Search Worlds Without End

Dr Renee Caisson knows there are worse things than an attractive man in uniform drafting her into a secret government project - especially when Major Jackson makes it clear that he isn't bothered by her questionable past. But when her labs come back with decidedly odd results, the Major is forced to come clean over who the government is actually studying. Renee is shocked to learn her subjects are demonic-looking beings who call themselves "Neighbours" - refugees from a dying world, who arrived during the nation-wide solar eclipse.

The Neighbours' technology is unlike anything Renee's ever encountered. At first, she dismisses an injury that inexplicably heals as "just one of those things". And surely August, the most gregarious Neighbour, begins to speak English overnight because of the team linguist's skills?

Not until August begins evolving in real time to withstand Earth's brighter, dryer atmosphere does she admit that the Neighbors' "tech" feels less like science and more like magic--the same magic that brought them here in the first place, and the same they're trying to rekindle with a mysterious labyrinth in order to return home and save their world.

At least, that's what August claims they came for...

Dr Renee Caisson never expected that her scientific expertise would lead to a role playing interpreter between humans and the demonic-looking Neighbours. When the door between their worlds opened, she was drafted by the government to study the otherworldly beings and was able to prove her theory: the Neighbours had been to Earth before - and now they simply wanted to save their dying planet.

At least, that's the story, and everyone - both human and Neighbour - is sticking to it. The Neighbour in charge of the new portal's operation, Noel, isn't that sure anymore. Having succeeded in finding a new planet to inhabit, the leaders of her world have made the dark truth of their existence clear to her: the Neighbours forcibly tried to make a foothold on Earth in the past - and they can't afford to fail again.

But the Neighbours' ability to magically teleport from place to place has convinced Major Jackson that the only way to keep control of the situation is to embrace it and tell the world of the Neighbours' existence.

Unfortunately, not everyone agrees.

As time has passed, Dr Renee Caisson has begun to see the demonic, alien August as more than a research subject or an unlikely colleague - they've become friends. And together she and August have helped the two societies of Nextdoor and Earth through the confusion of first contact, the danger of misunderstandings, and the anger of mistreatment.

But when a popular blogger and conspiracy theorist twists August's words, an uproar ensues, turning a powerful section of human society against the Neighbours - and resulting in Renee's house arrest. Her could-be boyfriend, Major Jackson, says it's to protect her, though that's not how Renee sees it.

Torn between duty and friendship, August jumps Renee to freedom, fully aware that the journey might reveal more to her than she should know. The wily Neighbour has pieced together that Renee has been unconsciously using their magic, a fact that, if revealed, will cause more, not less, conflict between the humans and Neighbors.

For if the people of Earth can master magic and exile August's people again, the Neighbours will not survive...