Read The Source: Book III of the Holding Kate Series for Free Online

exacting spirals and flips that made Corey immediately think of Tara and Trip. Some of their moves were identical to moves he had seen Tara teach the advanced warriors in Jewel City.
    There were eight warriors surrounding the dragon creatures. One of them did not seem to be engaged in the battle. He stood to the side with arms raised, shouting warnings. It appeared he directed or upheld them in the battle. Occasionally, he ran and snatched up a fallen spear and lobbed it back to the owner.
    They seemed so ordered in their attack, Corey feared any interference from the Keepers would have devastating consequences. Evidently, he wasn’t alone in that assessment. None of the Keepers advanced past the house. They stood in the driveway, ready to rush in if needed.
    Corey observed as they systematically divided the two dragons and took them down one at a time. When the dragons had collapsed into a heap, the one who had been calling out turned and saw the Keepers.
    His expression morphed as he took in the house, the cars, and their appearance. He shouted to the tall spiky blonde-haired girl and her battle partner. They whirled around, noted their surroundings, and then locked eyes on the Keepers, raising their weapons.
    Corey moved to the front of the team. “Put down your weapons,” he murmured to the Keepers, and then raised his voice and held open his hands.
    “Hello, you are welcome here.”
    The tall couple stepped forward, sheathed their swords and walked to stand a few feet away. Corey gawked at the girl. She was the spitting image of Tara, a bit taller, but they were so alike it was uncanny.
    “I am Starlythe ap Murkhul,” she spoke in Ampelese. “What is this place?”
    Her name resounded in his head. Starlythe! From the journals! Could it be the same person? He tested the theory.
    “I am Corey Chastain, descendant of Tsian the Wise.”
    The exotic warrior’s face broke into a radiant smile. “Tsian?”
    She took a tentative step forward, then another, and finally stepped up to embrace Corey.
    “Tsian? Is she here?”
    “This is her home. That is the lake where she first passed into your world.” Corey pointed to the pond in front of First Cabin.
    Starlythe was joined by a perky blonde who resembled Mel so strongly Corey had to look again.
    “Tsian’s time was a hundred years ago. We have built on her work and developed our own way of passing into other worlds. We can come and go at will, now.”
    “Did you bring us here?” she asked.
    “No. We didn’t. We have an enemy who seems to be trying to harm my wife.” Corey motioned for Kate to join him. She hesitated. He realized she didn’t know what they were saying since it had been in Ampelese.
    “Kate, they knew my great-great-grandmother. Come meet them.”
    She smiled hesitantly and stepped forward. “Corey, they look like Jewel City people.”
    “Cheulseti? You know of our home?” the perky blond asked.
    “You are from Jewel City?” Corey asked.
    “Yes. I am Starlythe, heir to the Cheleuthi throne, this is my husband, Staid.”
    The mountain of a man stepped forward and crossed his fist over his chest.
    Corey nodded and turned to the Keepers. “These are the Keepers, some of your ancestors. We settled the village of Jewel City.”
    The remaining five warriors stepped forward, gathered around Starlythe and gaped at the team with astonishment. They ran feral looking eyes over the group of teens who were near their own age. Tara approached Starlythe and they stood eye to eye examining each other with curiosity. Tara lifted her hand and Starlythe reached out and placed her palm against Tara’s.
    It was almost a mirror image, except for clothing and the blue tattoos that covered Starlythe’s arms, shoulders, and neck. She also had a tattoo of four keys over her right eyebrow.
    Their faces were almost identical, their bodies and skin tone were exact. It was startling to see the resemblance.
    “I see we are cut from the same cloth.” Starlythe