Jace Strickland POV

  I left Thriexa’s quarters reluctantly, feeling the lingering warmth of her presence even as I stepped away. The connection between us remained, a soft hum in the back of my mind, but the physical distance felt strange after the closeness we had shared. Still, we both had responsibilities, and for now, I needed to focus.

  Returning to my own room, I moved toward the small storage compartment where I kept my few remaining possessions from my old life. My gaze landed on my worn leather jacket, the one I had practically lived in before everything changed. I ran my fingers over the smooth fabric, remembering the weight of it, the way it had always made me feel grounded. Now, it was just a reminder—a relic of who I had been.

  I sighed, setting it aside. Thriexa had suggested I wear brown, the color of the Elaron Nation. Every Eova wore the color of their nation as a symbol of identity, but I had resisted fully embracing it. Wearing brown felt like admitting that I had changed. That I was no longer just Jace Strickland, FBI agent, but something else entirely.

  But hadn’t I already made that choice?

  I pulled on a deep brown, fitted jacket—similar to the ones I used to wear as an agent, but tailored to fit my new form. It was sturdy yet flexible, something that felt like a blend of both worlds—my past and my present. For the first time, it didn’t feel like I was pretending to be something I wasn’t. This was who I was now. Even if I was the only one of my kind, I should own it. I let out a breath and adjusted the fit, glancing at my reflection. It suited me. Through our bond, I felt Thriexa’s pride, her quiet approval washing over me like warmth from the sun. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to—I could feel how much this meant to her.

  Guess it’s official then, I thought, smirking to myself before heading out to meet Tocci.

  Tocci was already waiting for me at the outer perimeter of the settlement, arms crossed as she scanned the security monitors. The early morning light cast a golden hue over her skin, but her usual amused expression was absent—she was in full focus mode.

  “You’re late,” she said without looking at me.

  I snorted. “I’m not late. You’re just early.”

  She finally turned, looking me up and down before arching a brow. “Brown? Finally accepting your Elaron status?”

  I shrugged. “Figured it was time.”

  Her lips quirked up slightly, but she didn’t push it further. Instead, she gestured toward the control panels in front of us. “Come on, let’s go over everything. I want to make sure we’re as secure as we can be.”

  Even with the distance between Thriexa and I, I could still sense her—not as strongly as last night or this morning, but a steady presence in the back of my mind, as if a part of her was always with me now.

  We started our rounds, checking the cameras, motion sensors, and perimeter defenses that the Bopro had installed. The system was efficient and discreet, blending seamlessly into the natural surroundings. As we walked, Tocci fell into a comfortable rhythm, explaining updates and tweaks they had made.

  It wasn’t until we reached the far end of the settlement that she suddenly stopped, her brow furrowing.

  “That’s weird,” she muttered.

  I frowned. “What?”

  She turned to me, her expression unreadable. “I just felt… something. Your emotions. But it wasn’t just you. It was you and something else—like two overlapping signals… am I feeling Thriexa?”

  My body tensed. “You can feel that?”

  “Yeah,” she said slowly, narrowing her eyes as she studied me. “It’s not normal. I’ve never felt something like this before. It’s like… you and Thriexa aren’t separate anymore.”

  I rubbed the back of my neck. “We’re not. Not completely. My abilities—when I let go, they merged us in a way I don’t fully understand.”

  She whistled lowly. “Well, that explains why I can’t read just one of you. You’re basically tangled together like some kind of cosmic love knot.”

  I groaned. “Do you have to call it that?”

  She grinned. “Oh, absolutely. It’s fascinating. And a little weird. But mostly fascinating.”

  I shook my head, amused despite myself. As the silence stretched between us, my thoughts drifted, lingering on the connection between Thriexa and me, how deep it had become.

  “Hey, Tocci,” I said after a moment. “Do the Eova have something like marriage? A ceremony for true partners?”

  Tocci raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. “Marriage? Not exactly. We don’t have contracts or legal bindings like humans do. But there is a ceremony to recognize true partners. It’s a declaration, a way to publicly acknowledge that two souls have chosen each other. It’s not just about love—it’s about unity, recognition among our people.”

  I nodded, considering her words. “And once it’s done, it’s official?”

  She smirked. “As official as it gets. You’re bonded, recognized by all Eova. There’s no higher commitment than that.”

  I let the thought settle in my mind. The idea wasn’t terrifying—it was… grounding.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Maybe it was something I needed to think about more seriously.

  Tocci nudged me with her elbow. “Something tells me you weren’t asking for research purposes.”

  I huffed a laugh. “Maybe not.”

  She grinned. “Well, whenever you’re ready for that talk, let me know. I’ll be first in line to give Thriexa a very dramatic speech about what she’s getting into.”

  I rolled my eyes, shaking my head, but I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips.

  Maybe this was something I really was ready for.

  Aizih Thriexa POV

  I could still feel Jace.

  Even though he had left earlier in the morning to oversee security with Tocci, his presence lingered in the back of my mind—a quiet warmth, a steady pulse that told me he was there. It wasn’t overwhelming like last night, nor as strong as when he held me this morning, but it was constant. A reminder that we were no longer just separate beings, but something intertwined, something more.

