Free The Source: Book III of the Holding Kate Series by LaDonna Cole

jerked up when they entered the boathouse. With large magnifying spectacles on, he looked like one of the giant bugs. Trip subdued a snort. Schmitz heaved a large crate onto the jump pad.
    “Report,” Dirk commanded.
    “Corey and Kate and two of the Cheleuthi warriors jumped. I found a site in Ampeliagian history that indicated foreigners had intervened.”
    Dirk swore. “How long have they been gone?”
    “An hour, tops.”
    “We need to get there, now.”
    “The remote is almost finished.” Wallace redoubled his efforts on the contraption.
    “Okay, we need to decide who goes and who stays.” Dirk turned to look at the remaining Keepers and warriors.
    Tara and Trip both stepped forward, crossed arms over their chests, and said “I’m going!” They both turned to look at each other. The identical stance and expressions of determination on their faces made them grin.
    “Yeah, I figured you were going,” Dirk laughed. “Eunavae, you and Donnie speak the language. We could really use your help.”
    “I’m coming,” Eunavae said without reservation.
    Donnie turned to Mel, his hand reaching for her abdomen.
    She whispered, “Go. Protect Kate.”
    “No.” Donnie shook his head and wrapped his arm protectively across her midsection. “My place is here with you and the baby.”
    “That’s fine. We are going to need someone we trust on this side to coordinate,” Dirk said.
    “Tara, explain to our Cheleuthi friends that they have a choice. They can go back to their own time and home or they can come into their history with us.”
    Tara began explaining the plan to the Cheleuthi Warriors. Only Starlythe spoke. The others stood in stalwart agreement.
    “They are coming with us. They will not allow their sword brother and sister to take all the glory for this quest. They work as a team and refuse to be separated.” Tara darted a glance at Trip through her long lashes.
    He understood completely. Tara and Trip were a team. Trip registered the truth; she was still his partner. No matter what else they had been to one another, or had not been, they were partners in battle, always.
    His fingers itched to reach out and touch her, to affirm her thoughts. He didn’t. He clenched his hands into fists and ground his teeth.
    The urge passed when Dirk said, “Okay, let’s go.”
    “I packed all of your supplies.” Schmitz pointed to the crates and trunks on the QHR pad.
    Wallace screwed a plate on the back of the contraption and handed it to Dirk. “This is the backup remote. Corey knows what to do with it.”
    “Then let’s hope Corey is still able to tell us.” He arched a brow at Wallace and stepped onto the QHR pad.
    They gathered around the supplies, waved goodbye to Donnie and Mel, and jumped.

    Tara blinked away the blinding sunlight as the sphere dissipated. They landed on the outskirts of a small mountain village. A rocky path wound into town down the side of an incline lined with crisp evergreens and toothy crags. Trip whirled around and clamped his eyes on her, relaxed his shoulders, then slowly turned back around and surveyed the area. It sent a jolt through her heart to see his concern displayed so openly. She schooled her features into their normal mask of indifference.
    “Eunavae, I need you to translate everything I say for the Cheleuthi,” Dirk said.
    Eunavae told the Cheleuthi what he said and they nodded.
    A young boy jumped out of a tree onto the road. He cocked his head sideways and then took off toward the village screaming at the top of his lungs. “Landing day, landing day, they are here! They have come.”
    Eunavae, the Cheleuthi warriors, and Tara laughed. “They’re expecting us, it seems,” Tara said to Trip and Dirk.
    Toting the luggage and supplies, they trekked toward town. In the distance Tara saw the little boy duck into a large timber structure. Two adults poured out of the building and hastened toward them. It turned out to be Kate and Stealthlin. Kate made a beeline for