Jace Strickland POV

  The walk back through the settlement was quieter than before. The excitement of exploring had faded into something more introspective. Thriexa walked beside me, her expression unreadable, though she carried herself with the same certainty she always had. I had learned a lot today—more than I ever expected—but one thing still lingered at the edge of my thoughts.

  “Your ability,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “To read intentions… that has some serious implications.”

  She glanced at me, her gaze sharp but not unkind. “It does.”

  I hesitated for a moment before continuing. “That’s why you and your mother are the ambassadors, isn’t it? Because you can tell who is lying. Who can be trusted.”

  Thriexa nodded, her expression calm. “Yes. The Aurra are suited for this role. Our gift allows us to judge situations more accurately than others might. It is why my mother and I were chosen to represent our people. When we step into unfamiliar lands, when we encounter new species, our task is not just to speak for the Eova—it is to determine if those we meet will accept us… or try to destroy us.”

  I absorbed that for a moment. It made sense, and yet, something about it unsettled me. “Do you ever use it on friends?”

  Thriexa stopped walking and turned to face me fully. “No,” she said firmly. “I only use my ability for my people. That is the responsibility I bear. But for those I trust…” She paused, studying me as if weighing her next words. “I do not need to read their intentions. I already know them.”

  I met her gaze, searching for any trace of deception, but found none. “So you’re saying—”

  “I will not read your intentions again, Jace,” she interrupted, a small but certain smile forming. “Because I trust you.”

  Her words settled over me like a weight I hadn’t expected. Trust. That was something I had spent years being cautious about, something I had learned to never give away too easily. Yet here was Thriexa, someone I had interrogated, someone who had every reason to be wary of me, offering it so freely.

  A strange mix of emotions stirred inside me—gratitude, uncertainty, maybe even a little bit of guilt. Had I earned this trust? Or was it simply part of who she was, to give it once she made her decision? Either way, it meant something, and I wasn’t going to take it lightly.

  I nodded, swallowing down whatever doubts still lingered. “Then I guess I better make sure I don’t do anything to break that trust.”

  As I spoke, I watched Thriexa’s face carefully. Her violet eyes softened slightly, and once again, I saw that rare sense of ease settle over her. I had seen it before—when she walked among her people, when she took in the sights of her home—but this was different. This time, it was directed at me. There was no guardedness, no quiet calculation—just calm certainty. It was as if, in this moment, she had already decided that I belonged here, that I was someone worth believing in. And that realization sent an unfamiliar warmth through me.

  Thriexa turned and continued walking, leading me deeper into the settlement. The sky had started to shift in color, the warm hues of late afternoon casting a golden glow over the organic structures that towered around us. Eventually, we stopped in front of the largest structure in the settlement—the home of the Aizihs. Unlike the other buildings, which blended seamlessly into nature, this one commanded presence, yet it was still deeply connected to the land. The structure was vast, its walls intertwined with the massive trees surrounding it, as if the forest itself had shaped the dwelling rather than the other way around. Its archways curved with an organic elegance, its hallways stretching upward as if reaching toward the sky.

  “This is where you will be staying,” Thriexa said, gesturing toward the entrance. “Inside, you will find a wardrobe with clothing appropriate for the banquet tonight. Vorak Sculki will come to escort you when it is time.”

  I nodded, glancing toward the doorway before turning back to her. “Before you go, is there anything I need to know before I meet the Aizihs?”

  Thriexa regarded me for a moment, her expression thoughtful. “They may be the leaders of the Eova, but they do not see themselves as above anyone else. They will want to be treated as equals. Do not address them with unnecessary formality, and do not offer them the kind of reverence you would a human ruler. Treat them as you have treated me and my mother.”

  Her words humbled me. It was such a stark contrast to how human leaders carried themselves, always demanding authority, always expecting to be placed on a pedestal. The Eova were different. Their leaders were chosen not to rule, but to guide, to serve. It was a foreign concept to me, but one that made sense the more I thought about it.

  I exhaled slowly, nodding. “That’s… different. But I respect it.”

  Thriexa’s lips curled slightly. “I thought you might.”

  She took a small step back, her expression shifting to something more formal. “I must go now. I, too, need to prepare for the banquet. I will see you tonight.”

  With that, she turned and disappeared down the corridor, leaving me alone at the entrance to my room. I let out a slow breath before stepping inside, and once again, I found myself marveling at the Eova’s architecture. The walls, like the rest of their structures, seemed to have been grown rather than built, the organic curves giving the space a warmth that most human dwellings lacked. The furniture, though unfamiliar in design, was seamlessly integrated into the space, as if it had always belonged there.

