Jace Strickland POV

  Tocci and Trenal had been restless for days, their excitement barely contained. The two of them had made it clear—they hadn’t come all this way just to be locked up inside government buildings and safe houses. They wanted to see Earth, to experience the planet beyond the sterile walls they had been confined to.

  At first, I refused. It was too dangerous. We still didn’t know how the public truly felt about the Eova, and I wasn’t about to test that by parading them through the city. There had been stares, whispers, and tension in the air—subtle, but present. The last thing I needed was to bring the Aizih into a situation where things could go sideways fast.

  But Tocci was relentless, and Thriexa, though more measured in her approach, backed her up. Even Sam, who had been managing Thriexa’s public appearances in D.C., agreed that keeping them locked away would only make tensions worse. They needed to be seen, to show that they weren’t here to hide in fear.

  Still, I wasn’t convinced.

  “I’ll take a team with us,” I finally said, crossing my arms. “There’s no way I’m taking you out into the city without backup.”

  Tocci groaned. “Jace, come on. Do you really think we need that? We have our abilities.”

  “Abilities won’t stop a bullet,” I shot back.

  Thriexa tilted her head slightly, studying me. “You are worried about our safety.”

  “Of course, I am,” I said. “There are people out there who don’t want you here. It’s my job to make sure nothing happens to you.”

  Trenal smirked. “That’s sweet, Jace, but we’re not exactly helpless.”

  Sam sighed, rubbing her temples. “Look, Jace, if they want to go, they’re going to go. You can either come with them or let them sneak out on their own.”

  I glared at Tocci, who was grinning far too wide. “You wouldn’t.”

  She just raised an eyebrow.

  I muttered a curse under my breath. “Fine. But we stay together, and the second things feel off, we’re out.”

  Tocci threw her hands up in victory. “Finally! Let’s go see this city of yours.”

  Walking through the streets of Washington, D.C., was surreal. Trenal and Tocci were like kids seeing the world for the first time, pointing out everything from street performers to towering buildings. They stopped to watch a man playing guitar on a street corner, mesmerized by the sound.

  “I like this,” Tocci said, tapping her fingers against her leg to the rhythm. “Humans express emotions through sound in such a raw way.”

  Trenal grinned. “I might need to learn how to play one of those.”

  As we walked, I kept an eye on the people around us. Most gave the Eova curious glances, some wary, some fascinated. But there were others who weren’t so subtle in their disapproval. A man muttered something under his breath as we passed, and another scoffed openly. I tensed, ready to step in if things escalated, but Thriexa placed a hand lightly on my arm.

  “They are afraid,” she said quietly. “It does not make them our enemy.”

  “Fear turns into hate real fast,” I muttered back.

  She didn’t argue, just continued walking beside me, her presence calm despite the tension in the air. “I am reading their intentions,” she said after a moment. “There is unease, but no hostility. If someone meant to harm us, I would know.”

  I considered that for a moment. It didn’t erase my concerns, but it did settle something in my chest, if only slightly. If she was certain of it, then maybe—just maybe—we weren’t walking into as much danger as I feared.

  We passed a café, and Tocci stopped, her eyes lighting up. “What is that smell?”

  “Coffee,” Sam answered, smiling. “You’ll love it.”

  Minutes later, we were seated at an outdoor table, steaming cups in front of us. Tocci took a cautious sip, then gasped. “This is—this is warmth and bitterness and something… complicated.”

  Sam laughed. “That’s one way to describe it.”

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  The warmth of the coffee lingered on my tongue, its bitterness a reminder of how complex human experiences were. Across the table, Tocci was still marveling over her first sip, her emerald eyes alight with curiosity. For a brief moment, we were simply existing in this world, no debates, no negotiations—just experiencing something new.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Then, I felt it.

  A shift in the air, a weight of intent pressing in from across the street. I turned my head slightly, catching the small gathering of civilians whose emotions churned with unease and something darker. They had no weapons, no immediate desire to harm, but their distrust ran deep. I traced their movements, watching as they murmured among themselves, their frustration feeding off one another. It wouldn’t be long before they acted.

  I set my cup down and met Jace’s eyes. They are coming, I told him telepathically.

  He stiffened, his gaze flicking toward the group. “How many?”

  Four that I can see. More may be waiting.

  Tocci and Trenal noticed my shift in focus. Trenal’s playful grin faded as his black eyes scanned the street. “Friends of yours?” he asked lightly, though his stance became more guarded.

  “No,” I said evenly, standing as the first man stepped off the curb, heading directly toward us.

  The man in the dark jacket stopped a few feet away, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Why are you here?” he demanded, his voice sharp with accusation.

  His words rippled through the growing crowd, emboldening a few others. Another voice chimed in, laced with distrust. “They shouldn’t be walking around like they belong here.”

