Second Chances (The Extinct Race Series)

by Michelle Farrell

  “Well turns out the pot just got thicker and Zoe is a twin. Her mother didn’t even know she was carrying twins and the boy was given up. A family in Russia got him and we need to find him like yesterday. Rosa says twins have never been born to a Dragon and that the two of them together could be unstoppable, especially if he found his mate.” Gabe told Charles

  “Wow” Charles whispered

  “It gets better. The nurse was in constant contact with them up until 1995. That’s when she must have placed the book and the letter in the house. What is even more surprising is that the Blood half-bloods never saw her, or the book. They were watching the house after all.” Kaiden said

  “Names?” Charles asked setting the laptop in the table.

  Kaiden told him the names and he punched them in a search. What popped up was a news report from 1995, it said that the parents died in a car accident and there is no mention of a small boy. “Either he is dead with nothing, no body, or he is missing.” Charles sighed “we do have some hope though, because obviously Aldrich doesn’t have him. We would know if he had the boy because he would have never kept Marcus alive so long.”

  “Your right, so now we need a team to go to Russia before all the half-bloods go back out to searching. I give it a week before he sends them out again. We did kill a good fifteen to twenty men.” Kaiden said

  Two hours went by when Marcus walked back into the house. He looked more determined than Kaiden had ever seen him before. He sat down in one of the chairs around the fire and waited for Kaiden to speak.

  “Haven’t heard anything yet, but the jet is waiting and we will leave for Russia as soon as the girls are back. I want you and Zoe to come. Zoe will be able to hear him and talk to him once we are within a couple miles of him, if not farther, and with them being twins. And well, I think you deserve to see your son before he is thrown into all this mess. Camilla and Sebastian will come as well as Gabe and Justine. And Justine is coming for her sanity as well as Zoe’s. Those two are close and they lean on each other a lot. Plus I would hate to leave everyone else here with Justine and no Gabe.” Kaiden explained

  Marcus chuckled and nodded “thank you Kaiden. If you hadn’t of had the foresight to my daughters happiness and brought all of my things here, I don’t think we would have ever known.”

  “I didn’t even think of that.” Kaiden replied

  They boys sat there for another hour before Kaiden ran upstairs and packed bags for him and Zoe. He came back downstairs with two duffle bags and winter coats. He also had a pair of boots in both hands. He set them by the door off to the side and Gabe ran up the stairs. Marcus followed and they both returned with duffle bags and similar cold weather gear. Camilla and Sebastian were upstairs enjoying their quiet time before they headed out. They were still waiting on a phone call and the girls to get back. Kaiden did not want to rush Zoe and her enjoying her “girl time”. Thirty minutes later the girls came through the door with serious looks on their faces. It didn’t look like they enjoyed the shopping as they should have. Zoe looked at Kaiden and then at the bags behind the door once Vivi closed it behind herself.

  “Oh you are so not leaving without me on this one. That is my brother, my TWIN!” She yelled

  “I know Angel I didn’t plan on leaving you. You are coming, so is your father, Justine and Gabe. As well as Camilla and Sebastian for security.” Kaiden soothed her rubbing her arms gently.

  “Good cause I would have thrown a fit like you have never seen and Justine was going to help me do it.” She smiled an evil looking smile at him. Kaiden could only shake his head to hide the laugh that wanted to escape his mouth.

  “Innocent over her, Baby did you remember my toothbrush?” Justine asked with a knowing smile on her face.

  “Yes my love I remembered everything and even packed you some long johns. It is very cold where we are going.” Gabe smiled proudly at her.

  “Good so what are we waiting for then?” Justine asked

  “We are waiting for a phone call and hopefully some more information than what we got from the letters and the internet search we did.” Kaiden said

  “What did you find out?” Zoe asked

  “Well in 1995 there was a horrible car accident and his adoptive parents were killed in it. There was no mention of the boy and we know that Aldrich doesn’t have him or he wouldn’t have never kept you father alive so long. So the best we can come up with is that he is in hiding somewhere, or lost in the system there.” Gabe answered

  “Well my father definitely did not know there was a twin, so we are safe on that factor. And the Russia Sect was wiped out in 1994. I only know that because he bragged about killing the king there and how easy it was to ambush them with all the snow.” Vivi told them. “So we are pretty safe to assume you will not run into any of my brothers there. They all have no reason to be there. The informants also haven’t been heard from in years, so he assumes all is dead there and a lost cause.” Vivi shrugged and sat down next to Christian in one of the chairs.

