Aizih Thriexa POV

  The soft glow of morning light filtered through the windows, casting warm hues over the room. The air was still, heavy with the lingering warmth of the night before. I shifted slightly, the cool sheets contrasting against my skin, and beside me, Jace stirred.

  I turned my head, watching as he blinked awake, his body stretching slightly before relaxing again. His blue eyes met mine, and for a moment, there was nothing but contentment between us.

  “Good morning, Aizih Thriexa,” he murmured, his voice laced with sleep.

  I smirked, propping myself up on one elbow. “I think I like the way that sounds.”

  His lips curved into a lazy grin, but before he could say anything else, a chime echoed through the room. He sighed, reaching for his phone on the bedside table, his expression shifting as he read the message.

  “I’ve been summoned,” he said, his voice now laced with something heavier. “The President wants me to debrief him.”

  I frowned, rolling onto my side, snuggling closer to him as I draped an arm over his chest. “You don’t have to go,” I murmured, my fingers tracing lazy patterns over his skin. “You’re Eova now. Stay here…” I let my voice dip slightly, teasing. “I can think of much better ways to spend the morning than meeting with human politicians.”

  Jace chuckled, turning onto his side to face me. “So that means you’re my leader now?”

  I smirked, pressing closer, draping a leg over his as I ran my fingers lightly down his chest. “Maybe I should be. Would that be such a bad thing?” My voice was low, teasing, as I let my fingers trace the markings on his skin, feeling the warmth radiating from him.

  Jace hummed thoughtfully, though I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. “I don’t know. You can be pretty demanding.”

  I arched a brow. “Would you prefer if I wasn’t?”

  He let out a quiet laugh. “I didn’t say that.”

  I smirked, letting my hand slide up to his neck, my thumb grazing his jawline. “Then stay. Just a little longer. The President can wait.”

  Jace exhaled, his hands settling on my waist. “You’re making this really difficult.”

  I tilted my head, my lips hovering just inches from his. “Good.”

  For a moment, it felt like he might actually give in. His fingers flexed against my skin, his breath warm against my cheek. But then his phone buzzed again, breaking the moment. He groaned, pressing his forehead against mine. “You’re trouble.”

  I laughed, pulling away just slightly, though I let my fingers linger on his skin. “And yet, you still love me.”

  Jace sighed dramatically as he finally sat up, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I do.”

  I nudged him playfully, but the lightheartedness faded as his expression turned more serious. “But I am still a citizen of the United States, Thriexa. I need to face this, see how they react to me now.”

  I studied him for a long moment, sensing the undercurrent of unease beneath his words. He wasn’t just worried about the debriefing—he was wondering how the President, how humanity itself, would see him now. Would they still consider him one of their own, or would they see him as something else?

  I reached out, taking his hand in mine. “Then invite him here.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow. “You want the President to come to Saliscana Island?”

  I nodded. “This is bigger than just you, Jace. He needs to see what’s happening with his own eyes. This island is the center of everything now. Let him come to us.”

  Jace considered it for a long moment before exhaling. “It’s not a bad idea. I’ll send the message.”…

  The response came quicker than expected. The President agreed to visit Saliscana Island in person. Security would be arranged, but he wanted to see things for himself. It was the best possible outcome.

  When the transport ship landed on the island, I stood beside Jace, Tocci, Henry, and Trenal, waiting as the doors opened. The moment the President stepped out, his gaze swept over the landscape, his expression unreadable. His attention then landed on Jace—and for a moment, there was no recognition in his eyes.

  “Strickland?” he finally said, disbelief laced in his tone.

  Jace gave a small, knowing smile. “It’s me, sir.”

  The President studied him, his gaze flickering over the changes in his features, the markings on his arms, the energy that now radiated from him. His gaze then shifted to me, Tocci, and Trenal, his brow furrowing slightly. “You all look different. This isn’t how you appeared the last time we met.”

  I stepped forward slightly, keeping my tone measured and respectful. “That is because the Eova no longer have to take on human forms to live on this planet. Thanks to Jace’s discovery, we are now able to exist in our true forms here without difficulty. It is no longer necessary for us to disguise ourselves.”

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  The President’s eyes swept over us again, his expression unreadable. “That’s… significant. I assume you understand how much this will change things.”

  Jace smirked. “That’s an understatement.”

  The President let out a slow breath, then turned to me. “Aizih Thriexa, I appreciate the invitation. I assume you have much to tell me.”

  Behind him, two familiar figures stepped forward—Samantha Strickland and Philip Hail. Hail’s presence made immediate sense—he was here to discuss the Human Purity Movement, something that had been gaining traction since the Eova’s presence became public knowledge. Sam’s eyes darted between me and Jace, lingering on the changes in him, but her face was unreadable. Hail, on the other hand, looked more composed, though his sharp gaze scanned his surroundings with an analytical intensity.

  Jace’s sister took a hesitant step forward. “Jace…?”

  Jace turned fully toward her, his features softening. “Yeah, Sam. It’s me.”