  Sam’s voice pulled me back to the present. “Thriexa, this is incredible. The Eova social media account is blowing up! We have people asking questions, sharing support, even humans wanting to visit Saliscana Island.”

  She practically radiated excitement as she walked beside me, her camera already recording. I had grown used to her following me through my daily routine, capturing moments of my life as Aizih. At first, the idea had felt strange—why would humans care about the small details of my day? But Sam had assured me that they did. They wanted to see the Eova as real people, not distant figures.

  “That’s good news,” I said, offering her a small smile. “We need as much goodwill as possible right now.”

  “Exactly!” Sam beamed. “Which is why today is perfect. You’re about to send off the Eova delegation. Let’s show the world exactly what they’re going to do.”

  I nodded as we approached the gathering space where the chosen ambassadors were preparing to depart. This mission was important—not just for us, but for humanity as well. These Eova would be the first to work directly within human society past the borders of the United States, forging relationships and proving our commitment to peace.

  I walked through the delegation, greeting each member, feeling a sense of pride and responsibility.

  The team consisted of representatives from nearly every nation. The Topzell translators would be essential for breaking language barriers and ensuring clear communication, while the Luxsor historians were tasked with sharing our past and fostering understanding. The Bopro scientists would collaborate with human engineers to integrate new technology, and the Jaret and Bedzut members would assist therapists and emotional wellness programs, helping humans understand and navigate their emotions in new ways. Klaro healers would continue their work of offering medical assistance where it was needed most, and the Zetill telepaths would ensure communication with me no matter where they were in the world. Lastly, the Borzork builders, whose strength and endurance would be invaluable, would assist in construction and infrastructure projects.

  The only absent nations were the Aurra and the Elaron—the Aurra now reduced to just my mother and me, and the Elaron with only Jace to represent it.

  Sam glanced around, her expression thoughtful. “You know what would make this even better? If we interviewed someone from each nation before they left. Let people hear from them directly.”

  I considered her suggestion, then nodded. “That’s a good idea. It would help humanity understand how much we want to help.”

  Sam grinned. “Perfect! Let’s get started.”

  As she set up her camera, I felt another faint pull from my bond with Jace—a flicker of curiosity, of something lingering on the edges of his mind. I let myself sink into it for a moment, smiling to myself.

  Even apart, we were still connected.

  She quickly adjusted the camera and set up a live broadcast, announcing to our growing audience that they could ask questions in real time. “Alright, everyone! We’re here with the Eova delegation, the team that will be traveling beyond Saliscana Island to assist humanity across the world. Today, we’re giving you a chance to meet them and ask your questions live.”

  I stood beside her, facing the camera. “Each of these Eova represents a different nation, and they are here to contribute in meaningful ways. We want you to understand who they are and why this mission is so important.”

  One by one, we introduced the representatives. The Topzell translator, Relin, stepped forward first, explaining how they would help bridge the language barriers between species, ensuring smoother communication. Next was Mivra, the Luxsor historian, who described the importance of sharing our past and fostering mutual understanding. The Bopro scientist, Talin, spoke about working with human engineers to create sustainable technology. Then Veska and Enori, the Eova of the Jaret and Bedzut nations, stood side by side as they addressed the camera together.

  “Our abilities complement one another perfectly,” Veska, the Jaret representative, explained. “With my dream weaving, I can help those who struggle with nightmares and suppressed trauma.”

  Enori nodded beside her. “And with my emotional weaving, I can soothe the mind, ease pain, and help people confront their emotions in a way that feels safe. Together, we hope to work with therapists and healers to help those who need it most.”

  The Klaro healer, Zari, reassured viewers that the Eova’s healing knowledge would be used to help all, regardless of species. Zetill telepath Oren explained how they would be maintaining contact with me to keep our people connected, while Borzork builder Haven discussed how their physical strength and resilience could assist with large-scale construction efforts.

  As the interviews continued, Sam kept an eye on the live comments, reading a few aloud. “‘How do we know the Eova aren’t here to take over?’” She frowned, shaking her head. “Really? After everything we’ve shown?”

  Relin, the Topzell translator, responded calmly. “We are not here to take—we are here to share. Our presence is not about dominance, but cooperation. We have lived on many planets before, and we have never sought to rule. We only seek to belong.”

  Another question popped up. “‘What’s something you hope to learn from humans?’”

  Mivra smiled thoughtfully. “We have spent generations traveling, always moving from one planet to the next. I hope to learn what it means to truly integrate, to be part of a world for more than just a single lifetime. Whether we stay or eventually leave, I want to understand what it means to belong, even if only for a time.”

  Sam turned to me, lowering the camera slightly. “Thriexa, any final words before the delegation departs?”

  I looked at the Eova standing before me, the first of our people to step beyond the safety of this island, into the unknown, but not alone. “This is a moment of trust,” I said. “For too long, the Eova have remained separate, fearful of being rejected. But today, we take a step forward—together. I believe in this mission, and I believe in all of you.”

  The delegation stood taller at my words, and through my bond, I felt Jace’s quiet support, his pride in what we were accomplishing.

  Sam ended the live stream, exhaling as she set the camera down. “That was amazing. The response is overwhelming. People are listening.”

  I nodded, watching as the delegation prepared to board the transport. “Then let’s give them something worth listening to.”

  As I watched them depart, a sense of hope filled me. We were finally moving forward.