Second Chances (The Extinct Race Series)

by Michelle Farrell

  Mary and Mateo would make a good match at all the things they had in common. She was just worried that her looks were too frumpy for Mateo. She heard his night time routine and knew it consisted of working out. She was soft and a little on the heavy side. Her hair had started to gray around the hairline a couple years ago and she never bothered to dye it. She never thought any man would show an interest in her like Mateo has. She was so lost in her thoughts she paid no attention when Charles burst through the back door that was in the kitchen.

  “We have Dragons at the border. There are three of them all male and they have made camp. We need to go check it out. Will you wake the Fury’s, all of them and maybe call Kaiden?”

  “I’m on it we will meet you out front in ten minutes.” Mateo told Charles. Charles closed the door and took off. Mateo looked to Mary and said “I’m sorry dove, but I must go.” He kissed her on the cheek and took off to the stairs.

  Mateo burst through the third floor and yelled out “We have visitors at the border please come!” Doors flew open and they all followed him in their pajamas. Mateo dug in his pocket for his cell and couldn’t find it. “Shit, I don’t have my cell on me. Tia can you go wake Kaiden and tell him we need him?” he looked to the young girl.

  “Sure thing.” Tia answered and ran up the stairs to the fifth floor. She opened the door to the suite and let out a breath. She went to the room at the end of the hall she knew must be theirs and sniffed just to make sure. It smelled like them behind this door. She knocked softly and called out Kaiden’s name. He answered the door soon after.

  “Tia what’s wrong? What happened?” Kaiden asked still half asleep, but worry was seeping off of him.

  “Nothing is wrong Kaiden; we just have some visitors outside the border. I guess they are Dragons and they are making camp. So we are going to check it out. Mateo said to wake you.” Tia explained

  “Right let me grab a shirt and shoes.” Kaiden said

  They all met outside and hopped into two jeeps. They tore off down the mountain and over the valley. There weren’t really any set roads except from the house to the barracks and the small housing area which branched off to the road to town. That’s what the jeeps were for they drove over anything.

  “Micah and Seamus are guarding the east tonight and they are over there. They said the men are a little to the southeast and that is all farming land beyond the border. They wouldn’t be there unless they know we are here.” Charles said

  They drove until they met up with Seamus and Micah. The men nodded at them and then pointed to the campfire in the distance. Kaiden could feel the three Dragons. These men were not half-bloods. They drove over to the area and the three men looked up. Kaiden knew they couldn’t see beyond the border, but they would feel the pull.

  Everyone got out of the jeeps and walked towards the camp. Sebastian and Charles were the only ones to step through the border. Mateo and John stood on the edge with Camilla and Tia sandwiched between them and they made Kaiden stand behind them.

  “Hello Gentleman, what brings you to this neck of the woods?” Charles asked

  “We are looking for refuge. The damn half-bloods have been gone for a week or more and we decided to take off. We have heard rumors of Ireland and the Sect here. That is it the last one left. Obviously we were right and there is magic at play or something, because you just appeared out of thin air even though we can see for miles. Also I feel at least five more of you.” One of the men said

  “What are you names and where are you from?” Sebastian asked

  “I am Paulo, Earth Dragon, this is Jaco, he is a Water Dragon and lastly we have Carmine, he is a Fire Dragon. I come from Peru, Jaco is from Italy, and Carmine there is from France. We have been travelling together, always hiding from those bastards. They killed off our mates and our Sects.”

  Kaiden was unsure of the situation. He wanted Christian here. This was the first time in his life he was unsure about a fellow Dragon and the thought killed him.

  “Are you willing to swear fealty to our King and Queen? That is the only way you will make it into our Sect and our lands. You are right about the half-bloods. We are rebuilding the races here and saving ourselves from extinction. Aldrich has done that to us. We are going to fight back.” Charles said

  “We will swear fealty. We miss being around other Dragons. We are lonely and lost. Is the King here? Can we do this now and maybe sleep in a real bed tonight?” Jaco asked

  “I am Kaiden the King of this Sect, nice to meet you Jaco, Paulo and Carmine.” Kaiden introduced himself as he walked through the border.

