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

we’re awesome like that.”
    Kate grinned and rolled her eyes. “Still, I imagine you are exhausted.”
    The Cheleuthi warband had migrated to one side of the room and Tara noticed everyone in the room had segregated without realizing it. “Okay, this isn’t going to work. We have to teach you guys Ampelese ASAP!”
    “You are right to immerse them in the language. That’s how I learned.” Kate shifted back into Ampelese. “Corey refused to speak English to me.”
    Tara nodded and cut eyes to Trip.
    He groaned.
    “Pick your poison, guys. I am about to assign a permanent language tutor to you, preferably someone in your cabin.”
    “Better make mine Brashtor. Drayse has been preoccupied with all of the pretty girls,” Dirk laughed.
    “You, Tara. I pick you.” Trip pitched his voice low, and the intensity of his tone drew Tara’s scrutiny. His eyes simmered the dual meaning in his declaration.
    Tara felt heat rise in her cheeks at his potent gaze. She slowly leaned back and cast her eyes about the room, seeking an anchor to keep her heart in check. Kate intercepted the whole exchange. She beamed at Tara with her eyebrows raised.
    “Come on,” Tara stood and pulled Dirk up. Taking his hand, she dragged him over to the Cheleuthi.
    “Brashtor, Dirk needs a permanent tutor to drown him in the language. Would you oblige?”
    Brashtor bowed and smiled at Dirk. “It would be an honor.”
    “We were just talking about sending scouts around the country to see how widespread the devastation of the plague is,” Starlythe said.
    “That is a great idea. I’ll go. Who wants to come with me?” Dirk replied after Tara translated.
    “Since I am now your language tutor, I should accompany you.” Brashtor bowed slightly.
    “If we take the spheres we can cover more territory. We will have to get coordinates from Wallace. First thing in the morning we will jump back home and have Wallace send us to target sites.”
    “It is a good plan,” Starlythe said. “We could all go to a different site and be back in a couple of days.”
    “Wait, what if years pass here before you return,” Starlythe asked.
    “Now that the remote has been here and recorded the time signature, we can return back to the moment we left.”
    Tara grimaced. Time travel baffled her.
    “Don’t worry.” Dirk chuckled. “I’ll make it happen.”
    “Okay, I will leave him to you, Brashtor, so you can plan your jumps.” Tara patted Dirk’s shoulder.
    “Wait, what, how?”
    Tara flashed her brows twice and moved back to Trip and Kate.
    “Fork.” Kate held up the utensil and spoke in Ampelese. She had started his first lesson, evidently. “Cup.” She pointed and he repeated.
    She looked up, pointed at Tara, and said, “Girlfriend.”
    He repeated, ignorantly.
    Tara fisted her hips, and Kate grinned wickedly at her. “Okay, that’s it,” Tara declared, wrenching Trip to her side. “You are forbidden to have lessons from Kate.”
    His face registered concern and she realized that the jest could have been taken wrong. “She is teaching you the wrong words, that’s all,” Tara explained with a reassuring touch on his arm.
    “Katie girl?” He seemed shocked.
    “I taught you the right words. She just didn’t like my choice,” Kate said, giggling.
    “Come on Trip, let’s take a walk and I will teach you how to say ‘Kate is a very bad girl.’” Tara took his hand and led him outside. Just before the door closed she caught a glimpse of Kate rolling on the sofa in a fit of giggles. She grinned. It was good to see her so happy. This jump had been good for her. She seemed to have forgotten the threat of Gregory and settled into a confidence that she had never displayed before. Tara supposed living for thirty seven years as the sole object of Corey’s desire had that effect.
    Tara glanced at Trip. He watched her carefully. She smiled and he squeezed her hand. She hadn’t realized that she still had a hold of him. She looked down at