Thriexa POV

  I watched Jace carefully as he processed my words. His posture was still, his expression guarded, but I could see the thoughts racing behind his sharp blue eyes. He was trying to rationalize what had just happened, trying to place it into some logical framework that made sense to him.

  I remained silent, giving him time. He had been patient with me, after all.

  Finally, he spoke. “How far have you traveled?” His voice was quieter than before, not out of hesitation, but out of a need for careful understanding.

  I tilted my head slightly, intrigued by his choice of questions. “Farther than I could ever count in terms you would recognize. I have seen worlds with skies of silver, oceans that glow like liquid stars, mountains that breathe with the pulse of the planet itself.”

  His lips pressed together in thought. “How many planets have you been to?”

  I giggled softly at his curiosity. “I knew you would have many questions.” I clasped my hands gently in my lap before answering. “The Eova have been to twenty-two planets, but I have only lived on five. Earth is my fifth.”

  Jace exhaled, shaking his head slightly. “Your people been to twenty-two planets? That’s… hard to wrap my head around.”

  I smiled. “I expected as much. Your mind is limited to one world. It is difficult to comprehend what lies beyond when you have only known one sky, one sun.”

  His gaze lingered on me, his skepticism still present, but it was no longer dismissive. He was trying to believe. He wanted to believe.

  “How old are you?” he finally asked.

  I laughed lightly at this. “That is a complicated question, but if I were to translate it to your years… approximately three hundred and seventy-five.”

  Jace blinked. “Three hundred and seventy-five?” He let out a short breath, shaking his head. “You don’t look a day over three hundred.”

  I giggled again, amused by his dry humor. “It is not as strange as you think. My people do not age as humans do. We are not bound to the same constraints of time.”

  Jace ran a hand through his hair, his usual composed demeanor showing the first hints of genuine awe. “You’ve lived through things I can’t even begin to imagine.”

  “Yes,” I admitted softly. “And yet, here I am. Speaking with you. Watching you struggle to reconcile what you thought you knew with what I have told you.”

  He huffed out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You really enjoy that, don’t you?”

  I smiled. “A little.”

  Jace smirked. “I’ll have to keep that in mind next time I try to get a straight answer out of you.”

  I tilted my head, amused. “You assume there will be a next time?”

  He chuckled. “I think we both know there will be.”

  His expression shifted then, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. His gaze turned toward the horizon, and I could almost see the pieces clicking together in his mind.

  “The island,” he murmured, almost to himself. “It’s not just a settlement. It’s your home now, isn’t it? There’s an island full of people who have traveled the stars for thousands of years.”

  I said nothing, letting him come to his own realization. Finally, he exhaled, shaking his head as if trying to grasp the weight of it all. “That changes everything.”

  Jace stood up abruptly, his movements more purposeful now. “I need to talk to Henry and Hail about this. They need to know.”

  I watched him carefully, my expression unreadable. “Only if you fully trust them,” I said softly. “I told you who I was because I believe you will be a friend to my people. For now, I only want those who can be trusted to know the truth about what we are.”

  Jace met my gaze, his expression serious. “I trust Henry with my life. We’ve been through too much together for me to doubt him. And Hail—” he hesitated for a moment, then nodded to himself. “I haven’t known him long, but he seems like an honorable man. He doesn’t strike me as someone who would betray that trust.”

  I studied him for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “Then I will trust you, Jace. You are the human. You are the one who must know what to do in this situation. I put my faith in you.”

  Jace Strickland POV

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The weight of Thriexa’s words settled over me like an anchor, pulling me deeper into a reality I was still struggling to grasp. She trusted me. That simple statement held more significance than I had expected. It wasn’t just an admission—it was a choice, a declaration that she was placing something fragile in my hands, something that, if handled incorrectly, could shatter.

  I swallowed, nodding slowly. “That means a lot,” I said, my voice quieter than usual. “I won’t betray that trust.”

  She studied me, searching my expression for any sign of hesitation, but I meant what I said. Finally, she gave a small nod of approval, as if confirming to herself that she had chosen correctly.

  With a deep breath, I turned and gestured toward the facility. “Come on. I need to talk to Henry and Hail.”

  We walked side by side in silence, the weight of the conversation lingering between us. I stole a few glances at her as we moved—her expression was composed, but there was something behind her eyes, something that told me she was processing just as much as I was.

  When we reached her room, I stopped outside the door and turned to her. “Wait here. I won’t be long.”

  She inclined her head slightly. “I will be here.”

  I hesitated for just a second before stepping away, moving through the facility with a renewed sense of urgency. My mind raced as I searched for Henry and Hail. They needed to hear what I had learned, but more than that, they needed to hear it from Thriexa herself.