  The President, noticing the moment, nodded toward Sam and Hail. “I brought them with me because they’ve been involved in this from the beginning. I thought it was only right that they see firsthand what’s happening here.”

  I inclined my head respectfully. “Of course. You are all welcome. Please, follow me.”

  As we made our way toward the home of the Aizihs, the President remained quiet, his gaze taking in the settlement, the structures that blended seamlessly with nature, and the Eova moving freely in their true forms. I could sense his mind working, processing the reality of what he was seeing.

  Upon reaching the main hall, he turned to Jace. “Before we have our meeting, I’d like to speak with you privately.”

  Jace nodded, exchanging a glance with me before following the President into one of the private rooms.

  Jace Strickland POV

  The room was quiet as I stood across from the President. He folded his arms, studying me as if trying to reconcile the man he once knew with the one standing before him now.

  “Tell me everything, Strickland. I want to know exactly what happened on that Eova space station. And how you became one of them.”

  I exhaled, leaning against the table, then recounted everything—the confrontation with the Dephorians, the tense peace talks, the attack that nearly killed me. I explained how Thriexa had made the impossible choice to save my life, to turn me into what I had become.

  The President listened in silence, his expression unreadable, nodding occasionally but never interrupting. When I finished, he sat back in his chair, regarding me carefully.

  “And now that you are Eova, where do you plan to go from here?” he finally asked.

  I didn’t hesitate. “My place is here, with the Eova, by Thriexa’s side. This is where I belong now.”

  The President studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “I expected that answer. And I won’t pretend I fully understand what you’ve become, but I do know this—Earth is changing, and you are now part of that change.”

  He leaned forward slightly, his tone lowering. “Hail is here for a reason, Strickland. The Human Purity Movement is planning something big. Many humans have accepted the Eova, especially now that the Klaro Nation is out healing the sick, and we’ve started integrating technology developed by the Bopro alongside human scientists. But many others are afraid. Fear can be dangerous.”

  I absorbed his words, feeling a weight settle in my chest. “I know. And I won’t let them hurt Thriexa or the Eova.”

  The President studied me for a long moment before nodding. “Good. Because this movement isn’t just a fringe group anymore. We need to be prepared.”

  He stood, signaling that our private meeting was over. “Come on. The others are waiting.”

  We exited the chamber and made our way toward the main hall, where the representatives of the Eova Nations, Henry, Xilta, Thriexa, Sam, and Philip Hail were already gathered, ready to begin the discussion that could shape the future of both our species.

  Philip Hail was the first to speak, his voice steady but carrying an edge of urgency. “The Human Purity Movement isn’t just growing—it’s evolving. Their message is spreading beyond the usual extremist groups. They’ve been organizing, recruiting more effectively, and they aren’t just talking anymore. They’re planning something big.”

  Thriexa leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. “What do you know?”

  Hail sighed, glancing at the President before continuing. “We’ve intercepted communications, monitored meetings, and tracked financial movements. They’ve been gathering resources—weaponry, technology. It’s clear they aren’t just preparing for protests or political maneuvers. They’re preparing for an attack.”

  A tense silence filled the room. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Do we know their target?”

  “Not yet,” Hail admitted. “But Saliscana Island is at the top of the list of potential targets. To them, this settlement represents everything they fear—Eova living freely, humans working alongside them. And now, with Jace’s discovery allowing the Eova to remain in their true forms, that fear has only escalated. They believe they’re ‘saving humanity.’”

  Henry, who had been listening carefully, finally spoke. “Then we need to be ready. We need defenses in place.”

  Thriexa nodded. “We don’t seek conflict, but we will not stand by and allow our people to be harmed. What can you offer in terms of intelligence?”

  Hail folded his arms. “We have informants inside their ranks, but we need time to gather more concrete information. We don’t know when they plan to move, only that they will. And soon.”

  I exhaled sharply. “Then we don’t have much time. We need to prepare—because if they come for us, we will be ready.”

  After the meeting ended, the tension in the room didn’t ease. The representatives filed out, deep in discussion about what needed to be done next, while Hail and the President spoke quietly near the entrance.

  I barely had time to process everything before I felt a presence beside me.

  “You’ve really changed,” Sam said softly.

  I turned to look at her, my sister, someone who had always been a part of my past but now stood uncertain in my present. “Yeah. I guess I have.”

  She studied me, her gaze lingering on the markings on my arms, the slight glow in my eyes that hadn’t been there before. “I mean, I knew what to expect before I came here, but seeing you like this… it’s still hard to wrap my head around.”

  I nodded, understanding her hesitation. “I’m still me, Sam. Just… more.”

  She crossed her arms, her expression conflicted. “I don’t doubt that. I just… I don’t want you to lose yourself in all of this. I know you’re with them now, and I can see how much you care about them, but you’re still my brother. I don’t want to lose that.”

  I reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You won’t. No matter what, I’m still your brother. That won’t change.”

  Sam exhaled, then gave me a small, hesitant smile. “Good. Because someone has to keep you grounded.”

  I chuckled. “Guess that’s your job now.”

  She smirked, shaking her head. “It always was.”