Redemption (The Extinct Race Series Book 4) (20 page)

Chapter 35

Ben and Abby

Four years later after that informational dinner Abby is sitting at her desk in her room. She is now twenty years old and happier than ever. She had graduated early from high school and left for culinary school shortly after. Ben had graduated right before she had left for culinary school and they had gotten to spend the summer together. They had reconnected on a level that Abby had forgotten they had. She had forgotten that he was not only the love of her life but also her best friend. So when she had left for school it was on very good terms.

Her school had been a twenty month course but she had excelled so well that they had placed her in a fast track program which she had gotten her degree in just fifteen months. She had just finished an internship with one of the best chefs in Europe. Now she was working online with one of her heroes Mr. Steinman and he was working the deal for her to buy the restaurant that was in town. She and Mary had worked it out and were completely fifty fifty partners. The restaurant was a small one and they wanted to keep it that way. It was not going to be anything fancy just good food.

There was one empty house that was for her and Ben. Neither had moved into it yet as they both wanted to move in at the same time. The good news was that they were going to be moving in very soon. Ben had proposed the night she had come home from her internship. She had immediately said yes and he had given her a gorgeous black diamond swirl ring with smaller white diamonds on the sides. It was in a platinum band and she had burst into tears upon seeing it.

Ben had wanted to wait another year before they married but Abby had said she did not want to wait anymore. However Ben had placed a six month wait on her so that he could give her the wedding of her dreams. Bristol however had given birth to a little Water boy his name was Costin and he was now three years old. Every time Abby came into contact with him that thread she had seen now ran from him to her abdomen. It had also gotten stronger.

Today was the day though. She now sat looking in her mirror. She had just woken up and would head to the main house soon. Zoe had demanded that she was in charge of the dress and Abby trusted her completely. After all the mass wedding that they had had so long ago Zoe had done an amazing job. Abby still had her flower girl dress hanging in a bag in the closet. She would never toss it out, in fact her little sister had been given one just like it for the wedding. Delilah who was now eight and Ben’s two sisters Rainey now seven and Claire now ten were the flower girls and her little brothers were going to be the ring bearers. The girl’s soul mates would be the ones walking them down the aisle.

“Abby Abby its time! We have to go see Colleen and Zoe.” Delilah squealed loudly from the doorway.

“Ok I am ready.” And she was more than anything she wanted this. “Just remind me ok. Tell me one more time.” Abby asked nervously

“Okies we girls are going to Zoe’s suite to get ready. The boys have all gone to town to breakfast and then they are coming back in a few hours. That way Ben can’t peak at you.” Delilah giggled

“Abby sweetie are you nervous now?” Piper asked from down the hall as she stood there watching her two girls side by side walking towards her.

“Yes I am. I know I shouldn’t be. I have wanted this forever it feels it’s just finally happening mom.” Abby stated as tears filled her eyes.

“I know baby but you will do fine. Your father and I are so proud of you. Also when it is your sister’s time we will both be where I am now. She will be just as nervous.” Piper teased

“Oh that is going to be a good day. Tell me Delilah does Orin still stop Preston and Sawyer from messing with you?” Abby asked

“Yes and he does it with the boys at school too. But sometimes I want to punch him for it because sometimes we are just playing and someone gets rough and he is right there to stop the fun.” Delilah whines

“It will get better Ben used to be the same. When I first came here and mom and dad weren’t here yet I just had Ben. He was always there but I wouldn’t change that for the world because he became my best friend.” Abby told her little sister.

“Well Carmela and Adele are my best friends. Orin is great but he is a boy and he doesn’t like girl things like me.” Delilah informed

“That will change in time.” Abby said as they walked out the door and into the gold cart. The girls were all quiet as they made their way to the main house. The house was also very quiet as they made their way to the top suite. Inside they found Zoe and Halina waiting with Colleen. No kids were in sight except for Delilah.

“Where are Rainey and Claire?” Abby asked nervous they might not show.

“Well I asked them to come in about an hour from now. That way we can have time to work on all of you. Colleen here has brought some friends. They are in my room so… umm… ya no Dragon talk. They don’t have a clue and we aren’t ready to give any. They used to work with Colleen when she did runway shows they are the ones that are going to do your hair and makeup.” Zoe informed the girls

“Oh wow! Thank you Colleen and Zoe so when do I get to see the dress?” Abby asked excitedly

“Nope not going to happen until your hair and makeup are done and the girls are too, not to mention the mothers. They get a treat too. You remember the dresses before right? The ones Marjorie made?” Colleen asked

“Yes I do mom and me still have ours.” Abby responded

“Well Marjorie and I got together and she still had all the fabric samples and designs so we worked out magic and created all new ones. As well as the boys suites which Kaiden has and he will make sure the boys are taken care of. You however will be the last one to dress.” Colleen looked very seriously at Abby and Abby pouted a little.

“Alright let’s head back and get you ladies started. You haven’t showered like we asked right?” Zoe asked and Abby shook her head no. “Good then right to the bath for you.” Zoe opened her double doors wide to reveal six women smiling at them.

“Ladies this is Piper and her daughters Abby and Delilah. Abby here is the lucky one. Ladies this is the best team I have ever worked with and my best friends.” Colleen made the introductions to her team and then they got to work.

Abby was led into the bathroom and soaked in a bath with lots of floating flowers. Zoe washed her hair with a special shampoo while her mother helped scrub her down. The rich smell of the flowers soaking into her skin. When she was done she was led into the bedroom and three chairs had been placed behind a long table. Delilah sat in the middle chair and her long hair was being rolled up in curlers. Piper took the far chair and Abby sat in the first one closest to the door.

