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

have trouble pulling her concerned attention away from Corey, but raised her brows and focused on Tara. “Only once when we traveled to Livingstone. I don’t think they knew about our village. They never bothered us here.”
    Kate stood next to Candol across the room from Corey. How strange to see them in the same room together and not be touching . Tara guessed after thirty seven years, they had moved past the newlywed stage. A little disappointed, she thought they would be one of those couples who were smitten even into their old age.
    She glanced at Trip and saw the perplexed look on his face. Leaning over, she began translating everything that had been said so far. Dirk inclined his head to listen.
    She watched Kate and Candol as she translated. They spoke with gestures and expressions, the language of close friends, understanding the meaning behind an arched brow or a slight shift of the head. They shared a secret communication of the night’s events. Four decades together had solidified their bond.
    Kate’s face brightened as she looked to the doorway over Tara’s shoulder. Tara turned to see a strikingly beautiful woman with long black hair and dark skin standing there.
    “Najwa!” Kate cried. “Come in. I want you to meet our old friends.”
    Tara caught a peculiar exchange. Candol stiffened as she watched the exotic beauty meet Kate in the middle of the room. Stealthlin, her husband, moved to stand beside Candol and they exchanged dark glances.
    “Everyone, this is Najwa. She came to us just after the first victims of the plague started pouring in. She is from the Darchori tribe and was trained in the medical school that Corey and Eunavae started. She is brilliant and I don’t know what we would have done without her these past two years.” Kate had crossed the room and wrapped her arm around Najwa’s shoulders. Kate seemed especially petite standing next to the voluptuous Darchori. Kate’s eyes twinkled as she spoke of her new friend. Together they blinded the room with their beauty. Where Kate was lithe and lean with gentle feminine curves that had not altered over the thirty seven years, Najwa was hourglass shaped and seemed to carry a sensuality that beckoned to every man in the room. Her clothing was cut to accentuate her curves.
    “It is a pleasure to meet the great warriors that Kate and Corey have praised so highly.”
    She had an accent that rang familiar. Tara assumed she remembered the Darchori lilt, but it seemed different. Perhaps she was from a different Darchori sect.
    “I need to speak to Cianti Todura,” she spoke to Kate.
    Corey rose from his bench beside Eunavae and escorted Najwa out the door into the night air. Tara translated again for Trip and Dirk. Something about the whole situation made her uneasy. She eyed Candol and Stealthlin as they moved to one of the corners and spoke with their heads together.
    “Corey resumed his old title?” Eunavae asked Kate. “I never thought he cared much for being called Cianti Todura.”
    “Well, that was mostly Najwa’s doing. She started calling him that and it stuck with the others. I guess they still have stories at the Darchori school about the founders.” Kate poked Eunavae’s arm, pointedly.
    Eunavae snorted, stood, and stretched. “I’m gonna head back to the hospital. There’s a patient I want to check on.”
    Manifus stood with her. “I will accompany you. I too want to check on him.”
    Eunavae stepped to the door and waited while he kissed Krenne, and then they left.
    Corey popped back in and called Kate. She walked over to him and he said something, then pecked her lips before he rushed out. Tara sighed. That little peck eased her suspicions.
    Kate turned, caught Tara’s observation, and sauntered over.
    “How long were we gone before you jumped behind us?” she asked.
    “’bout an hour,” Trip answered.
    “So you just fought the dragons at Heartwork and then jumped here?” Kate exclaimed.
    Tara nodded. “Yeah,