Lost Ones (The Extinct Race Series Book 3) Read online

“We need to think of something and right now I am at a loss. Maybe we should sleep on this and come up with a plan in the morning.” Marcus said

  “I agree. We will discuss it with everyone at breakfast. Right now I could use a bath and then my bed. Sleeping in that jet has me all tense and cramped.” Zoe admitted

  “A bath it is my Angel.” Kaiden said as they all got up to leave the room. Kaiden wheeled the bassinet out and down the hall to their room. Zoe said her goodnights to the others and then came to the bedroom. Kaiden was running her bath so she stripped her robe off and went to him. She grabbed him in her arms and held him against her body. She was scared of what was going to happen and how for the first time she felt unsafe at her new home.

  Chapter 28

  Morning Breakfast

  Kaiden woke early and found the girls in the kitchen. He asked them if they could go into his suite and make up one room for a boy and the other for a girl and then Marcus’s old room furnished for Mr. Steinman. That they would be here in a couple hours, but Kaiden would keep them busy until after lunch.

  The girls all agreed and went back to cooking. Kaiden walked back out into the living room and found Zoe sitting with Lily and Morgan at the couches. Quinn was also there sitting close to Morgan.

  “Did you sleep well last night?” Kaiden asked

  “We did, but I guess we are both used to waking when the sun rises.” Quinn said

  “Would you like to join us before breakfast? We are going to meet the man that helped me find Zoe and Justine.” Kaiden asked

  “Mr. Steinman is coming?” Justine asked excitedly as she bounced down the stairs with little Jacob in her arms.

  “Yes he is, would you guys like to join us too?” Zoe asked

  “Yes we would. Jacob loves walks when he first wakes up.” Justine beamed. “It will also give us a chance to show Quinn and Morgan the land.”

  “It will. We will also pass the new farm. You think Finley and Oliver are awake?” Zoe asked

  “Actually they went out a while ago with the monkeys.” Morgan said

  “Oh well then let’s head out then. Seamus should be arriving soon, unless he is waiting on us.” Kaiden said

  They all walked out the door and headed down the mountain to the valley below. Paths lead all over and they took the one to the right that lead to the farm. Halfway there another path led out to the landing strip and they took that path. They would come back to the farm once they made sure the kids got through. When they arrived at the landing strip the jet was coasting through the border. It came to a stop in front of them and the door to the jet opened. Charles walked out first.

  “Well we landed beyond the border and walked the kids through just fine. We had Mr. Steinman tell them out secret on the way in and they are excited to meet you all.” Charles laughed

  “That is good to hear. Where are they?” Zoe asked right before Mr. Steinman and his children exited the jet. He walked right over to Zoe and gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek; he then turned to Justine and did the same.

  “Good to see you ladies happy and looking beautiful. Kaiden I am sorry to impose, but I didn’t know where else to go.” Mr. Steinman said

  “Actually you are not imposing at all. I have been sort of trying to get you here for a while. We could use your skills and with all your help you have made yourself a part of this family. The guys will take your things inside and I would love to show you around. Firstly I would like to introduce you to Morgan and Quinn. They are the last ones we needed to find.” Kaiden turned to include Quinn and Morgan. Morgan smiled and Quinn shook Mr. Steinman’s hand. “Well you have told us you had children and it is good to see them. What are their names?” Kaiden asked

  “This is Ella she is nine and she is my worrywart. This is Jonah he is seven and he is my brave, fearless one. When I told them about you guys he immediately wanted to ride you and Ella is afraid.” Mr. Steinman explained

  “Oh honey we will never hurt you. See your daddy here he saved us. And here we are one big family and we protect our family. Tonight after dinner we will show you that we are gentle Dragons, not the scary kind in books and movies ok?” Justine tried to assure them. The kids were quiet and just nodded their heads up and down.