  “Well then that sounds both interesting and worrisome.” Charles said

  “Yeah, either there are survivors there and they have killed the informants or it really is all dead ends there. Either way we need to find out.” Gabe said

  The phone ringing startled everyone and Kaiden fumbled to answer it.

  “Hello?”

  “Mr. Steinman here the name you are looking for is Zachary Monroe Pavelov. But in 1996 it was changed to Zachary Monroe Slavkov and from what the records show he is in a very small town about 5 hours outside of Moscow.”

  “Thank you sir, any information on the other case I have you working on?”

  “Nothing at this time. Zachary was easy to find because his adoptive parents were killed so that unsealed the paperwork. Then someone did a legal name change for him. So I looked up the person who signed off on it and looked into their bank records. In 1996 there was a large deposit, very unlike the rest of the deposits made throughout the life time of the account. So someone with money paid for his safety.” Mr. Steinman explained.

  “Thank you very much, I will speak with you soon and I will have some money deposited to your account as soon as I can.”

  “Thank you Kaiden and good luck.”

  Kaiden hung up the phone and looked to Zoe and Marcus. “His name is Zachary Monroe Slavkov and was last listed in a small town five hours outside of Moscow.”

  “Zoe Mechelle and Zachary Monroe. I wonder if the nurse had some influence there.” Marcus mused aloud

  “Sounds like it to me. Let’s go bring my brother home where he belongs.” Zoe smiled and went to grab her bag and jacket.

  “Someone paid for his name to be changed and looks like his safety as well.” Kaiden blurted

  “Sound like we are going to meet some more family members as well as her twin.” Gabe said

  “Let’s go get our family!” Justine yelled

  “Tia would you mind getting your mom and dad and let them know that we are ready and will wait for them in the truck?” Kaiden asked

  “Sure.” Tia tore off up the stairs.

  Kaiden and Gabe grabbed the bags and ushered the girls into the waiting Tahoe and put the bags into the back. Camilla and Sebastian were not long and were sitting before Gabe closed the trunk. Gabe got in and Zoe noticed Micah in the driver seat. He took them down the mountain and right to the edge of the jet. Kevin was in the jet awaiting them and once they were all inside he went to the pilot’s cockpit.

  Kevin’s voice came over the loud speaker and said “Good afternoon my King and Queen and fellow Dragons, today we are set for Russia we are heading towards the Ural Mountain area I have contacted a very small and private airfield near there. They have also gotten you some transportation once we reach the ground. I will try to make this trip as fast as possible, so please sit down, get comfortable and buckle up we will take off immediately.” Everyone took their seats and they could hear Micah throwing their bags into the storage compartment below the
plane. The lid closed and two loud thumps on the side of the plane sounded. Kevin started the jet and they lurched forward.

  Kevin was correct in his getting them there as fast as possible. Zoe took a nap and Kaiden was shaking her awake because they had landed. They all stepped off the plane and into an open field. The snow they all assumed would be here was not and it was a hot and muggy day. They quickly grabbed their bags and went into the small building that must be the airport. Camilla and Sebastian went in and got the information they needed. There were two jeeps parked nearby and Sebastian had the keys. They were about a three hour drive from the last know location of Zachary. They threw their bags into the back and all jumped into a jeep. Marcus rode with Camilla and Sebastian. Gabe drove the other jeep with Justine in the passenger seat and Kaiden and Zoe in the back.

  The drive was a smooth one until they started on the country roads. It seemed that not much happened on this side of the country. They passed a lot of farms and small clusters of houses here and there. About an hour had passed from the last cluster of homes when Zoe began to feel something. She felt a pull and a really strong one. “STOP!” she yelled. The jeeps both came to a halting stop and she stood. “Do you feel that?”

