“I would very much enjoy some animals. The hunts have become hard as there is so many to feed now. Also I have experience working on a farm. I would like to help.” Niall informed them.
“That is very good to hear because that was going to be my next question. Would you mind being the one in charge of the barn and the supplies needed? I surely don’t know what is required.” Kaiden informed Niall.
“I wouldn’t mind at all, I know what you will need and I got my sons here that can work there also. They got nothing else to do.” Niall said looking to his sons, but the two men looked eager to work with animals
“Great I will leave you in charge of ordering the supplies and animals, please also get with Finley and let her tell you what she wants. Also order pigs, chicken and cows in plenty, as we will also use those for food. I know she informed Zoe that she would like some as pets also. Paulo and Adam would you two be kind enough to make some corrals? I will get with Hugh to plan a large barn.”
“No worried there Kaiden, I know just the one to build. I will order it tonight after your speech and have it delivered in the morning.” Hugh announced
“And we would be happy to build corrals and fencing. Those cows are going to need a lot of room. Would you like a mud pit for the pigs?” Paulo asked
“You guys may have free reign over anything you want to do here. This is not just my home. This home belongs to all of us and I want you all to be happy here. So yes I think a mud pit would be wonderful. I also think a pond in the large areas would be good so that they have a constant source of water. Now is there anything else anyone wants before I get on to the big items?” Kaiden asked
“Can we have a water park? I saw one on the computer the other day and it looks like a lot of fun. I mean I need to learn to swim and nothing to deep because I don’t want the little ones to drown, but I think Abby would like it.” Ben asked
“Ben, little man that is a wonderful idea, we can have that worked on. I know our Water Dragons would love to be able to swim all the time, and Finley could I give you a job?” Kaiden asked
“I guess?” She looked at Kaiden confused
“Well you were Captain of a swim team so I was thinking you might be able to teach the little ones. Anyone else can help too. I was just thinking that you might enjoy it more.” Kaiden confessed
“I think I would enjoy that very much.” Finley smiled a radiant smile and her parents beamed next to her. Little Ben was smiling too and Abby was giggling next to him.
“Anyone else?” Kaiden asked the crowd
“I don’t have a huge want, but I was wondering if we could make paths to all the houses and things, and maybe place benches here and there. I like to walk, but my old legs are not what they used to be.” Shari was one of the half-blood adults who chose not to turn a long time ago and was well into her fifties now.
“Of course Shari that was somewhat in the plans, well the paths were. I think Aubry and Cassie love to landscape, so maybe they can help?” Kaiden looked to the two women in question.
“Free reign, right?” Aubry asked
“Free reign” Kaiden agreed
“We got it covered then. I know just what to do.” Cassie announced
“Good, anyone else?” Kaiden asked again. No one stood up and said anything so Kaiden took a deep breath. “Alright, some of you are aware of the map and most have only heard talk of it. Well Maggie definitely marked dots on a map and the dots turned out to be true. Emery and Kendal came to us, but Etana and Finley were still just dots until this morning. Maggie has since added more dots all over the world, but the three I am concerned with most are the blue one in Brazil, the green one in Africa at the northern area and the other green one in Afghanistan. Maggie has also marked all the half-bloods.”
“What I want to do is create two teams. One will be a rescue team and the other will be a hunting team. The three dots that we need to retrieve first are in remote locations with no other dots near them, so Zoe and I will be on that team. Finley I would like you to come with us to Brazil at least. If you do not want to come to get the others I will understand we can drop the two of you off before we go get the others. Would anyone else like to come with the rescue party?” Kaiden asked
“Gabe and I are in.” Justine announced
“John and I are too, I know Mom and Dad are going to throw a fit when I try and volunteer for the hunting one, so we will save them the stress.” Tia announced
“If Finley goes we go to. We will also stay on to get the others.” Emery stated
“Ok rescue team covered, anymore and we won’t have enough seats for the ones we need to get. Now the hunting team, Alex I’m not sure if I want you going on this team. They won’t feel us until we are right on them and there is no one to rescue, so I would feel better if you stayed. However I would like either Vivi and Christian or Alexi and Gosha to be on it. I am sorry Ada and Leon, but I do not feel that you are ready to go out of the border. There are eight seats on the jet so I need six more.” Kaiden announced
“I will go.” Etana stated
“And I go where she goes.” Charles stated
“Daddy no!” Penny pleaded
Etana turned to look at Penny with nothing but compassion on her face. She took the girls face in her hands and told her, “Penny I will protect him and bring him back to you safe and sound. I would die a thousand deaths if I lost another soul mate, so you can guarantee nothing will happen to him. He has more to live for than I do.”
“I don’t want you to go either. You also have me to live for too and future babies. I would like a brother.” Penny cried softly while Etana and Charles wrapped her in their arms.
“We will go.” Carmine stated and he and Ava stood
“And us.” Colby and Makayla stated simultaneously
“We would love to go too, but with Tia and John going I would rather wait here in case anything happens.” Camilla announced
“We will be the healers on this mission, they are my brothers and we are better fighters that Alexi and Gosha.” Vivi turned to Alexi “I will make sure I bring him home safely.”