  “You guys hungry? Breakfast was cooking when we left so by the time we get there it should be ready.” Zoe told them and both kids looked at her and smiled. “After we eat we can show you the big playroom or maybe the farm that we just had built. I haven’t seen it yet, but I think we have animals now. I can smell them.” Zoe smiled

  “I rode a horse at camp.” Jonah said

  “Well I think we can arrange another ride for you. We are also making a water park, but the things haven’t arrived yet. We have lots of things for kids to do so you shouldn’t ever be bored here. We also have a school if you decide to stay.” Zoe explained

  “That sounds perfect and food does too we haven’t eaten in a while.” Mr. Steinman said.

  “Alright then food it is. Let’s head to the house.” Kaiden said

  The walk back to the house took a little longer that it did to walk to the jet because they had to go at a pace the kids could keep up with. Kaiden eventually put Jonah on his shoulders and Mr. Steinman gave Ella a piggy back ride. When they go to the house the kids both said “WOW” and Zoe laughed telling them she did the same thing when she saw it.

  When they walked inside everyone was waiting around the fire pit. Kaiden introduced everyone and then they sat themselves at the table. They ate in quiet conversations and when the kids were done Kaiden asked Ben to take the kids to the playroom out of ear shot. It took Ella a little encouragement as she did not want to leave her dad, but Abby eventually blurted out that they needed to talk and little ears didn’t need to hear it. Ella went after that.

  “Tonight we will have our Share and Tell after the kids have gone to bed or we put a movie on for them. But I want to touch over some things we learned. Aldrich knows about Mr. Steinman, I can only assume that he knows everything, anything other than that doesn’t matter but for the foreseeable future Mr. Steinman is here.” Kaiden took a deep breath. “Last night when we all got home most of you know Aldrich called the half-blood’s home. When I mentioned this in front of Levi, he got scared and then told me that by him calling them home was a very bad thing for us. He told me that it meant he was going to hit us very hard in a way we would not expect.” Kaiden looked around at the scared and nervous faces

  “There is not a spell to protect us from objects. I have looked and looked and found nothing.” Kaiden informed them.

  “I know I am not a Dragon, but how do the spells go? Are they like riddles?” Mr. Steinman asked

  “No they are pretty basic, like a song actually or a poem.” Kaiden answered

  “Right and something told you that you needed to find all of the last ones that were born right?” Mr. Steinman inquired

  “Yes my mother told me to find them all to keep them safe.” Kaiden looked at Mr. Steinman confused

  “So what if you made a new spell? Use the words from other ones and just incorporate what you need protection from. Maybe they are all needed to make the spell work too. You are the last of your kind.”

  “You may be right, but three couples have not turned yet and I don’t want to force them to do so if they are not ready.” Kaiden looked pained

  “We will turn if it is needed to protect everyone.” Morgan said and Quinn looked at her shocked. She looked down at him and smiled. “If our Dragons are needed to make a spell work, then that is our duty. My mom and dad always told me that if things changed and they were saved, that they would do everything and anything in their power to change it for the better. Quinn you are my soul mate and we will be together forever. It would be kind of nice to be this young forever too.” Morgan laughed

  “Wait…what?” Quinn said

  “Oh, I forgot that part huh? Well look at Tia and John. See how young they are?”

  “Yeah so?” Quinn saidr />
  “Well we were stupid teenagers and now we are stuck this way forever. I was kind of hoping Finley and Oliver would turn soon. That way I wouldn’t be the only teenager forever.” Tia admitted

  “You do?” Finley asked

  “Yeah, I mean I have gotten over the fact I won’t age. But when all this mess is over I am going to be quite limited. So it would be nice to have another that I could share it with.”

  “Wait…..None of you has told me why we don’t age.” Quinn stated loudly

  “When we meet our soul mates and turn we don’t age from there. Some of our parents look older, but that is because they found their soul mates later in life or waited. Iraina made Halina and Zach wait until she was twenty and there were together since she was three. We can be killed so we are not immortal as you know.” Kaiden explained

  “Sweet, I can live with that I am already twenty.” Quinn laughed

  “I am nineteen now and I know my parent would want us safe and so this is something we must do.” Morgan said and then sat back down.

