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But the story gets even crazier from there.

I stare at Lanz, my mind reeling. "Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight. You’re an alien from the future, your ship got sucked into a black hole and dumped you here, and now you’re trying to stopotheraliens from messing with humanity’s future?"

He tilts his head, his golden eyes gleaming. "Basically."

"Okay." I take a deep breath, my fingers gripping the edge of the table. "And this… war thing? The Centuries War? That’s what you’re fighting in?"

"It’s more complicated than that," he says, leaning back in his chair. "The Centuries War was a conflict between the Trident Alliance—that’s my side—and the Ataxian Coalition. We won. Barely. But now, some of the Grolgath, the shapeshifting lizards I mentioned, are stuck here in your time. They’re trying to change your history so humanity ends up aligning with the Coalition instead of the Alliance."

I blink at him, trying to process all this. "So, let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’re the good alien, trying to keep humans on the side of the good guys in the future. And the Grolgath are the bad aliens trying to mess that up."

"Simplistic, but accurate." He smirks, a flash of sharp teeth behind his scaled lips.

"But… why?" I shake my head. "Why do you care? Why all the secrecy? And why, for the love of everything, are you pretending to be a billionaire playboy?"

He chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound. "Two reasons. One, funding. Veritas—that’s the team I’m part of—doesn’t run on goodwill alone. We need resources, and being Alonzo Ramone gives me access to those resources. Two, influence. If I’m seen as a powerful businessman, I can guide humanity in subtle ways without them ever realizing I’m not one of them."

I stare at him, my mouth hanging open. "That’s… a lot."

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. "It is. But it’s necessary."

I shake my head, a laugh bubbling up despite myself. "I’m sorry, but this is insane. Aliens, time travel, secret wars… It’s like I’ve stumbled into a sci-fi novel."

He grins, that same confident, cocky grin I saw when he first asked me out. "Believe me, I’ve been living this life for a long time. It’s every bit as insane as it sounds."

I sit back, my mind spinning. "And you’re telling me all this because…?"

"Because I trust you," he says simply, his voice steady. "And because I think you can handle it."

I swallow hard, my chest tightening. Trust. That’s not something I’m used to, especially from someone like him. "I don’t know if I believe all of it," I admit. "But… I believeyou. If that makes sense."

"It does." He leans back, a thoughtful look on his face. "And if you’ll let me, I’ll prove it to you."

I stare at his hand, the scales catching the moonlight like polished rubies. His fingers are long, elegant, and so different from mine, yet the way he holds it out to me feels… human. Vulnerable.

“I don’t know,” I say. My stomach twists. This is insane. He’s an alien. A billionaire. A man my parents wouldneverapprove of. And yet, here I am, standing on a yacht in the middle of the ocean, considering dancing with him.

“Just one dance,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “Please. And if you decide you don’t want to see me again, I’ll take you home and leave you be.”

I raise an eyebrow, trying to lighten the mood. “You won’t erase my memory or something?”

He chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that sends shivers down my spine. “I would never harm someone as glorious as you.”

Glorious. The word hangs in the air, and I feel my cheeks flush. No one’s ever called me that before. I place my hand in his. His skin is warm, the scales smooth but firm under my fingers. He pulls me close, his other hand sliding to the small of my back. I’m suddenly hyper-aware of every inch of space between us—or lack thereof.

“I’ve never danced before,” I admit, my voice trembling. “I’m probably going to step on your feet.”

“Just follow my lead,” he says, his golden eyes locking onto mine. “Give yourself over to me, and I’ll show you the way.”

“Dancing?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

His hand tightens on my back, pulling me even closer. “Living.”

The music swells around us, a slow, romantic melody that wraps us in its embrace. I take a tentative step, then another, letting him guide me. His movements are smooth, confident, and I find myself falling into rhythm with him. My body relaxes, and I let go of the tension I’ve been holding onto all night.

“See?” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re a natural.”

I laugh, the sound surprising even me. “I think it’s just you. You’re a good teacher.”