One lady worked on Delilah while three were on Abby and two on Piper. When Monica walked in with Claire and Rainey it hadn’t seemed like an hour. Mary was right behind them with Skylen and Beth and they had trays of food and drinks. Abby’s hair was placed in huge rollers and her nails were dry so they let her out of the chair to eat. Delilah was sitting on the little couch as the girl who worked on her grabbed onto Rainey.

The laughter and chatter went on for what only seemed like an hour but when Abby looked at the clock it was already two in the afternoon. There were two girls working on her makeup as three let loose the little girl’s hair. Delilah had bouncing rolls where Rainey had her hair braided and there were flowers placed in the braid. Clair had waves and waves of hair that was rolled up the back and then cascaded all around her head. Piper was also finished and Abby hadn’t remembered a time her mother had looked so beautiful. When Monica was finished and Abby thought the same thing about her she began to get teary eyed.

Abby was scolded in a nice way as the girls started to do her eye makeup. A while later they finally placed the mirror in front of her. She looked the same as she always did however they had done her makeup in a way that accentuated all her features. Her lips looked fuller and had a slight shine to them. Her eyes seemed to pop out of her face although in a good way. Her hair was almost to her waist now and they now had slight waves and bounced when she moved her head. The sides had been swept up and there seemed to be glitter in her hair.

Colleen made Abby and the girls sit there while she showed her team out of the house and into a waiting car. Zoe had handed them each a thick envelope before they left. Colleen came back in the room shortly after carrying three smaller bags. They let Delilah go first and her dress was magical. Since there was not a color scheme to the wedding Abby knew the dresses would signify their race. Delilah’s dress was a soft blue silk with a lace cover. Once it was on the dress really did look like waves. Rainey dress was a pearl covered bodice and the skirt was creamy silk that was ruffled and held with pearls. Claire’s dress was the color of Dragon fire. Purples and blues with a hint of orange. It was stunning.

Piper dress was a gown done in dark purple and black with a small train in the back. It was simple but elegant. Monica’s dress was similar but did not have a train instead it flowed over her feet and out to the sides. Pictures were taken and then it was time for Abby to put her dress on. Colleen brought out a bag and Abby was almost jumping in place.

“This is a very special dress that Zoe has been helping to design since the first weddings you guys had. I have been working on it since you stopped growing so for three years now.” Colleen said and Abby just looked at her and Zoe like they had a booger in their nose.

“Seriously?” Abby asked

“Yep!” Zoe stated as she unzipped the bag. Once it was open all Abby could do was stand there with her mouth gaping open. Piper began to tear up and the three little girls began to oooh and aahh. The dress was like nothing she had seen before. She looked down at her engagement ring and then at the dress. The swirling diamond on her ring was the same that was on the bodice of the dress.

The bodice of her dress was all swirling black and white diamonds in a scale pattern. It really did look like Dragon scales and it flowed down the side of her hips. The dress fit like a glove. The skirt was slightly tight in the front at her thighs and then flowed out with a long train. In front was white silk which towards the bottom and back morphed into black. This dress was nothing like the dresses she remembered from the last wedding. This dress was more than she had expected.

“ZOE! COLLEEN! This is…this is….my god this is gorgeous!” Abby gushed

“So you do like it? Because you have just been standing there silent with your mouth hanging open.” Zoe stated

“I love it.” Abby began to cry

“Nope nope none of that! Now I need to get my dress on and then we need to head out the guys and boys should be downstairs waiting except Ben he should be at the terrace waiting. So give me one moment.” Zoe said as she disappeared in her closet. She and Colleen both had been working on themselves while the girls worked on them. Once they were ready they headed down to the main floor. There they found Aidan, Brad, Orin, Barkley and Shane. Also there was the man that Colleen had started dating again. He was now a trusted human. Pictures were taken again and after thirty minutes they headed outside.

The open space in front of the main house had been extended like the beach a few years ago. It was now big enough for everyone to shift and a small parking lot for the family vehicles that was at the far side of the house hidden away. This area however had been transformed while Abby had been inside. It how had rows upon rows of benches on both side of an aisle. At the end of each row was an awning with hanging flowers on vines at ran up the sides and top. Ribbons of white and black were tied on the inside aisle of each bench. At the end of the aisle Mr. Steinman stood inside of a gazebo and next to him was Ben.

Ben’s tux was white with a black shirt and vest with white buttons. Those buttons were huge black and white swirl diamonds. His cufflinks were also the diamonds and his lapels were also done in diamonds that looked like small scales. His hair was long and loose like Abby liked it. Aidan her father handed her a bouquet of flowers as she took his arm. The girls and their mates walked down one by one tossing flowers out as they went. Sawyer and Preston went next each carrying a black pillow with a ring on it. Then it was Abby’s turn.

Abby draped her arm under and over her father’s arm he then led her down the aisle. The smile would not leave her face and Ben looked on with such love in his eyes that she wanted to cry. Mr. Steinman said a beautiful poem and then did the traditional wedding. They both said “I do” and the rings were placed on their fingers. The band that went to Abby’s ring was all small diamond and Ben’s ring was a band of platinum with one swirl diamond in the middle.

After the reception Ben carried her into their new home. Their parents had worked together and the house was completely decorated much to Ben and Abby’s surprise. He didn’t put her down once they were inside however. He carried her all the way to their new bedroom and took his time with her. It was both of their first time but Ben was not shy as he slowly undressed himself leaving his pants on while he took her dress off. He was slow and carful with her and when the time came for them to bite one another the rush overcame her. She tried to be gentle however there was no time to wonder if she was. A tingling sensation ran over her everywhere and she just knew they needed to get outside. Everyone was waiting in the field already shifted into their Dragon forms with children on back and some in the Onyx’s arms. They flew for the first time.