Redemption (The Extinct Race Series Book 4) (14 page)

Chapter 26

One Month Later

A month had passed since Aldrich’s death and everyone was finally free. Hugh had finished all the houses a week ago and passed away a few days later. Kaiden took care of all the expenses and sent his kids some money. They buried him next to his wife and had a huge funeral. All of the rooms on the main floor were now empty as everyone moved into their homes. One of Hugh’s men informed Kaiden that he would be taking over the company and to call him if they needed anything.

Mr. Steinman and his children went back to California but was still a phone call away for any legal matters the Sect had. Arthur had worked with his insurance company and partners while he was in Ireland and his offices had started being renovated before he got back. Arthur was also unable to stop Kaiden from paying him while he was in Ireland. His nanny was also at his home when he arrived.

The Half-Blood families had adopted the children in the main house. Some took two and others took only one but they all took the children so Vivi could live her life. Alexi and Gosha moved into their own home however theirs was fairly close to the main house so they got to see their son daily. Vivi is still having a very hard time with the memories she had seen. Nightmares plague her dreams and she wakes up screaming most nights. During the day she works with Sarah explaining the faces of her mother in all the visions she remembers. At the end of the month Sarah presented her with her work. She had framed each picture and colored them in. Some she painted and others she drew. Rosa had the picture she had found in the trunk enlarged as well as framed and that now hung over Vivi’s fireplace in her suite.

The only babies that remained in the house were Jacob and Lily. Justine had also learned that she was pregnant shortly after that night. She was overjoyed and Gabe was beside himself. He wasn’t sad just worried that he wasn’t good enough to be a daddy. Jacob was one thing because he was just there. The one growing inside his mate however was a part of him and he knew he gave Mary hell and he feared his would be the same.

Zach and Halina spent their days getting to know Colleen. A bit of the teenager Halina never got to be came shining through when they talked. Zach took a big brother role more than a fatherly role with the girl and it worked for them. Colleen had figured out that she loved fashion and she now worked with Marjorie on the weekends. During the week she worked with Rosa and Michael. They were trying to cram in all her schooling at once to get her ready for school in the real world. That was something Colleen wanted, to go to a real high school in town.

Jaco spent his days doing what he said and tracked the movements of the half-bloods they let go. What none of them knew however, was that he put a tracking chip in the lining of all their bags. He knew they would hold on to at least one of the bags as a memento of their freedom. A couple stuck together and others split up on their own. Some went to big cities and rented apartments or a house. There were two out of all of them that went back to Alaska. But neither of them went to where the camp was located. Jaco thought they must have met women while they were there and went back to be with them. None of them had gotten in to any trouble during the month and that made Jaco happy.

Donny and Alex had kept their promise to each other and now took things slow. They made daily dates and flirted from across the room. Alex also found a couple hours each day and spent them alone with her parents. She loved that they were alive and not as protective of her now. They never tried to tell her what to do anymore and she loved that. She also found that her dad was an amazing artist and he loved tattoos as much as she did. He had started to teach her his techniques and they started to draw together. Her mother enjoyed watching them and teaching Alex the right way to blend the colors.

Morgan spent her time making the cribs she promised to make. She also went a little overboard and made every couple a special crib for their first born. There were only two couples that wouldn’t have children so she made them a special daybed. Quinn helped her with most of the work and they stored it all in a storage shed that Hunter had built for them.

Everyone continued training but only the Fury’s maintained it daily. Everyone else went about every other day and more for exercise than anything else. Tonight however was the one month anniversary to their freedom. Kaiden planned a special celebration. All the ladies were required to wear a formal dress and the men were required to wear tuxedos. The dining room and living areas in the main house had been cleared out to another room and smaller tables were brought in with chairs. Kaiden asked Jaco to DJ the event and a dance floor was brought in.

Tall vases full of white roses and lilies filled the room. A dance ball glittered across the walls as soft music filtered around them. Mary and the girls made finger foods and trays of them were placed all over. Champagne was brought out as Kaiden stopped the music and stood before them all.

“One month ago today our fight ended and our freedom was given. The previous twenty five years was very hard on us but we came together and overcame. This is always your home however if you wish to travel the doors are now open. I know some of you ladies have chatted with Finley and are now itching to shop in Paris. You all may now come and go as you please. The world is yours. I just hope you all come back. I love having you all here and I would miss you terribly if you all decided to leave for good. The one thing I want to say most is Thank you! Thank you for believing in us and yourselves. Thank you for being a part of this Family. Thank you for surviving and being strong. Thank you for being you!” Kaiden shouted to the room. “I love you all!”

The room erupted in cheers and everyone clanked their glasses together.

The night was spent full of dancing and laughter. There was not a sad face in the crowd and Zoe soaked it all in. She knew that vacations and trips would start soon and some would be gone longer than others. But as she looked at the faces she knew that this would always be everyone’s home to come back to. This is where they would raise their children and grow roots. After all this is the only place they could let their Dragons out without any human eyes seeing anytime that they wanted to.