  “We will do it too. I think we are beyond ready. I have had to push poor Donny away all the time.” Alex laughed and Donny’s smile lit up his whole face.

  “I guess that just leaves me.” Finley said quietly

  “Before you agree to that Finley I have something to say.” Zoe said as she stood and breathed in a deep breath, she was going to have to reveal her secret. “You were raised in the human world and so were most of us. I was planning a big surprise for all of us. Would you feel better if you were married before you had sex?” Zoe asked anticipating being refused

  “Are you serious?” Finley asked with a huge smile on her face and Emery and Kendal looked shocked but happy.

  “Yes I am. We are all soul mates here and in love beyond words. Usually we just fake the marriage stuff over the years for money things, or so I am told. But I grew up seeing them and always wanted one myself.” Zoe admitted, she had already told Kaiden she wanted one. “So I thought I would surprise you all with one too.”

  “YES!” all the women at the table screamed

  “Well then that is settled, Michael, are you Ordained in Ireland now?” Zoe asked

  “I am, did you get all the things you needed?” Michael asked Zoe

  “I did they are all in my hidden room.” Zoe blushed

  “What things?” Justine asked

  “Your dresses and rings, the men’s suits, I just need to have Morgan, Quinn and Oliver fitted, but I called Marjorie this morning and she should be here soon. She has the dress and their suits and will do the tailoring here. She needed to fit them for clothing anyway.” Zoe confessed

  “You sneaky little thing!” Iraina laughed

  “Who all is getting married?”

  “Everyone” Zoe beamed “But today it will just be us in the house. Finley I am not trying to force you, but I am hoping this will help a little.”

  “It does, but well…” Finley got down on her knee in front of Oliver and asked “Will you accept me and marry me?”

  “Hmmm…Let me think…. You promised to fight with me over everything? And never let me have my way?” he asked her

  “I will fight you every day and yell at you every chance I have.” She admitted

  “Then nothing would make me happier than to marry you, well until tonight that is.” Oliver said with a chuckle and Finley slapped his arm. Oliver grabbed her up into a bear hug and kissed her.

  Chapter 29

  Oh the Dress!

  Marjorie knocked on the door shortly after and Zoe led her to her suite. She had Morgan and Quinn waiting along with Oliver and Finley. Marjorie did her thing and showed them a few catalogues and asked what they liked to do. When she was done she shooed them out to talk to Zoe and do her tailoring on the dress she had brought with her. They walked back to the secret closet that had all the things Marjorie needed. The walls were lined with dress bags that had all the wedding dresses inside.

  Marjorie was now a trusted human and Zoe had informed her of what all the races liked. Zoe had not seen her own dress yet, but Marjorie pulled out the ones she brought for Morgan and Finley. Zoe almost cried when she saw them. She could tell right away which belonged to each girl. Finley’s dress was white with blue sapphires lined in the bodice. The skirt part was mermaid cut with a bow that matched the sapphires. Morgan’s dress was also white with a skirt that flowed like the wind. There were several layers to it and the top had real flowers sewn into the bodice with emeralds throughout. Both dresses were something that Zoe had only dreamed about.

  “Marjorie did you make these?” Zoe asked in awe

  “Well I did have some help, but your dress is the only one I personally did. Along with Halina’s and Iraina’s dresses and not to sound smug, but yours puts these to shame honey.” Marjorie had a huge smile on her face. “Now you shoo too these will take me about three hours and I took all of your hair into consideration with the dresses and you always wear it down so I want you to do the same when you wear them.”

  “You are a dream worker. The girls are going to be so excited. I will leave you to it and I am going to go get things in order.” Zoe said as she placed a kiss on Marjorie’s check and left her in the closet.

  Zoe walked downstairs and got Rosa and Monica to help her. She walked them to the secret area she had picked out and saw that Iraina and Halina were there waiting for them.

