Aizih Thriexa POV

  The air in the Klaro healing center was still charged with the energy of the battle’s aftermath. The scent of healing crystals and the faint hum of conversation filled the space as the Klaro worked tirelessly to mend the wounded, both Eova and human. Despite the chaos of the last several hours, a strange calm had settled over the room—a quiet acceptance that the worst was over.

  Across from me, Jace sat on one of the cots, his arm now fully healed but still wrapped in a light cloth for support. His posture was relaxed, but I could still feel the lingering tension through our bond. His mind was always working, always moving to the next thing.

  Then, Sam’s voice broke through the relative quiet.

  “The President is making a speech!” she announced, pulling her laptop from her bag. She placed it on a nearby table, quickly setting it up as several Eova and even a few humans gathered around. “We need to see this.”

  I moved to Jace’s side instinctively, settling beside him on the cot as Sam adjusted the screen. Without a word, Jace reached for my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. Warmth spread through me, the sensation of our connection soothing, grounding. I squeezed his hand gently, and in response, I felt his thoughts brush against mine.

  This is it, he sent to me, his mental voice steady but laced with something deeper. This will change everything.

  I nodded slightly, keeping my gaze fixed on the screen. For better or worse?

  That depends on what he says next.

  The screen flickered, and then the image of the President filled the room. He stood at a podium, the American flag behind him, his expression grave but composed. The cameras panned over the room—reporters, government officials, all watching him with rapt attention.

  “Today, I address the nation in the wake of an unprecedented and deeply troubling event. The attack on Saliscana Island by the Human Purity Movement was an act of terrorism. Make no mistake—this was not an act of self-defense, nor was it a demonstration. This was a violent and deliberate assault on innocent lives.”

  A murmur spread through the Eova around me. Even knowing that the President had supported our presence before, hearing him publicly condemn the attack with such finality sent a ripple of emotion through the room.

  “The Eova came to us not as conquerors, but as allies. They have worked with our scientists, our doctors, our leaders, to better our world, not take it. And yet, fear has driven some to violence, to hatred. That ends today.”

  Jace exhaled slowly beside me, and I turned to look at him. His blue eyes were focused, calculating. He had expected this, but I could still feel the weight of the moment settling over him. He wasn’t just an observer to this anymore—he was Eova. This affected him as much as it did the rest of us.

  “As of this moment,” the President continued, his voice steady and firm, “I am officially granting all Eova living within the United States full citizenship. This nation is your home. And as citizens, you are entitled to the same rights and protections as any American.”

  The words echoed through the room like a physical force.

  Gasps, murmurs of disbelief and relief. Even I felt the shock settle deep in my chest. I turned back to Jace, who was still watching the screen, his grip tightening slightly around my hand. His mind reached for mine again, his thoughts quieter this time.

  This means we belong here.

  I nodded, the realization washing over me in waves.

  Jace turned his head slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. The bond between us hummed with unspoken emotion, and for a moment, everything else faded. The war, the attack, the uncertainty of the future—it all paled in comparison to this moment.

  He lifted our joined hands slightly, brushing his thumb over my knuckles in a slow, deliberate motion. You were the reason this happened. You proved we could coexist.

  I smiled softly, leaning my forehead against his shoulder. We proved it together.

  Sam Strickland POV

  Hours had passed since the last attacker had been taken away in federal custody, and for the first time since the battle, the island was still. Not silent—never silent—but calmer. Healing. Processing. Changing.

  I stood near the shoreline, watching as the first boats approached in the distance. Not warships. Not threats. Help.

  The sight of humans arriving not as attackers, but as volunteers sent a strange wave of emotion through me. The last time people had come to this island in boats, they had brought nothing but hatred and weapons. But now? Now they brought supplies, tools, open hands instead of clenched fists.

  Jace stood beside me, arms crossed as he watched the boats approach. “This is surreal,” he muttered, his tone unreadable.

  I adjusted my camera strap, lifting it slightly. “You think they’re really here to help?”

  He let out a small breath. “We’re about to find out.”

  The boats docked one by one, humans stepping onto the shore—scientists, doctors, engineers, builders. Some people I recognized from my past dealings with Eova-human relations, others were just ordinary people who had seen what happened and wanted to be part of something better.

  A woman in a construction vest stepped forward first, looking around with cautious optimism. “Where do you need us?”

  A murmur rippled through the Eova gathered nearby. There was hesitation, uncertainty. Then, Thriexa took a step forward, raising her chin with quiet authority. “Wherever you’re willing to start. There’s plenty to be done.”

