Lost Ones (The Extinct Race Series Book 3)

by Michelle Farrell

  As they sat at the table and ate the conversations around the table were quiet and really just about the everyday things. Since Marsali and Airic passed this is how it was. There was an elephant in the room and no one wanted to bring the conversation to the front. Zoe thought that it was time to fix that.

  “So we are literally waiting for the big bad wolf to knock on the door, Marsali and Airic are where they want to be, Halina and I as well as Mary are pregnant. We have set the traps and pray that they work. We are training more and more every day and I feel I could knock and elephant down now. So what is the tension in the room? It feels like there is an elephant here that no one is addressing. I am unsure what it is though.” Zoe asked

  “Well we have been talking amongst ourselves for a couple days and have thought of something, but we are unsure of what you will think.” Sebastian was the brave one to speak for the group.

  “And what is this plan?” Kaiden asked

  “Well I have heard about the second chance soul mate thing, Marcus and Iraina have explained it to me along with Cara and Brice. And well with me being the only full-blood Blood Dragon left, what if that evil man is mine?” Sarah answered

  “Would you want that?” Zoe asked with disbelief

  “That’s the thing, I don’t, well not how he is right now. But what if he is sick or something? I have talked with Ada and she said he was not like he is now when he was a boy. Rosa and Monica have also told me that they saw him as very loving at times, just jealous most of the time. So what if something in him snapped? What if there is something that we can heal? Maybe he is just a sick man.” Sarah explained

  “Really that is your reasoning behind this plan?” Vivi asked with disgust.

  “Vivi you have just found your mate. I mean I know it has been a couple years, but try going on twenty more and then one day losing him. Then imagine spending another twenty without him and alone. If there is a chance he can be healed, wouldn’t you want that?” Sarah pleaded

  “No I don’t want anything to do with him and now I am against this plan!” Vivi yelled

  “What is this plan?” Kaiden asked

  “We were going to ask Halina if she would shock him with enough to knock him out and then we were going to capture him and see.” Sarah explained

  “And what if you feel the soul mate pull to him? Will you be able to tie him up then?” Vivi snapped

  “That is why I will not be fighting. I will be with Ada and Leon and the kids.” Sarah snapped just as nastily as Vivi had.

  “Well if I get to him first, he is dead!” Vivi yelled and then stormed out of the room and up the stairs

  “Sarah even if the possibility of him being your second chance, do you think you could forgive him?” Zoe asked

  “I think if I had an answer I might. But I can tell you this is really hard on me too. I understand where she is coming from, I really do. But like Marsali told you guys, he sounds like an ancient. So what if he is like possessed or something?”

  “Do you really believe in your heart that is a possibility? Because honestly I do not know if I could ever forgive him for what he has done.” Zoe said

  “Ok well let’s take the soul mate factor out of the equation. Don’t you guys want answers?” Sarah asked. “I know damn well that I do.”

  “Honestly no, from me anyway, I was held prisoner for twenty two years. My first mate was murdered, my daughter lived in hell thinking she was garbage and then when she found out the truth she thought she was the one who killed her. No I don’t need answers the man is on a quest for power and that is all. With him it’s kill or be killed. I will have no part in answers. I do not want revenge either. I just want to live in peace now and be a part of my grandson’s lives. I never got to see my daughter as a baby because of him. I will have a part in theirs!” Marcus ferociously stated.

  “There are some answers that I would like, but having been here for a while and the chance to live again and be free. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. To me he defected and to me that is a death sentence.” Iraina stated

  “As much as this truly pains me Sarah, he will not ever be welcomed here with the things he has done. He sent a missile, in fact there were ten of them and we missed just one. He had them implanted in his children. That kind of malice is not welcome here. He has tortured, killed and raped, he is not a man I want around my children or for that matter even his own children. I really hope that he is not your second chance soul mate. Because if he is you, will be alone once more.” Kaiden said

  “Sarah I know that you are tired of being alone. But you heard all of our stories, how can you even forgive him for what his sons did on his command?” Zoe asked

  “A part of healing is forgiving. How can you ever truly heal if you do not forgive the man that did them?” she pleaded

  “I do not want hate in my heart Sarah. So I will say this and it will be the last we speak of it. You all may capture him, Sarah if you feel the soul mate Pull to him I will ask Alexi and Gosha to see if he is sick somewhere and if they heal him it is up to them. I do not need answers anymore I have them. He wants to be King and will not stop until he is. Sick or not I will never trust him around my family. Blood family and this family, I will never trust that he is truly healed. I will always have doubt that he will do it again. I can’t live like that. That cannot taint this family we have created. If he is healed and we allow him in the home, NONE of you will ever feel safe. I do not want a rift in this family! If I make an executive decision and allow him in against the wishes of other family members I will be the one who loses. Do you think Vivi would stay here if he was here? Do you think Marcus would stay knowing he was right next door? Hell, more of you would leave here if I did that. So NO! I will not lose my family over one man. If he is your soul mate I will do everything in my power to possibly heal him and then I will set you up somewhere far away and require you to take back your fealty. So that we know we are always safe.” Kaiden boomed out and magic swelled around the room as all the Pearls felt the way Kaiden did.

