Electric Blue Rose - Book One. [COMPLETED] Undergoing Edits

Chapter Thirty-Three - The Meeting of Parents

Jade, Amorio, and Craig arrived after breakfast the following day. Amorio and Craig were shown up to their room to get dressed for the day's events. Jade also made her way up to hers, followed by what was now considered her staff team. They started on her hair, washing it and brushing through all the tangles. They separated the top layer of her hair, tying it and letting it lay on top of the rest of her hair that they brushed behind her. The dress they laid out today was an emerald green, off-the-shoulder, v-cut silk dress. They placed a shoulder necklace over her, letting gemstones decorate the dress's bodice. Her circlet returned to her forehead, and long bracelets covered her forearms. Jade opened the door to her bedroom. She was led down the stairs by her staff. Amorio and Craig both stood still at her sight as she approached the lounge room where they sat and talked with Topaz. Their eyes were wide as they stared. Her cheeks warmed at their reactions.

"Jade," Amorio said breathlessly, "you look beautiful."

"The most radiant princess I've ever seen," Craig said.

"Thank you," she smiled, bowing her head. Amorio crossed to her and helped her over to sit with them. Topaz smiled at her.

"So, Amorio and Craig told me great stories about you," Topaz explained. "It's so great to see how much support you have, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," Jade smiled.

"Your friends should be arriving a bit later," Topaz explained, "I thought it best if we had some private time to get to know one another first." Jade nodded.

They spent the next few hours talking, learning about each other, and swapping stories about Jade. She fidgeted with her dress as they continued to talk about her. Amorio and Topaz hit it off. It was all going better than she could've imagined. Craig smiled at her, pleased that she was happy. The hours that passed seemed like minutes, her heart feeling full at this moment. Jade never realized how big a hole was inside of her from not knowing the truth about her birth father, Topaz.

"Your Enlightened," they turned to one of his staff, "your guests have arrived."

Jade's stomach started to turn. It would be the first time they would see her dressed this way, other than Alex. The Enlightened stood up and waved for them to bring them in. Amorio and Craig helped Jade stand, looking at her with such adornment. Alex led the rest of them in, his eyes steady on her until he turned his attention to Joe. It was Edge's stares that made her heartbeat quicken. Edge pulled her hand up and kissed it. Jade laughed, her smile widening.

"Amorio, Craig, your Enlightened," Edge said, bowing with respect. "I'm Edge, Jade's." He froze, and she knew they hadn't officially labeled their relationship. His face flushed, and he looked to her for some reassurance.

"My boyfriend," Jade said, posing more of a question. Edge smiled, seeming pleased by her words.

"Ah, solid shoulders," the Enlightened examined him approvingly. "It's nice to meet you, Edge."

"This is Joe and Amelia," Jade said, introducing them. Amorio and Craig glanced at each other, likely after matching Joe's face to the name. "Of course, you met Alex."

"It's an honor, your Enlightened," Joe said, bowing. Amelia nodded, her nerves getting her best, and she joined Joe in nodding.

"The honor is mine. Now come relax," Topaz said, gesturing for the seating around them.

"Jade, you look beautiful," Joe said, crossing to her. "Wow."

"Thanks, Joe. You look great too," Jade smiled.

"I brought your missing classwork," Amelia said, "but yes, Joe's right, you look beautiful."

"Thank you," Jade laughed, she reached for the assignments, but another staff member grabbed them.