Aizih Thriexa POV

  Jace stood at the front of the group, his arms crossed, a smug smile tugging at the corners of his lips. There was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as he took in the stunned silence of the room. He knew exactly what he had done, and he was enjoying every second of it.

  The others—Tocci, Trenal, Vorak Algoks, Vorak Sculki, and my mother—were frozen in place, their gazes locked onto Jace and the Bopro behind him. Their true forms stood proudly, unapologetically. No transformation. No adaptation. Just Eova standing on Earth, as if it had always been that way.

  For the first time in our history, it could be that way.

  Jace’s eyes flickered to mine, and I felt the familiar pull of his presence in my mind before his voice resonated through our telepathic link, his tone laced with amusement. Now I’m the Eova, and you’re the human.

  I blinked, caught off guard by the irony of it. He wasn’t wrong. For so long, I had been the one bridging the gap, the one adapting to his world. But now? Now Jace was the one standing tall in his true form while I remained confined to my human disguise.

  I crossed my arms and arched an eyebrow, meeting his gaze with mock indignation. I see your smugness knows no bounds, I sent back, but I couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.

  Jace’s smirk deepened. What can I say? I think I just made history.

  He wasn’t wrong. And I had never been so proud of him.

  Questions erupt from the Eova gathered around me, their voices a mixture of excitement, disbelief, and curiosity. Jace doesn’t respond, letting me take control of the situation.

  Raising a hand, I quiet them with a firm but calm presence, waiting until the murmur of voices fades. Once the room settles, I turn to Jace. “Explain what you did.”

  Jace exhales, rolling his shoulders before speaking. “I merged the essence of Earth with the essence of an Eova’s true form. The planet no longer rejects us—we can exist here without transforming.” He glances at the stunned faces before continuing. “It’s not just for me or the Bopro. I can do this for all of you.”

  A hush falls over the room, the weight of his words sinking in. My pulse quickens. His abilities are even more powerful than I had imagined.

  “Jace…” I step closer, studying him carefully. “If you can do this for others, many will want their true forms back. Can you handle that?”

  He hesitates for only a moment before nodding. “It’ll take time. The process is exhausting, but I can do it. For every Eova who wants it.”

  The significance of what he is offering isn’t lost on me. This isn’t just a scientific breakthrough—this is a revolution. For the first time, the Eova will have a choice.

  Straightening, I look out over the gathered Eova. “Then we must summon everyone to the banquet hall. They need to see this for themselves.”

  Jace Strickland POV

  The reaction from the gathered Eova was immediate. Some openly wept, others fell to their knees, pressing their hands into the ground as if feeling the planet for the first time. A young girl reached for her mother, her voice breaking. “Can I have my true form back too?” The mother, unable to form words, simply nodded as tears streamed down her face.

  One by one, I reached for them, taking each Eova’s hand and merging their essence with Earth. Each time, the sensation was the same—a pulse, a connection, an acceptance. And each time, the Eova who stepped forward gasped, their bodies adjusting seamlessly, their forms as natural on this planet as they had been on any other world we had called home.

  Thriexa’s announcement spread quickly through the settlement, drawing every Eova to the banquet hall. The energy in the room was palpable, a mixture of excitement, disbelief, and longing. This wasn’t just a gathering—it was the start of something bigger than any of us had ever imagined.

  One by one, I took each Eova’s hand, merging their essence with Earth, just as I had done for myself and the Bopro. Each time, I felt the same pulse of power, the same connection, and then watched as they stepped forward, breathing freely in their true forms.

  The first was Thriexa.

  The moment I took Thriexa’s hand, something inside me clicked. This wasn’t just another experiment or a theory to prove—it was real, something tangible. I could feel her trust in the way she held onto me, the way she didn’t hesitate as I let the fusion take hold. And then she stepped forward, her bare feet touching the Earth’s surface, her breath steady and effortless. She was home. The look in her eyes was something I would never forget—pure, unfiltered joy.

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  The reaction from the gathered Eova was immediate. Some openly wept, others fell to their knees, pressing their hands into the ground as if feeling the planet for the first time. A young girl reached for her mother, her voice breaking. “Can I have my true form back too?” The mother, unable to form words, simply nodded as tears streamed down her face.

  One by one, I reached for them, taking each Eova’s hand and merging their essence with Earth. Each time, the sensation was the same—a pulse, a connection, an acceptance. And each time, the Eova who stepped forward gasped, their bodies adjusting seamlessly, their forms as natural on this planet as they had been on any other world we 6o9i8 mhad called home.

  I didn’t stop until I had changed as many Eova as I could before exhaustion finally caught up with me.

  Now, I sat slumped in a chair inside Thriexa’s quarters, my body heavy, my energy drained. But the moment I looked at her, I forgot about the exhaustion entirely.

