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The Edge of Control

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  The moment Jace pressed me against the wall, a strange thrill shot through me, something I had never experienced before—not in this way, not in this body. I had spent lifetimes navigating the intricacies of connection, but this… this was entirely new.

  I could feel his intentions—his desire, his restraint, the way his control teetered on the edge. It sent shivers through me, igniting something deep in my core that I had no name for. My fingers tightened in his shirt, pulling him closer, needing more contact, needing him.

  The sensations overwhelmed me. The heat where his body met mine, the way my pulse hammered against my ribs, the ache of longing curling in my stomach. I had lived for so long, and yet, nothing had ever felt like this.

  His lips moved against mine with a hunger that sent a jolt through my spine. I gasped softly, my breath stolen by the sheer intensity of it. He took advantage of my parted lips, deepening the kiss, his hands gripping my waist like he was afraid I’d disappear. I clung to him, letting myself drown in the sensation, letting myself feel in a way I never had before.

  The emotions burned through me like fire. Too strong. Too overwhelming. I had thought I understood desire, had believed I knew what it meant to want, but now I realized I had never truly felt it—not like this.

  Jace groaned against my lips, pressing himself more firmly against me, and I could feel his need, sharp and consuming. The way his fingers dug into my hips, the way his body responded to mine—it sent another wave of heat spiraling through me.

  For the first time in four lifetimes, I wanted in a way that I couldn’t rationalize. Couldn’t control.

  And I didn’t want to.

  Jace broke the kiss, his lips trailing down the side of my neck, sending another shockwave of pleasure through me. I shuddered, my fingers threading through his hair, savoring the feeling—until reality crashed down on me like a cold wave.

  I couldn’t do this.

  As much as I wanted to lose myself in him, in this moment, I knew the truth. I was the Aizih. I was responsible for my people, for my nation. I had a duty to continue the Aurra bloodline, to find a partner among my own kind, to ensure our survival.

  But that wasn’t the only thing stopping me. I had lived four lifetimes, each filled with experience, responsibility, and sacrifice. Jace had barely begun his first and only lifetime. He deserved more than this—more than a leader bound by duty, more than someone who could never truly belong to him.

  I pulled away, my breaths uneven, my body screaming at me to stay close. But I forced myself to meet his gaze, my heart aching at the unspoken emotions lingering between us.

  “Jace…” I whispered, my voice barely steady. “We can’t.”

  He stiffened slightly, his breath still warm against my lips. “Thriexa… why?”

  I closed my eyes for a brief moment, forcing the words out even though every part of me resisted them. “Because I have responsibilities. Because I am an Aizih. I have lived four lifetimes, Jace. My people expect me to continue my lineage, to ensure the Aurra do not fade. I cannot ignore that duty.”

  His jaw tightened, but his hands remained firm at my waist. “I understand, but that’s not fair. You didn’t choose to be born into this role. And you—you feel this too. I know you do. Don’t push me away just because it’s complicated.”

  I swallowed hard, my fingers still resting lightly on his chest, my body betraying me by wanting to stay close. “I do feel it,” I admitted.

  “But that doesn’t change reality. You have barely started your first and only life, Jace. I have seen and done things that you can’t imagine. The gap between us is more than just species—it is time, duty, and responsibility.”

  Jace’s expression darkened slightly, his grip on my waist tightening for just a moment before he exhaled sharply. “My age? That’s one of your reasons?” His voice held a mix of disbelief and frustration. “I may not have traveled the universe, Thriexa. I may not have lived multiple lifetimes. But if anyone here is young, it’s you. You’ve been human for what? Two months? You’re the one still figuring out what it means to live like this, to feel like this. Don’t act like I’m the only one who’s still learning.”

  My voice was barely above a whisper. “I know, I’m still learning how to be human, but please, my duty is to my people.”

  We stood in silence for a few moments still holding onto each other. “You don’t understand how hard it is for me to pull away when I can feel everything—your intentions, your desire, your restraint. It’s not just my own emotions I’m fighting, Jace. It’s yours too.”

  His expression was unreadable, a storm of emotions battling within him. “So that’s it? We just pretend this doesn’t exist?”

  I hesitated. “I don’t know what we do. I only know that I cannot afford to lose myself in something that cannot last.”

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  A silence stretched between us, heavy with everything unsaid. And then, with a slow exhale, Jace nodded. He took a step back, his warmth slipping away, leaving a coldness in its place.

  “Okay,” he said, his voice softer now. “I won’t push you. But I won’t pretend this doesn’t exist.”

  I let out a shaky breath. “I wouldn’t ask you to.”

  He held my gaze for a long moment before finally stepping away completely. The absence of his touch felt like a wound I couldn’t name.

  And as I watched him turn away, I wondered if I had just made the right decision—or the worst mistake of my life.

  Jace Strickland POV

  I walk outside to clear my head and check up on the security team. The evening air is crisp, but it does little to ease the tension still coiled inside me. My mind is a storm, replaying the conversation with Thriexa, the way her body had pressed against mine, the way she had pulled away. It was the right thing for her people, I tell myself again. It had to be.

  Footsteps crunch against the pavement, pulling me from my thoughts. Trenal, Tocci, and Sam approach the building, their conversation cutting off as they near me. Trenal gives me a quick nod before heading inside with Sam, but Tocci hesitates.

