when she barely made any expressions. Now, she was showing her emotions in such a way that his heart couldn't do anything but melt at the sight.

"It's because she's her aunt, isn't it?" Jace asked, to which she playfully glared at him before nodding.

He couldn't help but smile at this side of her. Standing up, he made his way over to her, looking down at her in a rather amused fashion. Right now, she was the most adorable thing he's ever seen.

"D-Don't look at me like that..." Selene stated with a glare, "Is it that weird I want to make a good impression on your family? The family I'll be a part of?"

"...No, it's not," Jace told her, wrapping his arms around her much to her surprise, "I simply find it incredibly adorable. The fact you can make such an expression."

"Sh-Shut up..." Selene pouted into his chest, though didn't resist his embrace.

In fact, she seemed to lean more into it than normal. It was comforting, and he loved the feeling of her against him. In this moment, their connection flared. "I want him..." Her thoughts came through strong and clear, his face turning completely red at how lustful the words were.

"S-Selene...?" Jace inquired, but she feigned ignorance.

"...Just hold me, you idiot," Selene told him, and he happily obliged.

It was for a brief moment, but both of them felt the flare up in their connection. It embarrassed her, so he said nothing about it. He simply did what he was told, and held her.

-----

After everything settled, Jace returned to his seat and Selene sat with a soft smile upon her face. Liana and Kiera looked on with soft expressions filled with love and understanding. Jace realized that he had been a little anxious when the mood in the room had changed. However, everything was so warm.

He knew this stemmed from his father. When he lived with him, the mood was always tense. So, any changes were anxiety inducing. This made him even more grateful for the girls. His angels.

They never made him feel like anything was wrong, and the atmosphere was almost always warm and filled with love. This only enhanced as Jace was told the news they wished to share.

"Jace, now that I'm head of the St.Claire Family, some thing will be changing," Selene began, filling his heart with a bit of anxiety, "Don't worry. I'm not leaving or anything. Well, to be more precise, I'm not going anywhere without you. We're moving. All of us."

"Moving?" The anxiety in Jace's heart relaxed a bit and was replaced by curiosity, "Where? Is the loft not enough, or...?"

"No, it's not that," Liana shook her head, "We're doing so for you."

"Me?" Jace felt a little confused and sad, "Is something wrong? Am I not-"

"Stop," Kiera interrupted gently, "We know your mind is probably racing. Remember, we told you it's nothing horrible."

"Right...Sorry," Jace chuckled awkwardly at being seen through so easily, "So, then what's up?"

"Well, love," Selene explained with a gentle smile, "Remember how you told me before that you wanted to move to New Eden one day so that your mother would get the treatment she needs?"

"...Yeah, but she's getting that," Jace was honestly trying to hold back his excitement, as well as making sure everything was okay, "So, do we have to move?"

"Do you not want to?" Liana asked, eyeing him knowingly, "You can't hide your excitement from me. Honestly, I didn't think you'd resist this much."

"It's not that I'm resisting..." Jace shifted in his seat, "I just...want to know if it's okay? New Eden is somewhere I'm out of place. We all are. I remember that night when we went out for dinner..."

The room grew silent, and before I knew it, three pairs of arms were wrapped around me. Looking up in surprise, Selene, Kiera, and Liana were all holding him in a comforting embrace.

"W-What's all this?" Jace wondered, blushing from embarrassment.

"You fool," Liana muttered, "You're never out of place. Who cares what those stuck up bastards think?"

"Liana is right," Selene intoned softly, "Do you forget who you're engaged to? It is they who are out of place. You are my fiance. Master of the St.Claire Family."

"I-I am?" Jace never really gave it a lot of thought since that night, "I guess I am, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are," Kiera added, laughing lightly, "Honestly, Hun. We know you have your reservations and insecurities, but you're stronger than that, right?"

They were right, he was. Until recently, he never really cared what people thought of him. Yet, when he got together with his angels, he became more self-conscious. He wanted to make them proud.

That night at dinner, they said something similar. He was able to hold his head high as he walked that restaurant, but it didn't stop others from realizing where he was from. He assumed that because of that, he was a bit more sensitive than before. Once again, however, they reminded him of who he was and just who he had around him.

"I guess I seemed to have forgotten," Jace stated quietly, his voice filled with affection; wrapping his arms around theirs, he held them tightly, "I have the most amazing women in the world as my fiancés. I just need to get used to it, won't I?"

"That you will," Selene mused, though her tone took on a deadly glint, "And if anyone says anything rude, well..."

She didn't need to finish her sentence, as the mood and sinister expressions of the three women said everything. In that moment, he almost felt sorry for the hapless fools who crossed these women. The keyword was almost, for he was so overwhelmed by their warmth and love that it melted away quite quickly.

His eyes became hardened with an unwavering, steely determination. Something had definitely changed within him again. He looked forward to moving now, excited at all the new things in his life.

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