  I met his gaze, keeping my posture open but firm. “We have been given permission to be here,” I said evenly. “We do not wish to disrupt your lives. We only wish to understand.”

  The man scoffed. “Understand? You don’t belong here. You should leave before people start making sure you do.”

  Jace pushed his chair back, standing between me and the man before I could stop him. “That’s enough. You’ve made your point—now walk away.”

  The man’s expression twisted in anger. “Oh, of course. The traitor speaks. First, they take over our government, and now they’ve got people like you defending them?” His voice rose, turning sharp. “You should be ashamed. Both of you. Betraying your own people.”

  A few voices in the crowd murmured in agreement.

  Sam stood as well, her expression hard. “We’re working toward peace. That’s not betrayal. That’s progress.”

  “Progress?” The man sneered. “That’s what you call selling out humanity? They’re taking over, and you’re helping them do it.”

  I could feel the hostility spreading, feeding into the air like fire catching dry grass. This would not end well if it continued.

  I placed a hand on Jace’s arm, stepping forward beside him. “I have no desire for conflict,” I said clearly. “We have done nothing to harm you. We do not wish to rule you or take what is yours. But fear distorts the truth, and I sense your fear. Do not let it control you.”

  For a moment, the man hesitated, his expression flickering with uncertainty. But then his anger returned, stronger than before. “You don’t belong here. No matter what deals you make, you never will.”

  He turned sharply, shoving past the others as he stalked away. The crowd began to disperse, some lingering longer than others, their expressions unreadable.

  Jace let out a slow breath before turning to me. “Are you all right?”

  I nodded. “Yes. But this is only the beginning.”

  His jaw tightened. “I know.”

  I looked back toward the empty street where the small crowd had stood, my mind turning over the moment again. Trust wouldn’t come easy—not here, not now.

  But as I looked back at Jace, Sam, Tocci, and Trenal standing beside me, I knew one thing for certain.

  We weren’t backing down.

  Jace Strickland POV

  The confrontation had left a lingering tension in my chest, but Thriexa hadn’t let it shake her. If anything, she had handled it better than I had. After the crowd dispersed, she simply looked at me with that unreadable expression and continued on, as if their words hadn’t left a mark.

  We kept moving through the city, trying to salvage the rest of the afternoon. Trenal and Tocci were still eager to explore, their curiosity undampened by what had happened.

  We passed a clothing boutique, and Sam suddenly grabbed Thriexa’s wrist. “Wait, you have to see this.”

  Tocci barely had time to react before Sam caught her too, dragging them both inside. Trenal and I stood back, exchanging glances.

  “They’ll be in there for a while,” Trenal said, smirking.

  “Yeah,” I muttered, watching as Sam excitedly pointed out dresses to Thriexa, who looked both intrigued and slightly confused. I wasn’t sure how much Eova fashion had in common with human styles, but Sam seemed determined to bridge that gap.

  I turned back to Trenal, who was watching me closely.

  “You really care about her,” he said casually.

  I tensed slightly, glancing at him. “She’s important.”

  His black eyes studied me for a moment before he let out a small chuckle. “That’s a safe answer.”

  I frowned. “What are you getting at?”

  Trenal leaned against a lamppost, his tone still light, but there was something more serious underneath. “Did Thriexa ever tell you about our first planet?”

  I shook my head. “Not in detail.”

  “We were new to everything back then,” he said. “Learning what it meant to be Eova, learning how to adapt. On that world, Thriexa and I were mates.”

  I stiffened, but Trenal didn’t look at me with hostility—just understanding.

  “It was another life, another form,” he continued. “But I know her better than most. And I know that she always puts the Eova first. That’s who she is.”

  I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. “I know.”

  “Do you?” Trenal’s gaze was sharp now. “Because if you don’t, you need to. Thriexa carries the weight of all of us on her shoulders. She doesn’t get the luxury of choosing her own path. She will always be Aizih. She will always be the one who leads.”

  I swallowed hard, unsure what to say to that.

  “I’m not telling you this to scare you off,” Trenal said, his voice softer now. “But I’ve watched her carry this burden for lifetimes. If you become part of her life, you have to accept that you will never come first.”

  I nodded slowly. “I get it.”

  “Good.” Trenal pushed off the lamppost just as Sam, Thriexa, and Tocci reemerged from the shop, Sam grinning like she had just completed a mission.

  Thriexa met my gaze briefly, something questioning in her expression, but she didn’t ask what we had been talking about.

  Instead, she smiled slightly. “Shall we continue?”

  I gave a small nod. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  As we walked, Trenal’s words echoed in my mind. She will always be the one who leads.

  And I had to figure out if I was willing to walk beside her anyway.