  The tension melted. Almost at once, humans and Eova moved toward one another, talking, organizing, planning. The island was still wounded, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

  I lifted my camera and started filming.

  Somewhere behind me, Jace exhaled. “This is actually happening.”

  “Yeah,” I murmured, my fingers steady on the lens. “It really is.”

  I turned, catching sight of something even more surprising—a few of the former attackers, now freed, stepping forward to help. Some looked ashamed, their shoulders stiff with guilt, but still, they moved. One knelt beside an Eova architect, helping map out reconstruction plans. Another picked up a broken piece of equipment, looking for a way to fix it.

  Jace noticed too. “You think they actually regret what they did?”

  I kept my camera rolling, watching as an Eova healer healed the hand of one of the men who had tried to kill them mere hours ago. “I think some do. And I think for some, this is the first time they’ve really seen the Eova. Not as enemies. Just as people.”

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  Jace didn’t answer right away, but I could feel the shift in him, the same realization sinking in. This was bigger than just a battle. It was the start of something different.

  And I was going to make sure the world saw every moment of it.

  Aizih Thriexa POV

  The air on the island was different now. Lighter. Hopeful.

  I stood at a distance, watching as Jace and Sam observed the humans working alongside the Eova. Sam’s focus never wavered—her camera constantly shifting to capture every meaningful moment. The hesitant first exchanges, the smiles, the hands passing supplies between species that had once viewed each other with fear.

  She was so immersed in her work, so dedicated to ensuring that the world saw this. Saw the truth.

  And she was the reason this was happening.

  It wasn’t just Jace who had changed the course of history by standing beside me—it was Sam. Her work with the Eova social media had opened the doors for humanity to see us as more than outsiders. To see us as people.

  I made my way toward them, my footsteps silent on the soft earth. Jace’s gaze flickered to me before I reached them, and he immediately reached for my hand. I took it, my fingers lacing with his, feeling the steady strength of our bond. The warmth, the connection. The unspoken understanding that this was our future.

  Sam, still focused on filming, barely noticed me at first. I let her capture a few more moments before I spoke. “Sam.”

  She startled slightly, then turned to me, lowering the camera. “Yeah?”

  I held her gaze. “This is because of you. These people came because of the work you’ve done. Because you’ve shown them the truth.”

  She blinked, as if the words hadn’t fully registered. “I—I just documented what was happening. You all did the hard part.”

  Jace chuckled beside me. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  I nodded. “That’s why I have something to ask you.”

  Her brows furrowed slightly, but she looked intrigued. “What is it?”

  I squeezed Jace’s hand before letting go and taking a step closer to Sam. “I want you to stay. Permanently. I want you to have a place here—not just as a visitor, but as part of our people. And I want you to do what you do best.”

  Her lips parted slightly in surprise. “You mean—?”

  “I want you to be the Head of Media Relations for the Eova. You’ve already proven you can bridge the gap between our species. We need someone who can continue to share our story—without bias, without manipulation. Someone the world trusts. And that person is you.”

  For once, Sam was speechless. Her fingers tightened around her camera, her gaze flicking between Jace and me. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes,” Jace said with a smirk. “You already act like you live here. Might as well make it official.”

  Sam let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head before a slow smile spread across her face. “You’re serious?”

  I nodded. “Completely.”

  She exhaled, looking out over the island—the humans and Eova working together, the laughter, the sound of something new beginning.

  Then she looked back at me, eyes shining with something I could only describe as belonging.

  “Then yes. I’ll stay.”

  And with that, another piece of this new future clicked into place.

  Jace Strickland POV

  The island felt different now. Alive in a way I’d never seen before.

  Humans and Eova moved together, no longer separated by fear or uncertainty. The sounds of work, of laughter, of something being rebuilt rather than destroyed, surrounded us. It was the kind of peace we had fought for—earned.

  But I barely noticed any of it. Because Thriexa had just called my name in front of everyone.

  I turned to see her standing at the center of the gathering, her violet eyes locked on mine with an intensity that sent a shiver through me. Something was happening. Something big.

  “Jace Strickland,” she said, her voice carrying across the quieted crowd. “Or rather… Elaron Jace.”

  A murmur rippled through the Eova, but I barely heard it. The title landed heavy on my shoulders, not in a crushing way, but in a way that made something settle inside me.

  I belonged here.

  “You are the first of your kind since the Eova lost our planet,” Thriexa continued, her gaze unwavering. “The first Elaron. And you have stood by us, fought for us, bled for us. You have proven your place among the Eova. And now, I ask you to take on a greater role.”

  She stepped forward, closing the space between us, and reached for my hand. I let her take it, her warmth steadying something inside me.

