I remain in Drakkon's embrace for a long minute. Time seems to freeze as we stare at the area where the portal appeared. Drakkon snaps out of his trance first and leads us away from the parking lot in search of cover. He takes us far and hides us in an abandoned department store.

I sob against Drakkon's chest. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Like I'm not guilty of failing humanity. Things will get better now.

"You did so good," Drakkon tells me, rubbing my back to calm me down.

I'm incredibly grateful to him. I'm alive because our love is true.

We look around the department store in search of supplies. We pull the plastic cover off a mattress and settle in the emptiest room we can find. I'm clingier to Drakkon than usual, emotional after what happened today. He doesn't seem to mind. His hands are all over me, rubbing comfortably.

"I will show you all of my world. I will fly you over mountains and swim with you through all the lakes. There will be no more rubble, rusting metal, abandoned homes full of ghosts. No more hunger and uncertainty. When I find my family, if I have any, I will present you to them proudly. You are my sun, Lucky."

My heart swells. Drakkon is so sweet to me. His plans for our future sound like music to my ears.

"I'm sorry you can't remember your family. That humans did this to you."

He dips his head and squeezes my hip. "That is the past. We must move on."

"There is one thing we didn't account for."

"What is it?" he asks. "Do you wish to know of my wealth? I don't remember much of my hoard, or if I own property, but that is not a problem. I am in my prime and capable of rebuilding my wealth. You will be comfortable."

I chuckle. I'm not stressed about his status. I've survived living with him in the dingiest places, so I'm not picky about our next home.

"We will have to travel back and forth from Earth to your planet many times. We need to build an infrastructure to support Earth. Lowering crime and offering resources should be the first steps, but I don't know how willing your people will be to help."

He nods. "I will get help. Once we clear the minds of the dragons on Earth, I am sure they will be compelled to help."

"And then..." I pause, my heart stuttering in my chest.

Drakkon kisses the top of my head and rearranges us so I'm on top of him with my head on his chest. "Relax. You can tell me anything."

My fingers curl into themselves. "Well, we need credibility. To show that our worlds can unite peacefully. I was thinking..."

"Yes?"

"I was thinking that a year from now we could begin, you know, popping some."

There's a pause. "Popping blemishes? That's an odd request, but I will comply if this is an important part of the human bonding experience. I'm afraid people my age have clear skin, so I will not have any blemishes to offer for you to pop."

I should have known that vagueness with Drakkon is a recipe for disaster.

"I meant popping children, Drakkon."

"Well, why would you want to squeeze a child to death?"

"I wouldn't!" I chuckle. "We should start procreating next year. Procreating children."

I can't believe I'm saying this. I was never sure if I wanted to bring children into this apocalyptic world, and now I sound like I want to use them as pawns.

"Not only to show both worlds that we can coexist peacefully, but because I want a future with you. I can't imagine a life without you after all we've been through."

He's silent, and I begin to sweat bullets. Maybe it was too early to throw this at him. After all, he nearly killed me today.

"It would be an honor to father offspring with you." He says. HIs words are reinforced by a hard bulge beside my hip.

"Oh, yeah, cool." I clear my throat. "Well, goodnight, then. Thanks for not turning me to ashes me today." I force a laugh, but he's not amused.

The emotional turmoil of the day helps put me to sleep quickly. Once I'm up, Drakkon offers non-perishable reserves he found, and then we rush to the parking lot to wait for Jexis. The portal could open here any time, and if it doesn't, then we assume Jexis will hike back here to meet us.

Drakkon led me into the supermarket. We crouch by the cracked crystal doors and look out for any signs of the old man. The sunlight burns quickly, and by night, despair claws at me. There's a chance Jexis didn't make it, or he lied to us and had no intention of bringing help.

Drakkon places a palm on my bouncing thigh. I appreciate his support, but if a portal doesn't open in this parking lot, I'm going to be chewed up by anxiety.

Soon, it's pitch dark out, and I'm heartbroken that Jexis never showed up. I can only hope that he's well. After perking up whenever I see a shift in the trees, I'm exhausted and fall asleep in Drakkon's arms.

"Lucky. Lucky!"

I stir awake. Drakkon is gently shaking me. He has cornered me against the wall, almost protectively.

My eyes jump to the outside. There I find Jexis and nine males that are, without a doubt, out of this world.