  Then men all took a knee and bowed as Kaiden introduced himself. They swore their fealty and then saw the Fury’s and the jeeps. “Wow” Jaco whispered. The three men grabbed what small belongings they had and Carmine put the fire out with a wave of his hand. They all climbed into the jeeps and headed to the house. Kaiden sent a text to Christian to have him waiting downstairs for them to return. Once they made it to the house Kaiden was the first inside. He looked and saw Christian. Christian smiled and nodded his approval and then took the stairs to go back to bed. Kaiden finally relaxed and showed the men to three bedrooms on the first floor. The women who worked in the house all lived on the right side of the stairs so he took the men to the left side.

  “We all have breakfast together so we will see you then. We all share our stories when new members come, so please don’t be shy. We like share and tell time.” Kaiden smiled and left the men to go back to bed.

  Charles stopped Kaiden in the hall and just looked at him. “It’s all right Charles. Christian approved them. Go to bed I will see you in the morning.” Charles let out a sigh and went out the back door. Mateo went into the kitchen to see if maybe Mary had waited, but it was empty. He went up the stairs to the second floor and whispered his good nights to Mary’s door. He wanted tonight to be a little different. He opened his door and began his routine before bed.

  Chapter 10

  Houses and Sharing

  The alarm woke Zoe at four thirty in the morning. She woke up half asleep and got in the shower. The hot water woke her up and she felt ready for a new day. She also felt more people in the house than normal. This confused her as she was not woken up last night at all. She stood there brooding over that as Kaiden stepped into the shower with her. “There are three more Dragons in the house then there is supposed to be.” She told Kaiden.

  “Yes Angel, we had some visitors last night. Jaco is from Italy and is a Water Dragon. Paulo is from Peru and is an Earth Dragon and lastly there is Carmine from France and he is a Fire Dragon. They have been in hiding and together for many years. Their Sects and mates were all taken from them. Once the half-bloods all went home they came here following rumors and hope I guess.” Kaiden said

  “Well I am glad they did. Where are they? Do they need anything?” Zoe asked

  “Angel, one thing at a time first we meet with the contractor and decide what we are doing with the homes and the main house. Then at breakfast you may ask them what they need. You are meeting with Marjorie at four anyway. I am sure she would love to do more shopping.” Kaiden laughed and began to wash Zoe’s hair. “You know you are so beautiful and giving. I love everything about you.”

  “I love you too worry wart.” She giggled and splashed water in his face.

  After their shower they got dressed in their training clothes and headed to the office on the first floor. There was a man with a briefcase and scrolls of paper under his arms standing in the foyer and watching them walk down the stairs. He was around fifty or so and a bit on the short side.

  “Good Morning Hugh, how have you been?”

  “Young Kaiden you sure have grown. You look just like your father.” Hugh said

  “Hugh, I would like you to meet Zoe. She is my soul mate and Queen here now.” Kaiden introduced them. Justine, Gabe and Tia all came down the stairs at that time. “Ah and this is Gabe and his soul mate Justine. And this little one is Tia. Be careful what you
say to that one she has a pretty big temper.” Kaiden joked

  “A Fury then? She would have a temper like Dalia then?” Hugh asked

  “Something like that, this one loves to fight men though.” Kaiden teased

  “Nice to meet you Hugh, shall we move to the office so we don’t wake anyone?” Zoe asked

  “This one is definitely good for you Kaiden, keeping us all in line already.” Hugh laughed and walked to the office. He went over to the large round table in the corner of the room and began to roll out a scroll of blue paper. “Alright young Kaiden, this right here is the current blueprint of this home. Have you ever noticed when you are outside looking at the house that on right of the house there is an open area that just seems cut off, but there are no windows on that side?”

  “I have never thought it odd before, but now I do.” Kaiden replied with his brows furrowed in confusion.