  “I will heal him if he is caught and can be healed. I will also leave with my brother.” Ada said

  “I will not live with a man that has done everything that he has done. Do you really think that I would Ada?” Leon announced

  “You would choose to stay here than be with your soul mate?” Ada asked totally bewildered

  “Ada you are a stubborn woman. I love you with everything I have, but our life has always been for good. We help the poor and the unhealthy. This man has caused nothing but pain. How could you ask me to change everything about myself? Kaiden is right. If we left with him I would never relax. I would never be able to sleep at night and it would make me resent you. I do not want that. So really the choice is yours. Stay here with me and help raise your nieces and nephews, or leave with that evil man. Because, truly, that is all he will ever be thought of, evil.” Leon hung his head.

  Ada was silent as she stared at her mate. Christian got up and left the room to go to Vivi. Everyone was silent at the table and was shocked to hear a mate choose to be without his other half. Mary got up and started clearing the table with the help of Mateo and a few others. As dessert was being brought out Christian came back downstairs with Vivi.

  “Vivi, if anyone can catch him Ada will see if she can heal him. If he is healed he will not be welcome here. I will not lose any of you for him. You are more important to me.” Kaiden told Vivi

  “Thank you Kaiden. Ada if what Christian tells me is true and you plan to leave with him then you are a bigger fool that I first took you for. And Leon, I am proud to call you my uncle. Kaiden is right and you know it is true Ada, you too Sarah. Even if he is your soul mate and you get lucky enough to heal whatever has a hold on him, you will never fully trust him. You will start to see the monster that he truly is. I have talked a lot with Rosa and Monica about my mother. Did you know that my father enjoys raping human women to make babies? Even before he killed the Sects, when he was with my mother, she
nor the king could stop him. Why do you think he had so many sons when he first lost it? Brad and Michael have no half-blood children. Their King didn’t require them to do so. I have heard the mothers at the amp scream, the louder they scream the more he gets off. He beats them for the fun of it too. You really want to live with a man like that? You want your soul mate to beat and rape you? Because that is the only way he will ever be happy. Oh women talk you know. My mother was upset after their first time and ran to Monica. Monica please tell her what he did to my mother the first time he made love to her and they turned into their Dragons.” Vivi sneered at Ada and Sarah

  “Aldrich tied her to a wooden X. He beat her until she screamed loud enough and then he took her by force. He left her facing him because he knew that she had to bite too. But she did not bite out of lust, she bit to hurt him. Eventually she found a way to enjoy his sexual habits, but he was never truly sated unless he beat her. She learned how to heal herself and how to numb the pain. But he wanted her in actual pain for it to mean anything to him.” Monica answered

  “So you see, even before he went on a killing spree he takes BDSM to a whole different level. Do you want that?” Vivi asked

  “He is my brother and would not want me that way. So I am safe there.” Ada said confidently

  “And Sarah?” Vivi asked looking to a very pale and shocked woman

  “I don’t know, that might be healable too.” Sarah answered weakly

  “But you would be fine with him raping humans to make sons, because you know he made me, so you will never be able to give him children. Did you have children with your first mate?” Vivi asked

  “No I didn’t and I really do want them. You’re serious though? If he is my second chance I can’t have kids because he had you with his first?” Sarah asked

  “That is true. So if he is your second chance you will be alone with just him and his children by other women. And I will tell you that he likes to keep at least six close to him at all times. He tosses the ones that can’t bare any more children and then finds a new one.”

  “I hope he is not my second chance then. I wouldn’t handle other women in my bed.” Sarah said firmly

  “You’re serious? Children are not everything in this life. Leon and I have not had children yet and we have been just fine. You would give up love and a soul mate because of that?” Ada snapped

  “And you will give me up, your soul mate, over your brother?” Leon stood and slammed his hand on the table

  Everyone stood then and watched as Leon and Ada stood face to face with anger written all over each face. Arthur grabbed his children and took them to their room while Monica and Rosa ushered the toddlers and grabbed the babies taking them to the playroom. Piper got up to help them and so did Aubry and Cassie. Piper tried to get Abby to go too, but Abby walked to Zoe and grabbed her hand. Then Ben came over grabbed Abby’s other hand and Justine’s.

  “Ada your colors are all wrong now. They don’t match Leon’s no more.” Abby whispered

  “Do you choose your brother over me?” Leon angrily spat out

  “Leon you are just upset you don’t understand.” Ada replied meekly

  “Simple question Ada, are you willing to throw away eighty years for your brother?”

  “I can help him!”

  “You can NOT!”

  “I can and I will!”

  “So be it. This might kill me, but after everything that man has done to these people I cannot be with a woman who is willing to follow him.” Leon said as he reached out to Ada and placed his hands on her face. “I have loved you all this time, I was the one to heal you after it all and I was the one who stood by you. I am saddened to know you would choose me over him. You are not the woman I fell in love with anymore.” Ada screamed then. Leon had his eyes closed and his face was straining. Then Leon screamed and they both fell to the floor. Everyone was too stunned at what was happening to move. But as soon as the fell Alexi rushed forward and touched both of their faces.

