Ash waddled down the Renjer cave a son latched onto each leg and her daughter in her arms. They had turned the tide against the Tryns and now only a fraction remained, but Ash wouldn’t relax until she knew every last demon on Renjer and on Earth was gone. And she had a feeling they’d return with a vengeance.

“Can you please take one of your children?” she asked Xilon.

He, in his dragon form, had Isabelle and Kohl’s twins swinging from his tail. “Sure, they can all come play,” he mindspoke to her and she was sure the kids heard him too for they squealed and raced forward.

“Is Taurian going to be here soon?” She bit her lip. “Brice plays tonight in the Super Bowl in under an hour.” Just in case they missed the first part of the game, she had her DVR set to record the entire thing, plus she was sure she’d watch it again and again to see her little brother make the game…possibly win too.

“I know.” Xilon smiled. “We’ll get home in time.”

Excitement coursed through her as her husband kissed their kids goodbye. Adriax and Symon tackled Taurian when he entered the chamber. Vickie, named after her Grams’ dragon name, blew raspberries as she toddled around the cave.

Xilon had given gold to her brother and he paid off his debts and his college loans back. In her spare time, Ash had worked with Isabelle and Dena to find a cure for the dragons not having enough females to reproduce, but so far they hadn’t had any luck. Even if they found a remedy tomorrow, the Renjerians would need extra help now.

“Hey.” Ash swung herself onto Xilon’s scaled back. “I was thinking about what Brice said years ago.”

“That you’re the luckiest woman in the universe to be married to such a handsome, amazing warrior dragon?”

She laughed. “Yes, even though you are all those things and more. But no, I was thinking more like a surrogate call to the human women, you know? The economy is bad and many might be okay with carrying a baby or two if they were paid enough.”

“Well, we do have lots of gold on Renjer.” He crawled out of the cave then launched himself into the sky. “Many of my people have started over on Earth now that they can shift into human form. Who knows, maybe your plan will bring many star-crossed lovers together.”

“For your people,” she said. “It might give them a second chance at life and love.”

“I’d pay all the gold in my world for you.”

She squeezed his neck and kissed the top of his head as they soared through the clouds. “All I want is your love.”

“You’ve everything and more,” he mindspoke back.

Peace and joy filled her. She’d never been this happy and loved, part of her wondered how she’d lived without Xilon and his love in her life. She was content. But she would train her daughters and sons in the ways of Grams who taught her to fight demons and face their fears and to always take a chance on love. She was so glad she did.

“Now let’s go watch my brother play.”

They caught a bolt of lightning and landed in a grassy field. A picnic basket lay a few feet away.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“A surprise.” He winked.

When she opened the basket, clothes for both of them and food and wine were inside. “H-How did you know where we’d land?”

“Trex fixed the teleporter.” Xilon shrugged. “So I had this planned out. Hurry and get dressed, our car is going to be here in twenty.”

Car? She dressed quickly in the jeans, tennis shoes, and halter top. They ate the grapes and bread with cheese in the basket and shared a glass of wine until a black limo pulled up.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Told you I was rich…gold in the Renjerian hills, remember?”

“Where are we going?” she asked taking his hand and racing to the car.

“To watch your brother live.” He handed her two Super Bowl tickets.

Tears clouded her eyes.

“I know you had the game ready to be taped, but figured we could watch it on the TV any time.”

She leaped into his arms, knocking him down and kissing him until they both panted for breath.

“Does this mean you want to get a hotel and skip the game?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Not on your life, but it does mean I have a surprise for you tonight after the kids are in bed.”

“Woot, then I’m one lucky man and Renjerian.”

She kissed his nose. “That is true and I’m the luckiest woman in the universe to have you. Now get up before I leave you here to watch my brother win tonight!”

For a sneak peek of Book 4 in the Aliens of Renjer series, check out the Afterword at the end of this book.