  “You knew?” Zoe asked

  “We guessed, honestly. The boys will be here soon to help. Now what do you want done?” Iraina asked

  “Well there are chairs hidden in the woods over there and a gazebo that goes in the middle. Then I was hoping to get Cassie and Aubry to do their magic. I wanted it to be a small thing nothing to fancy.” Zoe said

  “Sounds perfect to me.” Halina beamed and went to work pulling the chairs out.

  The spot Zoe had picked was a small clearing in the forest. It was just big enough for what she wanted. Everyone would fit comfortably and there was a path that leads right to the clearing which would make a perfect aisle. It took the girls an hour to place all the seats into rows with the aisle in the middle. Cassie and Aubry had shown up about thirty minutes before and were making the aisle a path of small flowers with bigger flowers of all colors leading to the gazebo. On the Gazebo they had made vines grow up the sides and flowers bloom all over it. The white chairs also had vines running throughout them. Zach had brought out the string of lights and was busy placing them around the clearing. When it was all done Zoe was very happy with the outcome of the clearing. It looked completely magical.

  Lunch was being served inside today and was ready by the time they had arrived. Kaiden was not at the table and neither was Mr. Steinman. Zoe went to look for them and found then in the library talking quietly over the spell book.

  “Find anything interesting in there?” Zoe asked

  “Actually there are similarities to all of them and I think I can make a new one. What are you doing inside so soon? I thought Marjorie said to stay away for about three or four hours?” Kaiden asked confused

  “Well babe, it has actually been four hours and lunch is waiting for us. After lunch we will start getting ready and then have a wedding.” Zoe beamed

  “Wow it feels like we just came in here an hour ago.” Mr. Steinman says

  “You know we don’t know your first name Mr. Steinman, and although that is what we know you as, it’s a mouthful.” Zoe laughed

  “Arthur is my name, Arthur Albert Steinman Jr.” Mr. Steinman replies

  “Wow, can I call you Arthur or Art?” Zoe asks

  “Art is my father, so Arthur is fine. Also I would like to tell you that I recently got my license for law approved in Ireland, so I can sign off on the marriage licenses and you will be legally married. Also I have worked with Jaco this morning and we have located Quinn’s, Oliver’s and Morgan’s paperwork and money. Jaco should have all the forms and money moved tonight.” Arthur informed them.

  “Well yo
u sure work fast don’t you?” Kaiden said

  “I like to keep busy and I sort of knew this day would come. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”

  “You will be safe here. We will make sure of that.” Zoe assured him, although she was a little worried herself.

  Arthur and Kaiden followed Zoe out to the table and they sat down to eat. Mary must have been starting to crave because there was a wide variety of food on the table and her plate was filled with a little bit of all of it. Zoe laughed and grabbed some potato salad and a sandwich. Everyone that lived in the house was at the table as they had all taken a day off from training. As Zoe looked around the table at all the happy faces she felt content. But a slight sliver of fear crept its way inside her head. She started to think about Marsali and what she would have done in this situation.

  Zach was watching Zoe intently as he felt her emotions shift. She was happy for a long while and then fear had started to cloud he happiness. He watched as her fingers started to twitch in that tell-tell way they did when she needed to play. Something needed to be said that only she could let loose. Zach quietly got up and went to the music room where she kept her guitar. He grabbed it off the stand and walked back out to the table. Kaiden saw him come in with the guitar and then looked to Zoe. She was holding a sleeping Lily and softly strumming her fingers over the baby. Kaiden took Lily and Zach placed the guitar in her lap.

  Zoe looked up as she felt the guitar in her lap and smiled at her twin. She put her fingers in the correct spots and closed her eyes. The whole table hushed and watched as Zoe started to play. When she was done Abby started laughing and got out of her seat and ran to Zoe and hugged her.

  “She’s coming!” Abby squealed

  “Who is coming baby?” Piper asked

  “Marsali!” Abby smiled and ran to her mother. “She talked to me, she tolds me she will be at the celebration tonight. That she been watching over us and knows her helps is needed now. She said it’s time for hers to come back!” Abby laughed and ran off to the playroom.