  She was giddy, nearly glowing with excitement as she moved around the room in her true form, the vines along her arms twisting with energy, the markings on her skin pulsing in rhythm with her emotions.

  “You did it,” she said, voice filled with awe. “You gave us—our people—a choice. Eova or human. For the first time, it’s up to us.”

  She turned to me, stepping closer, her violet eyes locked onto mine. “I don’t think you understand how much this means to us. To me.”

  I smirked despite my exhaustion. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”

  Thriexa laughed softly before she straddled me, settling on my lap, brushing her fingers against my cheek. “Then let me show you just how thankful I am.”

  She leaned in, her lips capturing mine in a slow, deliberate kiss. There was no rush, no urgency—just pure gratitude, warmth, and something deeper that neither of us needed to say aloud. Her hands traced along my shoulders, her touch grounding me even as my senses seemed to heighten.

  Aizih Thriexa POV

  Before he could respond, I straddled his lap, my fingers brushing against his cheek, tracing the new contours of his features. He didn’t move away. If anything, he leaned into my touch, his hands settling on my waist as if this was where I had always belonged.**

  The feeling of kissing Jace in my true form was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Every nerve in my body felt alive, hyper-aware of the way his skin—now different yet familiar—reacted against mine. It was electric and grounding at the same time, as if we weren’t just touching, but connected on a level beyond the physical.

  I pulled him closer, my fingers skimming over his new markings, feeling the way his energy pulsed beneath my touch. He let out a soft, pleased hum against my lips, his body pressing into mine with an undeniable certainty.

  He broke the kiss only long enough to murmur against my mouth, “This feels different. More… intense.”

  I smiled, my breath warm against his skin. “Because it is. We are.”

  I kissed him again, and this time, I let myself sink into the connection completely.

  Something between us shifted, not just physically but mentally. His presence in my mind became clearer, stronger. The walls that usually separated our thoughts thinned, and for the first time, I could truly sense him—not just through our telepathic link, but through the raw, unfiltered intentions that coursed through him.

  You wanted this too. His voice brushed against my mind, tinged with the same hunger I felt thrumming beneath my skin.

  I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, my breath uneven. Of course I did. I’ve wanted this for longer than I’d admit.

  Jace’s hands tightened around my waist, his fingertips digging in slightly as he processed what I had just told him. There was something so undeniable in his expression—awe, want, love. His certainty made my own excitement ignite.

  I didn’t need to say anything else. He could feel it.

  I surged forward again, capturing his lips with more fervor, my hands sliding to his shoulders, pressing him back slightly. The weight of him, the strength of him—it only made me more aware of just how real this was.

  Without breaking the kiss, I stood, taking his hand and pulling him with me. Jace followed without hesitation, his movements fluid, natural, eager.

  I led him toward the bed, every step laced with silent promises. My markings pulsed, responding to the sheer depth of what I was feeling, the vines along my arms tightening instinctively, almost as if trying to pull him closer. Jace’s eyes flicked to them, and I could feel the pure admiration that sparked through him.

  You’re beautiful.

  I shivered at the intensity of his voice in my mind. I had heard those words before, but never with this much conviction.

  I pushed him onto the bed, leaning over him, my hands framing his face. “You’ve changed our world, Jace. Let me show you just how much that means to me.”

  I climbed onto the bed, straddling Jace as I let my hands explore the planes of his shoulders, the new markings that had become part of him. He let out a slow breath, his hands trailing up my arms, following the intricate vines that wove across my skin, as if memorizing every curve and pulse of energy beneath his fingers.

  I never imagined this would feel so… right. His voice whispered through my mind, thick with warmth and something deeper, something unspoken but undeniable.

  I leaned in, brushing my lips over his, teasing, savoring the slow build between us. Because it is. You were always meant to be one of us.

  His fingers flexed against my waist, his grip grounding me as I let my emotions surge through our bond. Every sensation was heightened—the press of his body beneath mine, the warmth of his breath against my skin, the way his energy hummed in sync with my own.

  I kissed him again, deeper this time, pouring my gratitude, my affection, my claim into him. He responded without hesitation, his hands roaming, learning, pulling me closer.

  My markings pulsed brighter, reacting to the intensity of our emotions. The vines wrapping my limbs tightened slightly, as if responding to the heat between us. Jace’s body shifted beneath me, his own markings glowing in tandem, mirroring my reactions, syncing with me in a way that sent a thrill down my spine.

  I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, our breathing uneven. His pupils were blown wide, his expression unreadable except for the overwhelming need in his eyes.

  Stay with me tonight, he murmured in my mind, his voice softer, but no less certain.

  I traced my fingers over his jaw, pressing a final lingering kiss to his lips before whispering aloud, “I was never planning to leave.”