  Turning toward the wardrobe, I opened it to find a neatly arranged selection of clothing—suits, robes, and other garments, all in different styles. But there was one thing they all had in common.

  Purple.

  I sighed, running a hand down my face. Of course, it had to be purple. I grabbed one of the suits and held it up, eyeing it critically. It wasn’t bad, exactly, just… not my style. I had spent most of my life in practical, neutral clothing—black leather jackets, white shirts, things that didn’t stand out. But now? Now I had to drape myself in royal purple like I belonged here.

  The longer I looked at it, the more my initial irritation faded into something else—something I wasn’t sure I wanted to name yet. The color wasn’t just a symbol of the nation she belonged to. It was her. It was the way she carried herself, with quiet strength and unwavering certainty. It was the way she commanded attention without demanding it, the way she had challenged everything I thought I knew since the moment I met her.

  I ran my fingers over the fabric, feeling its smooth texture between my fingertips. Maybe this wasn’t just about blending in for the sake of diplomacy. Maybe, in some way, I wanted to be a part of this world she belonged to.

  With a reluctant smirk, I shook my head and tossed the suit onto the bed. “Guess I’d better get used to it.”

  Vorak Sculki arrived just as promised, her sharp gaze scanning me as if evaluating whether or not I was fit to be presented at the banquet. I straightened under her scrutiny, but her expression remained unreadable.

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  “Come,” she said simply, turning before I could respond.

  I followed her out of the room, stepping back into the vast halls of the Aizihs’ home. As we walked, I took in the sight of the Eova preparing for the event. They moved with a quiet elegance, their flowing garments shifting like waves of color through the halls. Every nation’s color was present—red, blue, green, yellow—but once again, I noticed the distinct absence of purple beyond Thriexa and Xilta.

  “They certainly know how to make an impression,” I muttered, more to myself than to Sculki.

  “It is our way,” she responded without looking back. “Symbolism is important. Every gathering, every tradition, serves a purpose. You will come to understand that in time.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was meant to be reassuring or not, but I kept quiet as we made our way through the settlement. The open spaces were alive with movement—Eova conversing in soft voices, adjusting their attire, finalizing preparations. A few took notice of me, their gazes lingering before they turned back to their tasks.

  As we stepped into the banquet hall, the sheer grandeur of it struck me. The ceiling stretched high, interwoven with glowing vines that pulsed with soft light, casting a shimmering glow over the gathering Eova. Their formalwear was as striking as their surroundings—silken fabrics in their respective nation colors, flowing seamlessly like water as they moved.

  Tables, shaped from smooth, polished wood with no visible seams, were arranged in curved formations rather than rigid rows. Floating orbs of golden light hovered above, illuminating the space without the need for traditional fixtures.

  I glanced at Henry. “This is… something else.”

  “Overwhelming,” he muttered. “Like stepping into another world.”

  The hall buzzed with low conversation, but even amidst the movement, there was a sense of ceremony, of precision. The Eova carried themselves with a kind of effortless elegance, their interactions smooth and measured.

  Eventually, Sculki led me to an open-air plaza where Henry and Hail were already waiting. Both had changed into their required purple attire, and from the look on Hail’s face, he was just as thrilled about it as I had been.

  “Nice outfit,” I remarked, smirking at him.

  He shot me a flat look. “Don’t start.”

  Henry, on the other hand, looked more composed, though there was still something guarded about his expression. Before I could say anything else, Sculki straightened and gave a short nod. “I must go find the Aizihs before they make their appearance. Enjoy the banquet.” With that, she disappeared into the gathering crowd.

  I turned back to Henry and Hail, crossing my arms. “So, Hail… do you believe her now?”

  Hail let out a slow breath, his expression tightening. “I don’t know what to believe yet.”

  Henry, always the measured one, looked thoughtful. “It’s a lot to take in. Their history, their abilities, their way of life—it’s nothing like what we expected. But the more I see, the harder it is to deny.”

  I nodded. “Agreed. But that brings up an important question—what exactly is the protocol for discovering an alien race? Because I’m pretty sure nothing in the FBI handbook covers ‘formal banquets with space travelers.’”

  Henry let out a small chuckle, but his expression remained serious. “There isn’t one—not really. There are contingency plans, theories, discussions on how governments should respond, but nothing concrete. Nothing that accounts for something like this.”

  Hail sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “If we report this the wrong way, it could set off a chain reaction we’re not prepared for. There’s protocol for dealing with foreign governments, but an entire species? That’s uncharted territory.”

  I exhaled, glancing around at the gathering Eova. “So, what? Do we make up the rules as we go? Because if that’s the case, we’d better start thinking carefully about our next move. We’re not just dealing with new technology or a hidden society—we’re standing in the middle of a civilization that has been thriving longer than we can probably comprehend.”

