PRESENT…

I’ve flown on dragon-back twice. The first time, when Liorax and Zunix brought us to the Draekon camp, and the second time, when we left it. That time, I’d flown on Lud’s back. Part of me had marveled at the brilliant blue of his scales, the same intense sapphire blue as his eyes. The other part of me had been heartbroken about what I’d discovered about my mates, shattered at learning that I was never very important to them.

I haven’t talked to them about it. It’s the same reason I don’t try to explain myself to the other women. What’s the point? Nothing’s going to change the reality of the situation. It’s easier to pretend to be unaffected by it.

Xan stalks out when I start crying. Once upon a time, just three months ago, he’d have put his arm around me, asked me what’s wrong. Not anymore. Now, when I cry, the only response he has is impatience.

I wipe away the tears and finish packing. Everything I own in the world, I put into my suitcase. A collection of faded t-shirts from my old life in Maine, and the half-dozen brightly colorful tops I’ve acquired on the prison planet. There’s not much there. I own twelve tops, four panties, two bras, two pairs of jeans, and four black pants.

I rest my palm on my still-flat belly. If I am pregnant, if this isn’t a scare, then the pants won’t fit for long. Harper’s only a few weeks pregnant. She can’t be more than two months along, but she’s already showing. Evidently, Zorahn women have shorter gestation periods than humans. Nobody knows how long it’s going to be before her baby is born, and what that child will look like.

Xan has already transformed into a bottle-green dragon when I carry my luggage to the clearing. When Lud sees me with it, he shakes his head and takes it from me. “You could have asked for help,” he says, his voice tinged with frustration. “I was right here, Felicity.”

For how long? Until Thrax manages to assemble the next Cloakship?

“Sorry,” I mutter under my breath, not meeting his eyes, convinced that if I do, I’m going to burst into tears.

Everyone crowds around as I climb on Xan’s back and settle myself between his spikes. “We’re going to start flying patrols,” Arax says grimly. “If there’s one ship, there might be more. Be careful, please. If the soldiers attack…” His voice trails off.

“Don’t worry.” Lud sounds far too calm. “Felicity is with us. We won’t take any chances, you know that. All we’re going to do is find Dariux and send him back.”

And hopefully, save our relationship.

* * *

PAST…

Evidently, in this strange and frightening planet, where men turn into dragons, I have two mates of my own. To be honest, I’m not sure how to process that. I’m still trying to process that we’re stuck here for the rest of our lives.

No more Chloe, a small voice inside me whispers. No more Aunt Priscilla and Uncle Fred. No more Seascape Grill. This is your chance for a fresh start.

That’s true. This planet is primitive, but at least here, I’m free to be my own person.

We sleep the first night in a small, stiflingly-hot treehouse. The next morning, pairs of Draekons start arriving with packets of breakfast. First, Paige’s two Draekons arrive, and then May’s, and then, when I’m starting to wonder if the two men who became dragons last night when they saw me have changed their mind about wooing me, they show up.

Yesterday, the combination of coming out of stasis and flying through the air on dragon-back had left me sick to my stomach, and I barely had a chance to register them. This morning, after a good night’s sleep, I take them in, and they’re really hot.

Both of them are sleekly muscled and tattooed. Their bodies could grace the cover of swimsuit magazines. That’s not what draws me to them though. It’s their eyes. Both men, who introduce themselves as Xanthox and Luddux, are eying me with warm concern as they hand me my breakfast. They seem nice. Kind.

“Liorax and Zunix told us that your ship had crashed in the Lowlands,” one of them says quietly, drawing me aside so we can converse in private. “I’m sorry about yesterday.” His lips twist wryly. “Draekons are supposed to shift when they see their mate for the first time, but I’ll be honest, I thought it was a myth. I’m Xanthox.”

His hair is short, golden-brown in color. He’s much taller than me, but then again, almost everyone is. At five-foot-one, I’m used to being the shortest person in the room.

“I’m Felicity Rollins,” I reply, returning his smile. “I thought dragons were a myth too.”

“And yet,” the other man says, “Here we are.” His dark brown hair is curly and unruly, and his cheeks, like Xanthox’s, are covered with stubble. His sapphire blue eyes rest on me, and there’s a trace of resigned amusement in them. “I’m Luddux. Welcome to our camp. I promise you, we’re usually better behaved than yesterday.”