  The moment she reaches me, she stiffens. Her eyes narrow slightly as she studies me, and then, without a word, she reaches out with her abilities. I feel the familiar sensation of her mind brushing against my emotions, and my jaw tightens.

  What is going on with you? Tocci’s voice enters my thoughts, quiet but pointed. Your emotions are a mess.

  I cross my arms, forcing my expression blank. Drop it, Tocci.

  She doesn’t, not right away. Instead, she expands her reach, stretching her awareness beyond me—and then she freezes. I don’t need to ask why. I know what she’s feeling.

  Thriexa.

  Tocci exhales sharply, shaking her head. You’re both radiating the same storm of emotions. And you want me to just drop it?

  My muscles tense. I don’t respond right away, just stare out into the night, forcing myself to stay in control. Finally, I let out a slow breath. Just give me the update on the event.

  Tocci watches me for another moment, then sighs. Fine. But this conversation isn’t over.

  I’m not so sure about that.

  Tocci exhales, then gives me the rundown. “The shooter opened fire on the Secret Service when they confronted him. One of their agents was hit, but he’s stable and recovering in the hospital. The shooter didn’t make it—he was killed in the exchange.”

  I press my lips into a thin line. “And the bomber?”

  “Captured,” she confirms. “He’s being held at the FBI building for interrogation. And before you ask—Agent Henry Meyer has been appointed to run the investigation.”

  That’s a relief. I trust Henry. If anyone can get answers, it’s him.

  I exhale, my mind already shifting gears. “Alright. I’m heading over there. I need to talk to Henry, see what we’re dealing with.”

  Tocci crosses her arms. “And who’s in charge here while you’re gone?”

  I give her a pointed look. “You. Keep things secure. If anything happens, I want to know immediately.”

  She nods, but not without giving me a knowing glance. “Jace, don’t do anything reckless.”

  I smirk, shaking my head. “No promises.” Then, without another word, I turn and head for the car, ready to get some answers.

  The FBI office is buzzing with activity when I step inside. Agents pass by, focused on their tasks, but as soon as they see me, a few stop to greet me. Some shake my hand, others clap me on the shoulder, welcoming me back like I’ve been gone for years instead of days.

  “Didn’t think we’d see you back here so soon,” one agent jokes.

  Another smirks. “Guess protecting the most well-known person on the planet wasn’t enough excitement for you?”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. “Something like that.”

  The congratulations on my promotion come next, each one laced with a mix of admiration and amusement. It still feels strange hearing it—being head of security for Thriexa, the leader of an entire species, is not a position I ever imagined myself in.

  I navigate through the familiar halls and find Henry standing by the interrogation room, reviewing a file. He glances up, surprise flickering across his face when he sees me.

  “Didn’t expect you here,” he says, closing the file. “Figured you’d be busy playing bodyguard.”

  I shrug. “I am. But I need to be a part of this.”

  Henry studies me for a moment, then exhales. “Something’s going on with you. I can see it.”

  I don’t respond right away. Instead, I glance at the interrogation room door, the weight of everything pressing against me. “Let me help, Henry.”

  He watches me for a beat longer before nodding. “Alright. Let’s get some answers.”

  I stand behind the one-way mirror, arms crossed, watching as Henry leans over the table, his expression as unreadable as ever. The bomber sits opposite him, hands cuffed to the metal surface, but his posture is far from defeated. If anything, he looks pleased with himself.

  “We know you didn’t act alone,” Henry says, his voice even. “The people who gave you the materials, the funding—they’re still out there. You can give us names, or you can sit here and rot while we find them ourselves. Either way, this doesn’t end with you.”

  The man smirks, tilting his head slightly. “You say that like you think I care. You think I didn’t go into this knowing exactly what would happen? I was prepared to die. The fact that I’m still breathing doesn’t change a damn thing.”

  Henry doesn’t flinch. “Then maybe you should tell me who you’re protecting. Because I guarantee you they won’t return the favor.”

  The bomber lets out a quiet chuckle. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about me. You can throw me in a cell, parade me around as your ‘win.’ It won’t change what’s coming. We were prepared for this. And when the next one happens, and the one after that, the people will finally see what’s happening to them. You can’t stop it.”

  I clench my jaw, my fingers curling into my arms. He’s not breaking. At least, not yet.

  Henry exhales sharply through his nose, pushing off the table. “We’re done here.”

  He walks out of the interrogation room, and I step away from the mirror, meeting him in the hallway. “He’s not talking.”

  Henry shakes his head. “Not yet. But he wants us to think we’re powerless. He wants us to believe that more attacks are inevitable.” He glances at me. “Unless we give him something he wants.”

  I already know what he’s thinking. “You want me to go in there.”

  Henry folds his arms. “He sees you as a traitor. A human working with the Eova instead of your own people. That pisses him off. Which means it makes him talk, and you can play his game, you can talk about the Eova as someone who deals with them every day. We can use that.”

  I exhale slowly, my gut twisting at the thought of playing into this guy’s beliefs. But if it gets us the information we need, then fine. “What’s the plan?”

  Henry’s eyes are sharp. “You go in there, and you play along. You act like you agree with him. Like you’ve seen what’s happening and you’re starting to question things. Get him comfortable. Let him think he’s getting through to you. Make him trust you. If he believes he has an ally, he’ll slip. He’ll start talking.”

  I nod once. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

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