  “I don’t feel anything Angel.” Kaiden said

  “Daddy?” Zoe looked over to her father.

  “Sorry baby girl, I don’t. But if you feel it, go with it. Gabe let her drive. She will be able to find him faster than we will.” Marcus said

  Gabe got out of the driver seat and let Zoe in. She normally hated driving, but today she didn’t hesitate. She went up to the next makeshift intersection and turned right. The feeling was getting stronger and stronger and she made her way in that direction. Zoe had the gas pedal floored and was just going on pure instinct. The pull was getting stronger and Kaiden spoke in her head.

  I feel it now there are Dragons here and not just one. Maybe five or so.

  Yep I feel them all now but one of them has to be Zachary I can almost Ohh……

  What? What is it?

  I hear him Kaiden he is thinking loud and clear.

  “Stop the jeep Angel and talk to him first.” Kaiden yelled over the engines. Zoe slowed the jeep and stopped. She got out and started pacing in the middle of the road. A huge smile was on her face as she listened and then she started nodding her head.

  Zachary can you hear me?

  Who is this and why can I hear you?

  My name is Zoe and you are my twin. Our father is with me too. Last night we found a letter from a nurse. I have to tell you we just sort of found out you even existed.

  I knew you guys would come one day. I have found my soul mate, well she found me when I was in a car accident with my adoptive parents. I have been in hiding with her and her mother since I was five years old. Her mother has told me everything about who I am. Although she didn’t know who my parents were.

  Can you come to us? We are in the company of two Fury and two Onyx, my mate and our father. Please bring all who you are with. We have a safe location to take you to. You belong with us Zachary.

  Let me talk to them. Please give me a little while. They are a little secretive and not trusting since the deaths.

  I understand we all are that way. You are not the only ones affected by Aldrich and his children.

  You mean it’s all over the world and not just here?

  That is exactly what I mean. Also we are not safe here in the open. We need to get back to Ireland as soon as we can. It is safe there. The half-bloods cannot get into our land.

  Alright let me gather them. I can feel you as much as you can probably feel me and yes I heard you loud and clear too. Your happiness kind of worried me.

  “He is gathering them and they are going to come out here and meet us. Apparently he has been with his soul mate and her mother since he was five. They saved him in that crash. So he knows what we are and what he is.” Zoe explained and started to pace again her thoughts running wild.

  Marcus joined her in the pacing and was lost in his own thoughts with a frown on his face. Camilla and Sebastian stood guard in front of both jeeps and in front of Kaiden and Zoe. Gabe stood out of the other jeep and covered the back. Justine and Kaiden were still sitting in the jeep.

  An hour later two figures emerged from the distance. There were three figures a good distance behind them. As they approached Zoe could pick out similarities and knew they were Blood Dragons. They were all dressed in old clothing and looked not dirty, but like they worked really hard for very little.

  “Don’t come any closer, we just want some information.” The male Blood Dragon said

  “We mean you no harm. I am Kaiden and this is my mate Zoe. Also this is her Father Marcus. If you look closely you can see that they are the sister of Zachary and his father.”

  “May we know your names?” Marcus asked

  “I am Alexi and this is my mate Gosha.” The female answered

  “And the three behind you?”

  “Zachary is the tall one, Halina his mate and Iraina her mother and our Queen.”

  “Iraina.” Marcus whispered

  “Dad you ok? You look confused and well nervous.” Zoe asked looking at her father.

  “We, Zoe and I, are the King and Queen of the Ireland Sect. The last known Sect we know of. You see you are not the only ones Aldrich has hurt. All around the world he has killed us off and is still trying to do that. My home is safe we have a spell that covers the land and hundreds of miles around it. Aldrich and any other Dragon cannot pass through it. We are looking for all remaining survivors and offering safety and shelter. Have you heard of the other Sects hiding their children and going into hiding?”

  “We have been cut off from all other Sects. We have been alone and barely surviving for the last eighteen years when we were decimated. Our king was killed and all others. The queen was with me giving birth to Halina. I managed to get us all to safety and undetected from the ones who did this. I later found my mate and healed him once they were gone. He managed to heal himself somewhat, but not enough to get away. Our son was taken from us that day.”