  “Well let me show you the original design. You see at the time we built the house you were maybe four years old and the Sect only had three races. So your mother only had this one side built. But if you look here on the original a whole other side is meant to go there. You can’t tell it now, but this main floor we are on, there is a whole other side already built. It is somewhat built into the mountain, so if you want we can just build to original specs. It would fit all seven races, one main couple and bedrooms for their children. The top floor was meant to be just the one suite, but I think we can make another suite next to it. Then I will open up the other rooms that are already built and we can add more bedroom suites or you can make another apartment area.” Hugh told them

  “Wow Kaiden this sounds awesome. We would have room for all the lost ones and be able to give them their own space. Also if we turn the area here into a small apartment for the girls that work in the house that would open up the six bedrooms down the one hallway and still we could add a good library for the historians we have, and then maybe a music and art room for Halina and I. Then maybe a huge playroom right here for future children.” Zoe explained

  “I like the way your mind works Miss Zoe. How many girls work in the house so I know how many bedrooms to make and everything? Also would you like them to have a kitchen and living room area?” Hugh asked

  “Well I think six bedrooms and you could save room if you did only three bathrooms and they shared. They all seem pretty close, so I don’t think they would mind. They know they can use the main kitchen anytime they want, but I think a nice kitchen with a breakfast nook and a bar to eat at would be good, and a living room with at least three large sofas and a nice entertainment center would be good for them. This room here it overlooks the valley right?” Hugh nodded his head. “I would like that room to be the art room big open windows in the front. A large mirror on one wall, maybe add a dance bar to it? Then this area here next to the art room I would like the playroom built. Justine and I will pick out stuff for that room. Then this large area here I would like floor to ceiling book shelves with that ladder thingy. Oh and don’t forget a bathroom in the playroom that is well smaller than normal for little kids. And you know a normal one too in the hall would work.” Zoe looked up and noticed everyone staring at her is awe. “What?” she asked.

  “Well Angel I don’t think any of us really needed to come down here. You kind of know what you want.” Kaiden teased

  “Hey this was your Mom’s design. I am just adding Zoe to it. Besides I like the idea of a room full of laughter and smiling baby faces.” Zoe blushed.

  “Ok well that is settled Hugh, when can you start building?” Kaiden asked

  “Why do you think I had you meet me at five a.m. Kaiden? I knew we would start work today. The area here is already finished, meaning the outside walls are already up. It is just a big open area right now and full of a lot of materials for your house. I just need to cut out the windows and order them. Now about the five houses you mentioned. I have a book of floor plans I would like you to look at and choose from.” Hugh looked to the others in the room

  “Finally we get to do something. Although, Zoe, I love the ideas you had and totally agree with what you chose.” Justine said

  Hugh handed them the book and within the hour they had the homes for their parents picked out. Kaiden told him the location of the first home to be built and gave him the go ahead to lay the foundation and begin building. He also told Hugh to contact Zoe for anything concerning the main house and him for the other houses. Hugh rolled up the plans he had, tucked them under his arm and left them in the office. He had trucks full of men and supplies already outside.

  Zoe and Kaiden went and started a fire in the pit, as the morning had a chill to it. John soon joined Tia and they lounged in a chair around the fire. Ben came down the stairs and sat quietly, waking up in a chair by himself. Gabe and Justine had nodded back to sleep on one of the couches. Mary came down the stairs and stopped in her tracks seeing all of them lounged around the fire.

  “Early morning?” she asked

  “Very early, oh and Mary we have three more for breakfast this morning.” Zoe told her

  “Oh good I sort of expected that, I was in the kitchen when Charles told Mateo.”