The land was protected and always would be. She knew eventually some would leave, like in a hundred years or so. Once it got a little too crowded. Her one prayer was that Kaiden and she set a good example and if other sects were formed that the Pearls were not like the ones of old. She wanted them all to be families and work together. She hoped there was never another dictatorship within their race again.

First things first though, they needed to rebuild this almost extinct race.

Chapter 27

Pearls 10 Years Later

“Bath time!” Zoe called to her children.

“But mom we took on last night. Can’t we just watch a movie? Dad got a new one yesterday and we haven’t watched it yet.” Isaac whined

Zoe looked down at her youngest son who was four years old now. She saw herself in him so much his white blond hair that stood out on his little tanned face. She now had four children of her own and Lily who was now ten. They had had children pretty quickly and she wouldn’t change a thing. When Isaac was born they decided to enjoy the five children before they tried for anymore. Briec was nine now Josephine was seven and Aisley was six.

“Fine we can have a movie night, go and get your sisters and I’ll make the popcorn.” Zoe replied to her youngest son with a smile as he turned down the hall to get his sisters.

Zoe walked into the kitchen in the suite that was now stocked with food. The only night that they had Mary make dinner was on Sundays when everyone came to dinner if they were home. So Zoe and Kaiden shared the cooking duties now. Kaiden walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“So Isaac got you to cave huh?” Kaiden teased

“He sure did. So caramel or butter?” Zoe asked

Hmm let’s think about this? Five youngsters on a sugar high for the next few hours? Or bed on time and a bath for my beautiful Angel?” Kaiden mused

“Butter it is. Grab a couple bowl will you and ill pop this up?” Zoe turned to the microwave with the popcorn in hand.

The living room was full of toys and bean bag chairs for each kid. Movie night was a big deal on weekends and the kids always fought over who sat where. So the bean bags had become a must. Lily came into the room first and she took her seat in the bright pink bean bag. Zoe noticed that her other two daughters came in behind Lily and took their places in their red and purple bags. Isaac was in his green one and the blue one that should have Briec sitting in it was empty.

“Where is Briec?” Kaiden asked

Lily looked at her dad and rolled her eyes. “Where do you think he is?” she laughed.

At that moment Justine appeared at the elevator with Briec at her side. “Zoe we need to talk. They are too young to be sneaking around and doing the kissing stuff.”

“Again? Alright Briec that is the last time. I know she is your soul mate and you have already established the bond. However you are too young to be doing this already and if I have to I will send you to grandpa.” Zoe threatened

“Mom I am going to be ten in like seven months you can’t keep us apart.” Briec replied as he glared up at Justine who had just snitched him out to his mom.

“Kaiden he is your son you fix this. You need to explain to the boy what happens. Dad is in Hawaii and would be happy to take the stubborn little man for a few months.” Zoe said as she went to the living room and handed each of her children a bowl of popcorn.

Kaiden took Briec back to his room and Justine waved goodbye. The boy was a handful Zoe knew. They had figured out who his soul mate was as soon as the girl was born. Zoe was tickled pink that it was her best friend’s daughter however as the two get older they get in more trouble. If they are not watched like a hawk then they are sneaking off with each other. Zoe remembered Ben and Abby when they first met and how Ben was with her. But then again Abby is five years younger than Ben, not the same age.

Briec was also the only Pearl male they had and he knew that he was a King, which didn’t help Zoe any as the boy took that fact to his head. Aisley was also a Pearl but she was very quiet and shy. Isaac was a Fury and John was his hero it also helped that John happened to be his soul mates Father. Josephine was Water and she spent a lot of time with her soul mate as well. In fact all of her children knew her their soul mate was but none were like Briec and his. Those two were trouble with a capital T.

Lily was the only one of her children who did not and would not have a soul mate. Zoe spoke to her a lot about it once she started to notice all the other children basically went into pairs when they all went outside to play. Zoe spent extra time explaining what happened and why Lily had come to them. Once Lily understood she went to Vivi a lot and talked with her sister. It also helped that Justine had Jacob. Lily and Jacob were best friends as well as brother and sister.

Kaiden and Zoe both spend their days managing the land with the help of Zach and Halina. Kaiden with his intuition does the investing online as well as stocks. Zach uses his ability and makes sure that everyone is happy and has everything they need. Zoe takes care of payroll and the finances while Halina does all the ordering of food and supplies. The four of them make a very good team and have managed the mountain for ten years now with no problems. They have even created an account that is strictly for the land which everyone deposits money into. This was created only after lots of pestering from the rest of the family.

That account is used to buy the groceries and supplies for everyone’s household. Many have businesses and jobs outside the border. So once a month everyone makes a deposit into the family account. The ladies that work in the house go once a week to gather everything needed from the stores and then spend the next day making deliveries. It has worked out well and the girls love helping out the new moms.