  “Was it a boy?” Zoe asked

  “Yes.” Gosha whispered

  “We have found a Blood Dragon with his mate recently and they are safe with us at our home. He has your eyes Gosha and Alexi’s hair color. He is happy and healthy, and quite special to our family.” Zoe said

  “You say you have their boy? You have little Christian?” Iraina said as she came rushing forward.

  Marcus stared at her and now Iraina was staring at him as well. They were locked in a stare and unmoving. Zoe looked at Kaiden in confusion and then back to her father and Iraina.

  “Can this happen?” Iraina whispered

  “I have never heard of it happening, but I have also never heard of twins either.” Marcus said

  “Twins?” Iraina gasped

  “Zachary and Myself.” Zoe answered

  Iraina looked at Zoe for a long moment and then to Zachary and nodded. “That explains so much. He is faster than us, he sees farther and he is more powerful than I was with my mate. He also can shift while moving.”

  “Yes and we can talk to one another.” Zachary said

  “That’s how you knew they were here?” Halina asked

  “Yes my butterfly. We talked briefly and I believe them. I think we should go with our guts here and go with them. You all know I am right too, and Iraina do not deny what you are feeling it has been too long.” Zach announced

  “How do you know?” She gasped

  “Well for one I can hear him” he points to Marcus “and the fact that I can hear him has to mean he is my blood. Also he is just as confused as you. He has been held captive by this Aldrich and just learned his mate is dead after twenty two years of being in a cage. His wounds are deeper than all of ours and he needs you so he can feel again.” Zachary smiled

  “Always the blunt no holding back anyone’s feelings type. This one says it how it is just to warn you
all.” Halina giggled

  “May I touch you? May I heal your wounds and your heart?” Alexi asked

  “I will, but only if you are coming with us with open minds and with open hearts. These kids have formed a family not a Sect. Kaiden and Zoe do not rule them, I do not rule them. I have sworn my fealty to my daughter and her mate. They saved me from that cage and have begun my healing already. Your son does not know you are alive. His mate is also the daughter of Aldrich. If you want to be safe and live, and be able to fly freely, you will have to swear your fealty to my daughter and her mate, King Kaiden and Queen Zoe. I’m also thinking that Zachary and Halina will rule beside them. So please if you want to heal me and be our family, please swear your fealty to them now.” Marcus said

  All five of them took a knee and said in unison “I pledge my life and my heart to you King Kaiden and you Queen Zoe.” A pink haze swirled in the air around Zoe and Kaiden and also around Zachary and Halina. Zachary looked amazed and excited and Zoe laughed and rushed into her brothers arms. He laughed and picked her up and swung her around.

  Chapter 7

  Back to Ireland

  Iraina and her group didn’t have anything they wanted to bring with them and Zoe assured them there were plenty of clothes between all of them and some more on the way. Iraina sat in the back with Marcus with Sebastian driving and Camilla in the front. Alexi and Gosha were in the trunk area but seemed to be doing just fine. In the other jeep Gabe and Justine were in the front again and Zoe and Halina were in the seat with Kaiden and Zachary in the trunk area holding on. The trip back to the jet seemed to be quicker than the trip to meet Zachary.

  Once they were all seated in the jet and buckles were buckled they began to chat more freely. “I felt my mate die once Halina was in my arms. I felt all the others die also. The only ones I could feel after it all happened were Halina, Alexi, and Gosha faintly. I also felt Aldrich and the mild pull of his many half-bloods. Alexi and I ran as best we could until we could not feel anyone anymore. She healed me after the birth so I didn’t have any difficulties. We waited in a tunnel for two weeks. Once we felt it was safe we went back to the house and found it burnt to the ground. There was only a very faint pull and we knew it was Gosha. He had a bad wound near his heart and was badly burned. He was trapped beneath some fallen debris. I think they thought they left him for dead, but he had enough strength left to heal the wound on the inside and stop the bleeding. He passed out when he was struck in the head.” Iraina explained