  Hail crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know exactly how we should proceed, but I want to request a meeting with the President tomorrow. We need to start thinking about how to handle this on a larger scale. In the meantime, I need you two to stay here and continue learning everything you can about these people. The more we understand, the better we can handle what comes next.”

  Henry nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good plan. But for tonight, we should focus on being present. This banquet is important to them. It’s not just a formality—it’s a tradition that means something. We’ve spent all day trying to analyze everything, but maybe, for just a few hours, we should set that aside. We can worry about the rest tomorrow.”

  Hail sighed but relented, adjusting the collar of his purple attire with visible discomfort. “Fine. But if anyone so much as mentions intergalactic treaties, I’m out.”

  I smirked. “Deal.”

  Vorak Sculki stood on the stage, commanding attention with a mere gesture. “Welcome to the 21st Arrival Banquet. The Eova have been traveling the universe for generations looking for a home. We have visited many planets, but none as beautiful as our new home, Earth. Today our ambassadors have invited three humans to our new home. Please give a round of applause for Commander Phillip Hail, Agent Henry Meyers, and Agent Jace Strickland.”

  The entire room erupted into applause, a wave of sound that seemed almost orchestrated in its precision. Heads turned toward us, hundreds of eyes filled with curiosity, some with warmth, others with careful scrutiny. It was both exhilarating and intimidating to be the center of such attention, to stand before an entire civilization that had decided to welcome us—if only for now.

  I forced myself to stay composed, keeping my expression neutral even as my mind raced. The Eova’s movements were striking in their unity. Unlike human gatherings, where applause came in scattered waves and murmured conversations always lingered in the background, this was synchronized. There was no disorder, no hesitation. It was as if they were connected on a level I couldn’t comprehend, all moving in harmony, perfectly attuned to their leader.

  I shifted slightly, glancing at Henry and Hail. Henry held his usual unreadable expression, absorbing everything without giving away what he was thinking. Hail, on the other hand, looked more uncomfortable, his posture rigid, his jaw tight. Neither of us was used to this level of attention, but he seemed to feel it the most.

  After a few moments, Vorak Sculki held up her hand, and the applause ceased instantly. The room fell into silence, as if a switch had been flipped. There were no lingering claps, no awkward pauses—just immediate, disciplined stillness. The respect she commanded among her people was absolute, and that alone told me just how different this society was from our own.

  I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. Whatever happened next, it was clear that we were in the presence of something far beyond what any of us had ever encountered before.

  Vorak Sculki continued, her voice steady yet warm. “Tonight is not just a celebration—it is an invitation. I encourage each of you to introduce yourselves to our guests, to share your stories, your experiences, your lives. This banquet is about welcoming them into our home, just as we hope that, one day, they will welcome us into their world. Understanding begins with conversation, and tonight, we begin that journey together.”

  Jace appreciated her words, recognizing the sincerity in them. This wasn’t just a speech—it was an invitation, a step toward something greater. Yet, despite the weight of the moment, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

  Where was Thriexa?

  She had been excited about the banquet, eager even, and yet she was nowhere in sight. It wasn’t like her to miss something this significant. His eyes scanned the gathered Eova, searching for any sign of her familiar violet gaze or lilac hair among the flowing colors of the crowd. But she was missing, and that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

  Vorak Sculki now continued her speech, her voice unwavering as she announced, “And now, I present to you the Aizihs. Aizih Xilta and Thriexa Aizih.”

  The room was utterly still as two figures stepped onto the stage. I barely registered Xilta’s regal presence—my eyes were locked onto Thriexa. My Thriexa.

  A strange weight settled in my chest. I had spent days with her, spoken to her as an equal, trusted her in ways I wasn’t sure I even trusted my own colleagues. And yet, she had never once mentioned this. Never once hinted that she was more than just an ambassador. More than just a representative. She was one of them, one of the leaders of the Eova, and I had been completely oblivious.

  A mix of emotions twisted inside me—surprise, confusion, maybe even a little hurt. Had I just been another human she was evaluating? Another outsider she had been carefully watching from a position of power while I, foolishly, had believed we were on the same level?

  I exhaled sharply, trying to push those thoughts aside. It wasn’t like she had lied to me. She had chosen not to say anything, and maybe there was a reason for that. Maybe I had no right to feel anything about it at all.

  But as I watched her stand beside her mother, composed and commanding in her deep violet attire, I realized something else.

  She belonged up there. The confidence in her posture, the way her people looked at her with unwavering respect—it all made sense now. She had never been just another Eova. She was someone important to them.

  And whether I liked it or not, I had been speaking to a leader this entire time.