CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: RELEASE

Jace leaned against the doorway, arms crossed as he watched her pace and argue into the phone.

She moved with calm frustration, each word calculated, but still clearly annoyed.

She wore a long black dress that touched her ankles, probably the same one she’d arrived in earlier, but now layered over something that didn’t belong to her. His shirt.

It hung loose on her shoulders, way too big, the sleeves rolled up and the hem falling well past her waist.

She had probably grabbed it from his closet without asking, which would’ve irritated him under normal circumstances.

Now though, it just made him pause.

The contrast was striking, Eva, usually sharp and commanding, wrapped in something that softened her silhouette.

Her hair was tied up, a loose bun that swayed slightly as she walked.

There was no armor, no badge, no air of authority. Just her.

And she was beautiful.

Jace didn’t realize how long he’d been watching until Zin’s voice broke in.

He frowned slightly. "Shut it," he muttered.

Eva glanced up mid-sentence. "Mmmh?"

He straightened up quickly. "Nothing."

She stared for a second, then went back to her call, pacing toward the window again.

Jace didn’t move. He just stood there, quietly observing her from the doorway like he was trying to memorize something.

She was still focused on the insurance debacle, waving her free hand in the air slightly in frustration.

Maybe he was imagining it, but even her voice felt different when she was dressed like that. A little softer. A little more... normal.

He didn’t interrupt again. He just kept watching.

Eva finally ended the call with a heavy sigh and tossed the phone beside her on the bed.

Jace leaned against the doorway for a moment longer, then gave her an easy opening. "What was that about?"

He already knew, but it was better than standing there in silence.

She didn’t look up. "Insurance," she muttered. "My car got trashed in the middle of that mess, and now they’re saying the policy doesn’t cover damage caused by monsters."

Jace blinked. "Seriously?"

"I pay R3,200 a month," she said, frustrated. "And they’re telling me monster-related incidents aren’t in the clause. It’s been a long day."

Jace stepped further inside and sat at the edge of the bed. "Yeah. Since... that, things have been complicated."

"You can say that again," Eva muttered. "First I lose my powers, then a monster attack that turns out to be alien, and now there’s an actual alien on the couch watching TV like it’s normal. I wouldn’t blame myself for thinking this was all a dream."

Jace gave a half-smile. "A weird one, but yeah. I get it."

Eva tilted her head slightly. "So... I’m guessing you didn’t come here to chat me up."

He raised an eyebrow. "What, I can’t just come hang out?"

She stared at him. Flat. Unamused.

He sighed. "Okay, fine. You’re right, this time. I came to ask for something."

Her arms folded loosely as she leaned back against the pillows. "I’m listening."

"I want you to train me," he said.

Her expression didn’t change. "Train you?"

"Yeah. You’ve got combat experience. You’ve been in real situations. You know how to fight and think under pressure. I figured... if I’m going to do this, I need someone like you to help me."

She studied him for a second, then gave a dry look. "What’s in it for me?"

He smiled slightly. "I’ll become the hero this city needs. Like you always wanted."

Eva snorted. "Jace, that’s not a prize. That’s a responsibility."

"I’m serious."

She sat forward a bit, her voice softening. "Look... I don’t know what brought on this overnight change, and I won’t pretend I’m not glad you’ve started seeing the bigger picture. I am. I really am proud of you. I’ve been hoping you’d wake up to all this."

Jace nodded quietly. He appreciated her words, but he knew the truth, this change didn’t come from her speeches.

It came from discovering that the aliens’ presence here on earth might be his fault and also the near-death experience, from those blurs, and from realizing just how unprepared he truly was.

But Eva didn’t need to know that.

She exhaled and looked him straight in the eyes. "But that’s not what I want from you."

That made him pause. "What do you mean?"

Eva didn’t answer immediately. She looked down at her hands, thinking carefully. Whatever she was about to say, it wasn’t part of the script he expected.

Eva took a deep breath.

Before Jace could ask what was wrong, or maybe because part of him didn’t want to, she moved.

Suddenly, she was straddling him, knees on either side of his lap, her eyes locked on his, her breath close enough to feel.

His back stiffened as her face hovered over his. She wasn’t joking. This wasn’t a tease.

"Eva," he muttered, swallowing, "you know what Zin said. It’s not guaranteed."

She leaned down and brushed her lips across his neck, making him flinch. "I don’t care," she whispered. "I just want to try."

Her voice was low, breathy, but steady. "Since all this started, I’ve been on edge. Stressed. Angry. Scared. I just... want something I can control. Something real. Just for a while."

Jace hesitated, trying to form a reason not to give in. "Serai is—"

Eva cut him off, eyes narrowing. "I couldn’t give two shits about the alien, Jace. Stop looking for excuses. Don’t act like you haven’t thought about it. I saw how you looked at me. And we’ve already crossed that line once."

He didn’t have a comeback for that.

The way she looked at him, daring him to keep pretending, made it impossible to retreat. Her hands were already on his chest.

His own found her waist, fingers curling over the hem of his shirt, his shirt, the one she’d stolen from his drawer.

She leaned in. He met her halfway.

His lips caught hers with more need than control, pulling her in as their bodies pressed together.

The air between them shifted, heavy with tension, familiarity, and something neither of them wanted to name.

His hands ran up her back, then lower, tugging her tighter.

She responded with a kiss that deepened too fast, heat rising between them as words stopped mattering.