  “They are still alive, just unconscious. I don’t understand what he did.” Alexi said

  “He pulled his colors from her.” Abby announced

  “What do you mean sweetie?” Justine asked

  “He took his bond to her back. They are no longer like Benny and me.”

  “OH MY I didn’t know we could do that, but I don’t even want to know either!” Vivi screeched

  Leon started to come too then. He sat up and looked at Ada with worry and sadness on his face. “I always wanted children and she didn’t. She was afraid I would turn into a man like her father. We were so very different, but I loved her through it all. I was raised differently than she was and she resented my parents until the day they died. She always wanted to go back for her brother and I don’t blame her for it. But you guys are right and I can’t live with what he has done. When my parents died they told me how to do that. They knew what Aldrich was doing and her always wanted to go to him made my mother worry about her too. So she told me before she died that if this situation ever came into play that I would need to know it. They knew she would choose him over me. I am sorry. If you would like me to leave I will.” Leon admitted shamefully.

  “No, you are welcome to stay. I am shocked at what you did and none of us what to know that secret. It seems your bond was never a whole one, or it was but she wouldn’t let it be. Either way I believe you made the right decision Leon.” Kaiden said

  “Ohhhhhh pretty!” Abby squealed

  “What is sweetie?” Zoe asked as Sarah and Leon both gasped

  “It tied itself to her!” Abby said “They match now.”

  “Seriously?” Alexi asked as Sarah turned to face Leon.

  “I don’t need a volatile woman on my hands guys. Please do not tell Ada just yet.” Kaiden moaned out realizing what had just happened. The soul mate bond within Leon had just mashed itself with Sarah. And Ada was starting to wake up.

  Ada sat up and looked around at all the worried faces and then two very shocked ones. “Your parents taught you that huh? They always did think I was the wrong one for you. That fate had messed up when it came to us. I am not mad Leon. I wish you two all the best and many children. Leon has always wanted children that I just could give him, because I never wanted them. I will not go crazy on you all, but Aldrich is my brother and I would like to stay until he arrives. I will catch him and heal him and then I will leave with him. May I have a room in the barracks until this happens?” Ada asked

  “You may and you may also continue to have meals with us if you are going to be civil.” Zoe said

  “I will not disrespect you home Zoe and Kaiden, but I think I will skip meals for a few days. There is food in the barracks, so I will eat with them. I just want you all to know you are wrong about Aldrich. I will prove it to you.” Ada said and then she walked to the room her and Leon shared and packed her things. She walked up to Leon with her bags in hand and kissed him on the cheek. “I really do hope you are happy in life and I wish you tow the best. He talks in his sleep, so don’t be alarmed Sarah. You can have a whole conversation with him.” She laughed and then walked out the front door.

  “I think I would rather wait until this is all over and she is gone before we cement this in stone. I would like to get to know the real you first.” Sarah said

  “I would like that too and I think it is best. I will tell you this though; the Pull to her was never this strong. Thank you for accepting me.” Leon grabbed her hand and kissed her lightly.

  “Well that was interesting to say the least, movie anyone?” John said seriously

  “First do you all agree with capturing and healing him?” Kaiden asked

  “I will agree to that now, I fear that if we kill him now, with Ada losing her soul mate, that she might go a little nuts and well she can get in the border.” Marcus said

  “Crap! I didn’t think of that.” Leon said “I will stay close to her, if she goes nuts because he gets killed instead of captured, then I will be the on
e to take her down.”

  “Uh no! You just pulled the bond from her. You will be the first she targets if not Sarah. We also need her in the fight now and not with the kids. The girls in the house will stay with the kids along with Sarah and Leon. Etana will you watch Ada and help to capture Aldrich? Halina and I will be there too so Halina can shock him and you do your whip thing.” Zoe asked

  “I will I had planned to stay with you two anyway, between her shock thing and my knives and yours we can keep them at a distance. We all have become very good that the hand to hand so I am not worried. I will help in trying to capture him.” Etana replied

  “Good so when this all goes down we are going to have to watch Ada and try to capture Aldrich. She can get through the border, but he cannot so this take down and healing is going to have to be done outside the border. I am glad I ordered more vests. I think this may have just turned into two people we are going to need to restrain.” Kaiden said.

  After the capture was agreed on they all went to watch a movie and enjoy the rest of the night. After the movie the children were all given baths and put to bed. Zoe and Kaiden lay quietly in their bed worried if another big fish had been put on their laps. It sucked not knowing if Ada was being honest or just playing her part. Kaiden had not told Zoe, but he had asked all the Onyx Dragons to stay up and watch the house, since they all could see in the dark. He had also asked Charles to have men watch the room Ada was placed in.

  The nightmare Kaiden had envisioned and spoke of early was now a real thing, just with a different person. In one conversation a woman who he thought of as family and trusted, had twisted that trust into an uncomfortable thing. The nightmare had just become a living thing.

  To be Continued in Book Four………..

  Abilities

  Kaiden: Leadership: his intuition is supreme and usually always right. He values the input of others and people flock to him.