Pity. If they tore off their shirts and beat their chests, I’d appreciate the eye-candy.

Over the next fifteen minutes, I get a quick history lesson from two of the hottest men I’ve ever seen in real life. If Mr. George back in my old high school had been anything close to this handsome, I’d have paid a lot more attention in class. I learn that the Draekons have been here for sixty-five years, which makes them really old by human standards, but not by Zorahn standards. I find out that they live in treehouses because there are weird crab-like creatures that swarm at night, and they’ll eat anything in their way.

“So, what now?” I ask when breakfast is over. “Yesterday, Liorax and Zunix told us that you’d try to woo us.” Woo. It feels like such an old-fashioned word. Like I’m in the South, wearing some big-hooped skirt, ready to receive a gentleman caller.

“I’ve never done this before,” Luddux admits sheepishly. “Courted someone. It feels… intimidating.”

“Oh, thank heavens, it’s not just me.” I beam at them, grateful beyond measure that they’re not pressuring me to put out right now. I’m not a fool. Aunt Priscilla and Uncle Fred have taught me that nothing is ever free. I know that at some point, I’ll have to give them something in exchange for the food and shelter they’re providing, and sex is the only commodity I have to trade in this world, but at least they’re being nice about it.

Xanthox smiles at me. “Dariux is going to make some kind of formal announcement,” he says. “He likes to hear the sound of his own voice. But after that, do you want to go for a walk? Things are going to feel strange for a few weeks, I know, but Luddux and I will do everything in our power to ease this transition, Felicity Rollins.”

He’s not lying. His voice is sincere, and I see nothing but kindness in his eyes.

I take a deep breath, and some of the tension in my body eases. Strangely, I’m not afraid of these two men.

I haven’t let myself get emotionally involved with anyone for a very long time, but I’m not on Earth anymore. I’m not the poor cousin anymore, the woman in hand-me-down clothes who smells like grease and fish guts and spends more than ten hours a day working in her family restaurant.

I smile warmly at Luddux and Xanthox. “I’d really like that.”

* * *

PRESENT…

We fly for hours. It’s almost dusk by the time we arrive at the clearing.

I’m finally home.

Bolox and Narix come out to greet us, but Dariux, unfortunately, is nowhere to be seen. “He took his skimmer and went west,” Bolox tells Xan. “He said he’d be back tomorrow afternoon.”

Lud heaves a sigh of frustration, but Xan takes the news in his stride. “Vulrux is skilled. He’ll stabilize the soldier. Don’t worry. We still have time.”

“What soldier?” Narix interjects.

They fill him in. I’m lost in my own thoughts. More tears well up in my eyes as I gaze on the treehouse that Xan and Lud built for me in better days. We’d been happy here once. Can we recapture that lost feeling, or is it too late?

Lud and Xan have finished talking to the other two Draekons. “Come on,” Lud says, lifting my suitcase. “Let’s go up before the detsena appear.”

We make our way to our home in silence. When we’re standing in front of it, Lud takes a deep breath. “Things haven’t been right between us for a while,” he says flatly. “I’ll understand if you want us to sleep somewhere else tonight. Both Xanthox and I still have our original homes.”

I stare at him, my heart in my mouth. Is it over then? Is this his way of saying it?

“But,” he continues. “If we’re going to stay with you, Felicity, then things are going to have to be different. You’ve been shutting us out. Something’s wrong, and you won’t tell us what. I’ve apologized over and over for snapping at you that day. If you can’t bring yourself to forgive me, just say so.”

Even now, he’s not telling me the truth. Even now, he’s pretending that our estrangement is about the argument we had in the aftermath of Belfox and Herrix’s departure.

Xan pulls something from his pack. “I have a present for you,” he says. He holds his palm out to me. There’s a jeweled bracelet. The stone looks like a diamond, except that it’s pinkish in color, and the chain is gold.

He thinks what I want is a diamond bracelet?

Yes, getting gifts was nice when he was wooing me, but now, it just feels like he's trying to buy my love. It makes me feel cheap and worthless.

You have got to be shitting me.