Soft hands run through my hair... hair? My eyelids are heavy, but I force them open. My whole body aches with an intense pain like every bone in my body is broken. Familiar brown eyes stare down at me as mine begin to open. I blink several times and wonder if I've made it to heaven, because staring into his eyes sure feels like it.

"You're okay?"

He nods, and gives me a reassuring smile.

"What happened?"

My throat hurts worse than any sore throat I've ever had before. Rowan continues running his hand through my hair. My eyes dart around the room, it's unfamiliar to me.

"You won Seraphine, Hailey is gone. You defeated her father as well," he tells me.

His voice sends shivers up and down my spine. I lift my hands from the table and look at them. They are bruised and cut, but they are human.

"How?"

Rowan shrugs, "We're not sure. Silas is looking into it. He thinks it may have something to do with your deepest desire. You desire to be human over dragon."

"What about my people?" I ask. "Are they okay?"

"They have all returned home, yes."

"And us?"

"We are home too."

"And Joe?"

Rowan sighs, "He's home in New York. We are home in Dragona."

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, trying to let everything sink in. This is going to be our home from here on out and there's nothing I can do about it. I wonder if the portals have closed. Also, now that I'm here, will I turn back into a dragon? My pulse speeds up, Rowan notices.

"Hey, look at me. We'll get through this," he tells me. "If you can kill a dragon goddess and one of the strongest dragons in our world, you can do anything."

I know he's right, I saved so many lives by defeating Hailey and her father. I just wish there were a way I could go back to how things were. I already miss the sounds of the city, working at the bookstore, having a Starbucks on every corner, taking the subway places. I was so young when I lived here and don't have many memories of it. How will it compare? It's quiet that's for sure, I'm not sure I could get used to that.

"Ah. Princess you're awake," Silas says.

I gasp at the sight of him, he's human as well. I'm thankful he's okay after I fell on him. He smiles and for the first time since I've met him he truly looks happy here.

"Give me time, and I will figure everything out," he tells me. "There's just one small thing we need to do first. If you're feeling up to it your people are waiting for you out there."

I try to sit up even though everything hurts. Rowan gently guides me up, his arm steadying me from behind.

"Whenever you're ready," Rowan whispers in my ear.

I take another deep breath and stare into his brown eyes, they are my source of comfort and if it weren't for him I would be so lost right now. As I shift to stand Rowan is right there helping me to my feet. He holds me steady with an arm around my lower back. I limp towards the door as Sila's opens it. A bright light shines through and the warmth of the sun hits my face. It's bright at first, but once I step out and look around me I see them, there are thousands upon thousands of dragons and human's standing below me in a valley that goes on for miles. The grass is green, the trees are in full bloom, and the flowers along the hill are just as beautiful as I remember.

"Welcome to Dragona princess," Silas says.

Standing up here with Silas and Rowan really does feel like home. There are so many things I'm going to miss about the world I left behind, but this is who I am. What keeps me going is the thought of my mother watching over me and being surrounded by people who love and respect me. I know mom is with me. Around my neck I can feel it, it doesn't weigh a ton, but I know it's there. The quartz hangs on a blank string. I reach up and grab a hold of it.

"All hail Princess Seraphine of Dragona!" Rowan yells and his voice echoes through the valley.

"All hail Princess Seraphine!" they all shout.

My body suddenly burns like it's a thousand degrees and in one giant burst of energy my wings take over and I lift myself into the sky to get a better view. The humans transform into dragons as all of them below yell out in unison.

This is my home, these are my dragons, and this is what I was meant to do. Whatever comes our way I'm ready and willing to fight for each and every one of them. From this day forward I will do whatever it takes to keep them all safe and I will do it with Silas and the man I love by my side for as long as I'm alive.

In the distance an explosion shakes the land. We are all still bruised and battered from the battle we just endured that I'm not sure how much more we can take. I swoop back down to the ground and look to Silas and Rowan. Rowan nods his head in the direction behind me. I turn and hundreds of dragons have risen from the valley. They flap their wings.

Princess. I am Blaze and these are my men. We are all descendants of the former army. With your permission we want to serve in your army.

Silas transforms and stands beside me, while Rowan hops onto my back. I look to Silas and he shakes his large white head.

They are the true warriors of our kind. It would be wise to have them on our side.

I look at all of them and stare Blaze directly in the eye, you have my permission.

With my command they all turn and fly towards the fire in the sky.

Are you ready my dear Seraphine, I hear Rowan say.

With you by my side I'm ready for anything.

I lift into the air and we all fly off towards whatever awaits for us in that fire. Scared no more, I will protect each one of these dragons the best I can. They are my people and if we can survive a goddesses curse we can survive whatever else comes our way.