Kaiden and Zoe took trips every summer with the kids to her father’s place in Hawaii. Marcus and Iraina maintained a house on the land as well as their home in Kauai. They purchased the ocean front property about two years after Briec was born. They travel between the two homes but summers are always in Kauai. The kids all love it there and look forwards to the month long vacation they spend there. Marcus and Iraina also call daily to speak with their kids and grandkids.

On the other side of the house Halina had her hands full making sundaes for her children. Zach stood next to her holding one their newest babies in his arms. Because of their upbringing both of them wanted a lot of children and right now they had six. Zach also inherited the twin gene as they had two sets of twins.

Tori and Taylor were their newest arrivals who were now six months old and happened to be identical Blood girls. They also had another set of twins who were fraternal Annalese and Cooper were Pearls and now they are four years old. Airic who was also a Pearl was ten now and he was just like his father. Noah was eight and he was Earth. Noah was the troublesome one who always climbed out the window into the trees.

Noah preferred the trees so much that Halina had had Morgan come and decorate his room. His bed was a vine hammock that hung from the two small but sturdy trees in his room. There was no carpet as he wanted fresh grass instead. There was no electronics in the room at all which Halina was very thankful for. Airic on the other hand had a huge TV in his room with a few video game systems. Cooper shared a room with Airic and those two were two peas in a pod. They were stoic like their father however once you got them going they were a riot.

“Hey Babe you want chocolate or vanilla tonight?” Halina asked as she scooped the ice cream into bowls.

“Can I have one of each?” Zach asked while he placed Tori into a highchair next to Taylor who was already munching on a cone in her seat.

“You sure can. Hey we also need to talk to Airic about Chloe. She is coming back from France tomorrow and he doesn’t know yet. Morgan just called me about an hour ago and said that Chloe is home sick and doesn’t want to stay there for school anymore. She wants to come home and not just during the summer. Like she doesn’t want to be in that school anymore she wants to move home for good. You know how Briec and Irelynn are. I just don’t think I can handle that stuff like Kaiden and Zoe do. I mean Cooper and Avery are still so young I have a few years and it helps that Avery doesn’t live in the main house. Plus her father is so protective her has that house on lock down with those three girls. Airic is a good boy, I just want you to have a talk with him, ok?” Halina explained as she added the sprinkled and whip cream to the bowls.

“I will baby and actually I am glad she is coming home. I didn’t like her being sent to that posh school away from us all. I know that Morgan and Quinn wanted the best for her and I am sure she has excelled for the last two years. Speaking of which Colleen is coming home too. I know she moved downstairs now and she is only home when she isn’t touring those big fashion shows however Marjorie is retiring and asked Colleen to take over. She called me this morning and I was going to surprise the kids. They miss her so much.” Zach tells her as he lifts a spoon of chocolate to Tori’s mouth.

“That is wonderful news. Maybe she can rekindle her little romance she had with that boy in town before she moved away. He still calls here to get info on how she is doing you know?” Halina laughs

“Oh really?” Zach looks back to his mate with playful suspicion in his eyes.

“Yes really. KIDS! DESSERT!” Halina hollers down the hall.

The kids all come running and they immediately take their seats at the table. Cooper and Airic sit right beside one another with Annalese on Cooper’s right side. Noah is the last to arrive and he sits between Zach and Airic. Zach looks right at Airic who has dug into his bowl of ice cream.

“Son, we need to tell you something.” Zach starts the conversation.

“What I do?” Airic asks thinking he is in trouble.

“Nothing son, we just want to let you know some news. Chloe is moving back home.” Halina replies

“Really? Like for good? Like she will be going to classes with the rest of us and live here again?” Airic asks as his face lights up and he is almost jumping in his seat.

“Yes son however we will not tolerate behavior like Briec and Irelynn. We all know how the bond works and you already know how we become one with our Dragon. But like we had to, you will have to wait until you are twenty one before you do anything serious. You are a King as are you Cooper. You will want your fellow Dragons to look at you seriously and not like you are children. Tia and John have a good life however when they travel they are looked at forever as teenagers. They have a hard time just renting a hotel not to mention restaurants. Do you get what I am saying?” Zach asked as he threw out his feelers and felt his son’s emotions. He was happy with what he felt coming from both of them.

“Dad you know it’s more Irelynn than it is Briec. She always gets him to do whatever she wants. He doesn’t ever do what he wants unless he is away from her. I like playing with Chloe and hanging out with her but she likes girls things and I don’t.” Airic states as he takes another bite of his ice cream.

Halina looks to Zach with a little smirk on her face as she realizes that she has done well with her boy.

“Good I am glad to hear that. Now tomorrow morning would you like to go get her something special to welcome her home? You know something a girl would like?” Zach asks knowing the answer already because the only thing on his sons mind was making sure that Chloe coming home would be a special occasion.

“Yes please.” Airic replied, as he held his emotions in check and ate his dessert. Inside he was a riot of happiness and anger. Anger was for the girls he knew pestered his Chloe, happiness that she was finally coming home and he could see her everyday at school. He didn’t like her being away with no protection although he knew there wasn’t a threat anymore. His aunt and uncle had made sure of that.