  “Elaron Jace,” she said, softer this time, “I appoint you as Protector of the Eova. To ensure our safety. To protect our people. To stand as a shield for both the Eova and those who wish to live in peace beside us.”

  Silence stretched for a long moment. The weight of her words sank into me, and for a brief second, I wanted to say no.

  I was an FBI agent once. A protector. A soldier for a cause I believed in. And now… she was offering me something similar, yet so much bigger.

  A home to protect. A people to protect.

  My people.

  I glanced around, seeing the expectant faces of the Eova, the quiet support in Sam’s expression, and finally, the unwavering trust in Thriexa’s eyes.

  I exhaled, then gave her a slow nod. “I accept.”

  The island erupted into cheers.

  Thriexa’s smile was radiant, and before I could react, she pulled me toward her, wrapping her arms around me. The moment her body pressed against mine, I felt it—the unspoken promise, the certainty that we had built something here. Together.

  I tilted my head down, brushing my lips against her temple, feeling the way she melted into the embrace.

  We did it, I sent to her through our bond.

  We did, she echoed, squeezing my hand.

  The celebration stretched on for hours, humans and Eova sharing food, stories, and plans for the future. But eventually, the noise faded, and the island was left to the quiet hum of the ocean.

  Thriexa and I stood at the edge of the shore, the water lapping softly at the sand. For the first time in a long time, there was no war to fight. No immediate danger. Just us.

  The moment was interrupted by a soft chime from Thriexa’s communicator. She hesitated, reluctant to break the quiet between us, but I gave her a small nod. She pulled the device from her belt and activated it.

  “Dreinas.” Thriexa’s voice carried disbelief, as if saying the name alone would confirm that this was real.

  “The Dephorians made it home,” she murmured.

  I straightened slightly. “Home?”

  She nodded. “They reached their planet. Dreinas. She is leading. She’s spent her entire life on the ship, chasing us, chasing a purpose that was never truly hers. And now, she’s home. She has a world that stands behind her, and she’s shaping its future.”

  I exhaled, the weight of those words settling over us both. “That’s… big.”

  It was more than big. It was history being rewritten. The Dephorians had been the Eova’s enemies for so long that the idea of them finally returning home, finally finding stability, felt almost surreal.

  A part of me wondered if we had just witnessed the beginning of something new—not just for Earth and the Eova, but for them, too.

  She turned her communicator off and met my gaze. There was something knowing in her expression, something steady. I didn’t have to say it out loud.

  This is what we fought for.

  The moment stretched between us, unspoken words hovering in the air, and then she tilted her head, her voice dipping into something quieter, more intimate.

  “Do you regret it?” she asked, turning toward me, her fingers trailing lightly against my palm.

  I turned to her, tilting my head. “Regret what?”

  She gave me a look—one of those intense, soul-searching stares that made me forget how to breathe. “Becoming Eova. Leaving your old life behind.”

  I didn’t even have to think about it. I caught her hand, pulling her in close. “No,” I said simply. “Because my life is here now. With you.”

  Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but before she could, I leaned down and kissed her.

  This kiss wasn’t like the ones before. It wasn’t desperate, or fueled by battle, or relief.

  It was a promise.

  Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, and I let myself sink into it, into her, into us.

  For the first time, the future wasn’t uncertain. It wasn’t something we had to run from or fight for.

  It was ours.

  Aizih Thriexa POV

  I pulled back from the kiss, breathless, my fingers lingering at the edge of Jace’s jaw. The warmth of our bond pulsed between us, strong, unshakable.

  “Jace…” I whispered, feeling the weight of everything we had been through settle between us. “You are truly one of us now.”

  His lips curved slightly. “I think I’ve known that for a while.”

  I traced my fingers over his arm, over the markings that now defined him as Eova. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about. Something important.”

  He arched a brow. “Should I be worried?”

  I smirked, but my heart was racing. “The Eova have a ceremony. It’s not like human marriage, but it’s our way of honoring true partners—an eternal bond, recognized by all.”

  Jace went still for a moment, then his grip on my waist tightened slightly. “And what exactly does this ceremony involve?”

  I swallowed, suddenly nervous. “It’s a merging—not just of lives, but of intentions, of fate. It’s a declaration that two souls are bound together. That there will never be another.”

  He was quiet for a long moment, his gaze searching mine. Then, slowly, deliberately, he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against my palm.

  “Then tell me how to make it happen. Because I’m already yours.”

  A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped me.

  I reached for his face, cradling it between my hands, and in that moment, I knew—this was the future I had always wanted.