“Thank you” Gosha told her while Alexi nodded.
“Alright we have our teams. We will leave the day after tomorrow. Hunting team I would like you all to train together tomorrow, learn each other’s weaknesses and where the other might need help. I would also like some of you men to plan some surprise attacks on them. Try to take them down. Jaco can you get us coordinates for the three we are to rescue? Kevin will fly the rescue team and Seamus will fly the hunting team. Seamus you may hunt or you may stay on the jet. It is up to you on what you want to do. The only thing I ask is that you do not kill anyone innocent of our fight. Also try not to do it in public.” Kaiden warned
“No one will be harmed but the ones we are hunting.” Etana informed him
“Thank you. Now let’s all get a good night’s sleep some of us have a long day of training and others need to plan.” Kaiden announced.
Everyone stood and started to help with the cleaning. Once the tables were clear and the area cleaned up everyone headed to their room to be alone.
Chapter 15
Preparing
The next morning Mary had made a special breakfast. She knew that while most were hopeful, there were a few that were scared for their loved ones. She made her cinnamon rolls that always made everyone happy. The girls made the normal eggs, bacon and hash browns, so Mary also whipped up some biscuits and sausage gravy. She chopped bowls of fresh fruit and made oatmeal for the little ones. She had not started to show in her pregnancy yet, but she sure felt another life growing inside her. Their house was almost finished and Mary looked forward to moving in there. She had movers packing up her things from Wyoming and had also sent them to Mateo’s storage unit. He was unaware of this because she wanted to surprise him. Mary had also asked that none of the furniture was sent nor the linens, but everything else. She had also instructed that the food stay, all her canned good might come in
handy if the hunting team needed a place to stay.
Kaiden had asked her last night if she and the girls could make them a week’s worth of food to take with them. Also a week’s worth for the hunting team. Mary planned on doing that today after lunch and a nap. She felt so exhausted lately and all she ever wanted to do was sleep.
Everyone in the house came to the table with smiles and hope in their eyes. Finley looked stressed out and worried though. Mary saw Zoe whisper in the girl’s ear then the girl smiled and sat down and chatted with Ben about swimming lessons. Mary loved the idea of a pool, floating and keeping in shape during her pregnancy was a must in her eyes. Mateo was a few years older than her but he was in much better shape. He was all lean and muscle where she soft and curvy. She stayed lean from always working in her garden and staying busy and he told her all the time that he was beautiful and he found her sexy. Mary still worried about being fat after the baby though.
Everyone chatted while they ate and Jaco informed Kaiden he had gotten the coordinates figured out as best he could. He also told him that he had figured out coordinates for the half-bloods too, but they moved around a lot so might not be there when the team arrived. Charles was fine with this, he just wanted all the locations written down or given to Seamus and he could go from there.
After breakfast Finley and her parents went with Paulo and Adam to search for a good area to put the farm on. They found a good spot that had some small hills but was mainly flat land. While Paulo worked on gathering small trees for the fencing, Adam made the grass grow tall in a long and wide perfect rectangle. Once the small trees were gathered and split Paulo and Adam worked together placing them and making a fence. By mid afternoon all the fencing was in place and Niall had come to approve. Finley and Niall talked animals for a while and Niall knew exactly what to get her. He also planned to have most of them before she got back.
Training went on as normal for some while others were planning attacks on the hunting team. Alex and Zach watched and thought it would be a good idea to block the groups that planned the attacks. That way it really was a surprise attack. They had given Etana wood shaped as throwing knives and allowed her to use her whip as long as she was not rough. Ava had gotten really good at the up close and personal fighting and she was quick. Carmine had his Fire along with a small axe that he could throw or fight up close with. Ava would make her hands really hot or on fire and attack. Colby and Makayla were just vicious things in their fighting. But where ever a mate lacked the other one did not. Where one was good close up the other was good at a distance to cover them. The team also kept Vivi and Christian behind Etana and Carmine. Vivi had become a great shot with a bow and arrow and Christian, well Christian was great in training but the intent of others had him hemmed up in pain. They would all have to protect him.
None of the groups had managed to overcome the team and they all felt ready to go ahead with the mission. After training, Etana and Charles planned to spend the rest of the evening alone in their home with Penny. They were not going to dinner with everyone else.
Hugh had the materials for the barn delivered that morning and had twenty men working on it. He had ordered a luxury barn that would have a two bedroom apartment at the top and an apartment on the main floor with an office attached. Niall and his boys would move into the barn with Niall’s wife Julia. Their daughter and her husband would move into their home as soon as the barn was livable.
Cassie and Aubry had started to work on the paths. They made them by making the grass part and the dirt shine through. They had rocks line the paths and were moving trees here and there around the path. They had planned to make every bench area have shade and flowers. They wanted a spot you could truly sit and enjoy the view. Aubry and Cassie also planned all kinds of different benches. Some areas would have a bench swing, some would have a comfortable gazebo area and others would have a hammock. Every seating area was going to be different and relaxing.
