The Source: Book III of the Holding Kate Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

demon twisters to bring him back. He saw love in her eyes that day and knew there was only one way to keep her safe.
    He had to let go.
    He shook loose of her hands and flew backward into the mouth of the giant maelstrom with his eyes locked on beautiful Kate.
    Greg’s tears landed on the console of his desk and he tapped the screen and froze the image of Kate in his arms.
    The Kate. The only Kate left.
    He stroked her cheeks and touched the image of her lips.
    Righteous anger rose in his chest. He had so little time with her before her life was snuffed out by that wicked Amazonian-Dragon killer.
    He was done playing nice games with these vile jumpers. It was time to send in the nasty monsters.
    He picked up his cane and headed toward his QHR to enlist the help of some of his more disturbing quantum discoveries.
     

     
     

 
     
     

     
     
    KATE AND COREY stood in the center of the new QHR the next day while Schmitz and Wallace—the new white coats—explained the updates. They brought in all new computer systems and data containment pods, fusion power packs, backup generators, replicating quadrants, holo interfacing, wireless transmitters and transponders. It all resulted in the majority of the boathouse being devoted to equipment and a small rectangle designated as the QHR pad.
    The team, dressed in jumpsuits, had the supplies and equipment on the transfer pad while they waited for Corey’s lawyer to arrive. There was still the pesky little problem of choosing a jump site.
    “Take us back in time to Jewel City,” Trip suggested. “We could meld in with the two century jumpers.”
    “We can’t do that because we didn’t do that,” Donnie replied.
    “Say what?” Trip asked.
    “If that was our decision, then we would have shown up already in Jewel City. We’d have met ourselves already in our past. Since we didn’t, then that means we won’t.”
    “I hate time paradox crap,” Trip muttered.
    Kate and Mel giggled behind their hands at the consternation on Trip’s face. He scowled at them and that sent them into more giggles. He cut his eyes to Tara and her amused expression finally got him to crack a smile.
    “Dirk, Mel, Donnie, can you think of any good sites you’ve been to?”
    They shrugged. “Most places I’ve been, I wouldn’t want to go back to.” Mel chewed on the side of her thumbnail.
    “I have an idea,” Eunavae said. “When Kail and I were in our Scriptorium, we went to a place called the Crystal Certosa. We heard stories of people coming through what they called ‘The Veil.’ Who’s to say we aren’t those very people?”
    “But that was the Scriptorium. Why do you think we would be able to get to this Crystal Certosa?”
    “Because they spoke Ampelese.”
    “No.” Kate shook her head. “I am not going back to any land that has dragons!”
    “Yeah, besides, we know Greg knows about that place,” Dirk agreed.
    This was a lot harder than Corey thought it would be. He had visions of just picking a world and jumping there. They stared at each other in silence, trying to come up with a solution.
    An ear piercing blast sounded outside.
    Kate screamed. Trip and Tara squared off in front of her, blocking her from the doorway.
    Dirk ran to peer out of the window. Another blasting gong sounded, but didn’t have the same depth of tone.
    “Holy crap!” Dirk swore and ran to the weapons cache, ripped it open, and began hurling weapons at the team.
    They ran out of the boathouse into pure mayhem. In the field beside First Cabin, two enormous dragon-like creatures screamed down at a peculiar looking group of people. Warriors circled the dragons, waving spears and swords at them. They were so engaged in the battle that they did not appear to know they had jumped.
    Kate flinched at the dragons, hunching down. Corey, Trip, and Tara closed in around her.
    One tall female with short spiky blonde hair fought side by side with an enormous mountain of a man. They jumped and twisted in