Jexis did it. He came back.

I stand, taking an insecure step behind Drakkon because I don't know what to expect.

He squeezes my hand and opens the door. Together, we approach the group. The men are dressed in strange fabrics, and they look around, confused by my world. They're all young, and likely as lethal as the other dragons on Earth.

I wait for them to burst into violence and attack. After all, that's what seeing humans does to them. But they keep their composure, unaffected. The only thing they offer is intrigue toward me, and Drakkon doesn't appreciate it. He holds my hand tight, and his breathing is harder.

Jexis speaks in a foreign language as he addresses the men. Then, he translates for me.

"This is the queen of the humans. She will be leading us all."

My eyes widen. I'm the queen of the what?

Drakkon says something, and Jexis translates.

"She is my queen."

Drakkon is standing his ground, declaring me as his.

The man closest to Jexis speaks, and Jexis translates. "Greetings, queen of humans. It is an honor to meet you and your male."

Drakkon presses his palm against the small of my back, pressing me forward. I stumble out and smile weakly. I'm in the shadow of giants, being assessed by them.

"We are thankful to you all," Drakkon says. "First, will find a base to settle in. Then the operations begin. How long will you stay on this planet for?"

Jexis translates their answers. Two of the nine men are related to Jexis, four others are here hoping to find a wife, and three simply here out of curiosity. Their planet has no central jurisdiction system. There are no kings and queens or presidents, only a common understanding that they take matters into their own hands.

The men say they will stay here indefinitely until it's time to open the portal and recruit more men or transfer equipment to Earth. I'm so grateful that they're here to offer Drakkon backup, that I could melt with relief.

I stay close to Drakkon. Although the men keep their distance, I can sense their curious stares.

Drakkon doesn't care to hide in the shadows anymore. He walks down the roads like he's impenetrable, not worried about what's coming.

We're close to a tall building. One we would typically avoid because it has too many glass windows.

A shadow is cast from above. It happens quickly. A dragon that has spotted the group. He circles above while we keep walking.

He flies away, as if deciding he would never win against us.

I'm astonished. Any other day, hiding from the enemy would be priority number one. Now we walk around carelessly, like we're the ones that should be feared.

This is a power I never could have imagined. Perhaps one I don't deserve, but am grateful for.

We enter the abandoned business building and take the stairs up. The higher we go, the fewer signs of looting.

The men settle on the ninth floor, with one taking the first patrol shift. It takes me a while to reach the tenth floor. Drakkon insisted on carrying me from the second floor, but I persisted even though my thighs were burning.

"What did you..." I pause to pant and rest against the wall. "What did you tell the men?"

"I told them that work begins tomorrow. For now, I want you to rest because you have been stressed."

"Oh, Drakkon. I can't believe this nightmare is ending." I cover my face with my hands, panting and fighting tears.

He sweeps me into his arms and walks over all the trash in this office. He sits by a window and cradles me in his lap. From here, we have a magnificent view of the city. Although it's destroyed, the sky is as beautiful as ever.

"Do you see that world out there that is tired and weary? I love it, because it brought me to you. Maybe it's wicked that I'm being grateful for my violent fate, but I know that if I never came to this planet, I would never be this happy. You are my fire, Lucky. I cannot wait to create good with you. We have much to fight in the upcoming days, but we will also share laughter and pleasure. I would not give this adventure for the greatest hoard."

"Thank you, Drakkon. I love you more than my freedom."

None of my wildest dreams would have landed me here. I thought Daisy was my future. That my last days would be spent with her. But the apocalypse tossed me a curve ball, and now I'm planning life with a man that I thought was the enemy.

"We will sail those blue skies on both planets. Together."

I lean my head against his chest, and I examine the clear sky. It's not so scary anymore. It holds adventure.

"To the blue skies, and beyond."

ALSO IN THE SERIES↓ Jasmin/The Alien's Liar (Book 3)

Jasmin was a part of a Dragon Match program that hoped to offer opportunities to a post-apocalyptic Earth. She was teleported to planet Le'vris and was paired with a dragon, but he was cold toward her. Feeling unwanted, she gave up on the program and returned to Earth. This story is about how she's dragged back to Le'vris and meets another dragon that clearly wants her.

Book 3 is available on www.patreon.com/ancientt