  “Oh yeah? Getting to know our trainer finally huh? Took you long enough. That man never stops looking at you when you guys are in the same room.” Zoe teased

  “Oh you hush now. We are just getting to know each other better. By the way Kaiden would you mind a couple dogs here at the house? Possibly inside as well as outside?” Mary asked

  “Puppies?” Ben asked fully alert now

  “Well I guess little Ben there answered for me. May I just ask what kind first?” Kaiden asked

  “German shepherds of course. They are great guard dogs as well as very protective. As long as we all show them love and attention they will be protective of us all.” Mary explained

  “Mary you may have whatever you want we have plenty of room for any kind of animal. Would you like me to have kennels built?” Kaiden asked

  “I would very much like that, as eventually I would like to breed them. And you say anything huh? Would it be too much to ask to have a private garden?” Mary hinted

  “Mary I will have a greenhouse built if you would like one. We do have harsh winters here so if you would like year round vegetables or whatever, then you will need one.” Kaiden told her

  “Oh Kaiden you are a dream come true. I will get right on the puppy situation and maybe put this little man to work with them. Would you like to help pick them out Ben?” Mary smiled at him

  “I would love to. But how are we going to find some when we can’t leave the border?” Ben asked confused

  “Oh my sweet boy, come with me to the kitchen there is a computer in there and we can find a couple on the internet and have a plane fly them to Dublin. And then have them brought here to the house. With the money I have, I can pretty much buy anything now.” She giggled

  Ben followed her to the kitchen and she booted the computer up for him. She showed him how to search for the breed she wanted and told him she would like them to come from Germany. He sat and looked while she cooked. He called her over a couple times to look at what he had found. She had him pick out four puppies from four different breeders. She also told him to make sure that they had papers. She then had to explain what papers were for a dog. She let him pick two out and she picked the other two out. The two she had picked out came from really good lines and the breeder already had them house broken and basic commands taught, they were both around three months old. The two Ben picked out were six weeks and needed to be trained. She wanted this mix because she knew the older ones would teach the young ones. She gave him her card and showed him how to fill out all the info as she told it to him.

  “All the puppies will be here tomorrow. Since you said to pay double, they are all putting them on a flight today to Dublin. Then the courier said there is only one flight coming in tonight from Germany and he verified that the puppies will all be on it. He comes out this way first
thing in the morning. Oh Mary I am so excited.” Ben squealed.

  At breakfast Ben was telling everyone about the puppies coming and how much fun they were going to be. He told them in great detail how good he was going to be with them. He described their coloring and was just all around beaming happiness. Monica sat there with tears in her eyes, as she had never seen her son so animated and happy. She couldn’t thank Mary enough at that moment.

  The three newcomers came into the room then. They each stood and nodded at everyone. Marcus took notice of Jaco and smiled. “Jaco long time no see, how are you?”

  “Marcus? Wow, long time indeed where is Elizabeth? I would love to see her again.”

  “Um my mother was killed twenty two years ago.” Zoe said

  “Oh, I am so sorry. I mean no disrespect. I just grew up with her she was a very good friend. I am sorry to hear she is gone.” Jaco bowed his head

  “No disrespect taken Jaco, I would like you to meet my new mate, this is Iraina.”

  “New mate? How is that possible? We only ever get one.” Paulo asked stunned

  “That is what we thought too, but it happened.” Marcus said

  “Good for you Marcus and Iraina it is lovely to meet you. King Kaiden said last night you all do a sort of share and tell? So I would like to tell you my story.” Jaco began. “Life was great in Italy we were all a happy Sect and we did well. About five years after Elizabeth married and moved to the states, our Dragons started to just disappear. The King and Queen were killed on one of their alone time flights at night. That hurt us all the most. We went looking for them and only found piles of ash. Those piles started showing up more and more. Then I felt them. They were half-bloods and they had weapons. It was in the middle of the day and my mate and I were running as fast as we could to the water. We knew if we could hit the water we would be safe. She was hit in the back and it must have hit her heart, because when we hit the water she was just ash. Flowers grew on top of the water in that ash. I shifted in the water and just swam as far and as long as I could. I went back two weeks later and the houses we lived in were all burned down. I didn’t feel anyone at all so I went back to the water. I would leave the water to eat and stuff, but mostly I lived in the water. About five years ago I ran into these two and we have been together since.” Jaco sat after he was done sharing.