  When I finally found them, both men looked up, their expressions shifting as they registered the look on my face.

  “I know what happened on the island,” I said, my voice firm. “But you need to hear it from Thriexa.”

  Henry and Hail exchanged a look before following me back to Thriexa’s room. She was seated exactly where I had left her, her violet eyes watching us carefully as we stepped inside.

  “Thriexa, I need you to tell everything you told me to my partner, Agent Meyer and Commander Hail,” I said.

  “Of course,” she replied smoothly.

  She proceeded to recount her story with the same measured grace as before. I watched Henry and Hail closely as she spoke, looking for any sign of doubt or disbelief. Henry remained neutral, though his occasional furrowed brow and subtle shifts in posture told me he was analyzing every word. Hail, on the other hand, kept his arms crossed tightly, his face unreadable except for the occasional twitch of his jaw—either in frustration or deep thought.

  When she finished, Henry remained quiet for a moment, his gaze locked onto her as if trying to see past the surface.

  “Jace, I need to speak with you,” Henry said finally, standing and gesturing for me to step aside with him and Hail. I gave Thriexa a reassuring nod before following them to the other side of the room, away from where she sat watching us closely.

  “So… what do you think?” I asked once the door was closed behind us.

  “She’s insane!” Commander Hail exclaimed.

  “She didn’t appear to be lying,” Henry countered calmly.

  “Of course she was lying because she is insane,” Hail insisted, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.

  Henry turned to me. “Jace, do you believe her?”

  I didn’t hesitate. “I do believe her,” I said, letting my words settle before adding, “Henry, she knows about Robin. How could she have known that without communicating with her mother?”

  Before Henry could respond, a voice echoed in my mind. Jace, do they believe me?

  I stiffened slightly, caught off guard. My eyes flickered to Thriexa behind the glass.

  Jace, I know that you can hear me. Just push your thoughts towards me, and I will be able to hear you.

  I took a slow breath, forcing my thoughts toward her. I’m not sure if they believe you yet. Hail thinks you are insane, but I think Henry believes you.

  Jace, please help me convince them. The safety of my people depends on it, she pleaded.

  I turned to Henry. “Henry, what do you think?”

  Henry exhaled. “I am inclined to believe that she is telling the truth. She didn’t show any tells suggesting she was lying. But it is a very fantastic tale,” he admitted.

  “I want physical proof,” Hail demanded. “I want to meet their leaders and see this spaceship.”

  Henry glanced at me. “Do you think Thriexa would take us to the island?”

  I nodded. “I can ask her.”

  Walking back into the interrogation room, I met Thriexa’s worried gaze. “Thriexa, would you be able to take us to the island to see your spaceship and introduce us to the leaders of your people?”

  She nodded, but her expression remained firm. “Of course, but on two conditions. My mother needs to come with us.”

  “What’s your other condition?” I asked.

  “Everyone that comes with us will be considered my guest, so you will need to wear my nation’s color.”

  “We have to wear purple?” I said, less than enthusiastic. My wardrobe consisted mostly of black leather jackets and white tank tops.

  Thriexa’s lips curved into a small, hopeful smile. “Yes, purple.”

  She studied me for a moment, her expression turning more serious. “Do you trust me, Jace? I can only take you to the island if you truly trust in me.”

  Thriexa watched me closely as I processed what she had just said. She was asking me to trust her, to follow her into something unknown. I had always been cautious, always looked for proof before believing anything so outlandish, but she had already shown me more than enough to make me question everything I thought I knew.

  I exhaled slowly. “Alright. I trust you, Thriexa. We’ll make the arrangements to go to the island tomorrow.”

  She nodded, satisfied. “Thank you, Jace.”

  I didn’t miss the way she used my name again. It still caught me off guard, but I found that I liked it.

  With that, I turned and exited the room. I found Henry and Hail waiting outside, both of them wearing expressions of anticipation.

  “She agreed to take us to the island,” I said without preamble. “She’ll introduce us to their leaders and show us the spaceship. But she has conditions.”

  Hail raised an eyebrow. “Conditions?”

  “Her mother has to come with us, and we have to wear her nation’s color.”

  Henry let out a short chuckle. “And what color is that?”

  I sighed. “Purple.”

  Hail pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “I wish I were.” I crossed my arms. “Look, she’s trusting us. This is her way of making sure we respect her culture. If wearing purple is what it takes to get the answers we need, then I’ll do it.”

  Henry nodded slowly. “It’s a small price to pay. If this is real, then this is the most important discovery in human history.”

  Hail still didn’t look thrilled, but after a moment, he relented. “Fine. But if this turns out to be a trap—”

  “It won’t be,” I interrupted. “I trust her. And I think you should too.”