Zoe and Justine sat with Ben and Abby at the computer bank in the library and were making a list of what the kids wanted. Zoe found a page that had all kinds of sprayers shaped like flowers and vines. She liked those and thought the little ones would too. Bristol and Harley had picked out a perfect spot for the water area to be. It was out in the open with a few trees in the distance, but no shade was around which was good for when they wanted to play in the sun. Running the water out there would be no problem with Earth Dragons around. So Zoe ordered the sprayers and the floor that shot water up. She also ordered a huge pool that went from two feet up to fifteen feet. It was also wide enough at the deep end to make an area for laps. She also ordered lounge chairs and planned to ask the men to build a canopy for the parents to sit under.
Zoe also had the other surprise that she was working on. She had ordered all the stuff for it and was still looking for the perfect spot that she could use for it. She was looking for a spot that no one would happen upon, and that was the hard part. Zoe was so excited about her plan, but she could not talk to anyone about it.
Mary had spent the afternoon making up the meals Kaiden had requested, she had finished right before it was time to make dinner. She never got her nap that she wanted, but she didn’t mind. It just meant an early night wrapped up in Mateo’s arms. She had originally planned a good sized meal for everyone tonight, but she had changed her mind and was now busy making a huge pot of spaghetti. The girls were making some salads and bread to go with the spaghetti.
At dinner everyone enjoyed the meal and then talked about the upcoming events. Finley was quiet the whole conversation, but was now determined to find her man.
“Hunting team, are you good to go?” Zoe asked concerned
“Yes we are no one was able to get through us or overcome us today, even when Alex was blocking them.” Carmine confirmed
“Alright, Mary had made a week’s worth of meals for you. I would like you to come home a week from tomorrow. Seven days is what you get then a good three days home and you may go back out. I just want to make sure that you all are good and not burning yourselves out. That way we can also replenish your food and you get a good night sleep in your own beds.” Kaiden announced
“Sounds good to me I will let Charles and Etana know in the morning.”
“Alright and how have other things gone around here today? I have seen lots of busy people.” Kaiden asked
Cassie and Aubry informed him and everyone else about the paths and what they planned to do. Finley took the lead and told everyone about the farm. Niall then said that he had bought some cows and other animals from a local farm and they would be delivered near the border in the afternoon tomorrow. Ben told them of the water park things that were ordered and how excited he was.
They all chatted and ate their spaghetti. The plan was that the teams were going to head out first thing.
Mary and Mateo left right after dinner and the girls brought out pies that they had made for dessert. After dinner the house was quiet as everyone went to their suites with their families.
Kaiden and Zoe watched a movie while they snuggled Lily between them. Justine and Gabe sat with both their parents and talked over how they thought the mission would go. Abby and Ben were watching a movie in their room with Piper and Aidan. The puppies were in their beds and sleeping peacefully. Marcus took Iraina home and they talked quietly at their table before they headed to bed.
Tia and John were sitting in their suite taking pointers from Sebastian and Camilla. Charles and Etana were busy assuring Penny they would be fine while Charles made a list of things for Penny to do while they were away. Colby and Makayla were in the training room honing their skills.
Finley spent the evening pacing the floor while her parents tried to assure her that all would be well. She wasn’t listening though she was busy brooding over possible outcomes. Carmine and Ava spent time with Donny and Alex along with Cara and Brice. They were all quietly chatting by the fire in their suite. Alex really wanted to go, but she knew it was best that she stay
with Donny and out of the way. Besides Cara would freak out and that would just be a fight she did not want to have.
Vivi and Christian spent the evening with Alexi and Gosha going over things that the parents thought were essential. Ada and Leon had chosen to stay away from Vivi and give her the room she needed. They argued whenever they were left alone and Vivi was thankful for the peace tonight.
The rescue team fell asleep hoping and praying that they would be successful. The hunting team went to sleep hoping they all came back. Mary and Mateo spent the night wrapped in each other’s arms with Mateo assuring her they would all come home. He also loved to rub her belly and coo to his baby growing inside of her belly.
Chapter 16
Rescue
Zoe woke early to give Lily her bath and get her ready for the day. She wasn’t sure how long they were going to be gone so she had set aside all the shirts she wore the previous week. When she was all done getting Lily ready she packed her bag and got ready herself. Kaiden had joined her when she was packing and he played with Lily while she packed. Kaiden handed Lily off to Zoe and grabbed the bags Zoe had packed. Zoe had arranged for Mary and Mateo to stay in the spare room of their suite so that Lily could sleep in her own bed.
Finley and her parents were waiting at the fire pit for everyone else to arrive. Once Finley saw Kaiden and Zoe she jumped up to help.
“Here let me help you with those.” Finley informed Kaiden while her parents gave her a curious look.
“Feeling a bit anxious are we?” Zoe teased
“I am just ready to go. I didn’t sleep very well last night and well things are just going a mile a minute in my head. What time are we leaving?” Finley asked rapidly
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