Kalindra (GateKeepers) (18 page)

“Now that we’ve taken care of the lovey-dovey bit, you can get off my land.”

The muscles under her hand stiffened. Cameron set her aside and stood, fire in his eyes. Uh-oh. This wasn’t good. She hadn’t gotten him back just to lose him due to temper.

She rushed to get between the two.

“Your land?” he demanded.

“Mine. Your lover there gave me the gate in exchange for your life.”

His steps faltered.

Kali raised her chin as his shocked gaze met hers. No regrets.

“You gave it up for me?”

“You even need to ask?”

“Oh, Kali.” Cameron pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back. Didn’t he understand? Having him alive and whole was all the comfort she needed. All the comfort she could stand. Her heart was so full, it was liable to burst.

“We’re not tied to this place anymore. We can travel. See the world. Just like you always wanted.”

“Travel all of Outremer,” the valkyrie stated behind her, her tone firm.

Kali glanced at the necklace around Cameron’s neck. Still exiled to Earth, but this time able to explore. Cameron could show her his world.

“No, Earth,” she replied.

“You misunderstand. I’m not asking, I’m telling. I am guard here now, and you both are immortals who belong in Outremer.”

Cameron started to step around Kali, but she held him back. Protecting the gate was a powerful rush, and the valkyries were known for their ferocity. Simply put, it wasn’t worth the fight. Besides, she wanted to show him her home. They could protect the shard. They’d been under constant attack at the gate anyway, and had held them all back. And now, Cameron was stronger than ever.

And she understood what Cameron hadn’t yet figured out. Neither of them would be happy living a quiet life in the human world. Both of them were warriors, and warriors needed wars to be happy. Lystrada was right; they belonged in Outremer.

“I want my weapons,” she told the valkyrie.

“Of course. You may come through the gate to collect your belongings once you have a place to go.” Sure, now the woman acted gracious.

But Kali wasn’t really upset. How could she be, after the gift the valkyrie had given her?

“Ready for a new adventure?” she asked Cameron.

“Ready when you are.”

Taking his hand, she stepped through the gate. The power of the portal surrounded her, wrapping her in a comforting cocoon. She seemed to stay enveloped in the warmth of the gate longer than normal. A last farewell caress.

Then she was through, staring out into the world she’d once known. A world that hadn’t been her home for a long time. Different times. They had a lot to figure out. New things to discover.

But they had each other. All that mattered.

“How long do you think before they come after the shard?” Cameron asked.

Anticipation pulsed in her veins. She looked into Cameron’s eyes and saw the same determination.

“Not long.”

Matching smiles curved their lips.

Cameron took her hand in his and started toward town. Kalindra wrapped her other hand around his arm, curling her body into his as they walked. Life would never be boring as long as they guarded the shard, their very own mobile piece of the gate. Others would attack–nothing new–but they wouldn’t succeed. Nothing would get past Cameron and her. Together they were unstoppable. And now, they’d be together forever.

Other Lyrical Books By Sondrae Bennett

Arctic Winds

Alpine Woods Shifters, Book 1

Chasing Paradise

Alpine Woods Shifters, Book 2

The Wolf Within

Alpine Woods Shifters, Book 3

Worth Fighting For

Alpine Woods Shifters, Book 4

Covert Desires

Alpine Woods Shifters, Book 5

GateKeeper Series

Koishi by Annie Nicholas

Book 1

http://lyricalpress.com/koishi

Kalindra by Sondrea Bennett

Book 2

http://lyricalpress.com/kalindra/

About Sondrae Bennett

I love romance. I love reading romance, living romance (who doesn't), but I especially love writing romance. There's no greater feeling than watching my characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, I love giving my characters the happily ever afters they deserve, with a little necessary drama first.

One of my favorite things is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing myself in the emotions between the characters. I hope someday to inspire readers the same way my favorite authors have inspired me.

When not writing, I can usually be found curled up on the couch with a good book, taking my dogs for walks, or spending time with my family.

It always makes my day to hear from my readers.

Kalindra

9781616504571

Copyright © 2013, Sondrae Bennett

Edited by Piper Denna

Book design by Lyrical Press, Inc.

Cover Art by Renee Rocco

First Lyrical Press, Inc. electronic publication: May, 2013

Lyrical Press, Incorporated

http://www.lyricalpress.com

eBooks are not transferable. All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

Published in the United States of America by Lyrical Press, Incorporated

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Preview

Koishi by Annie Nicholas

GateKeeper, #1

Copyright 2013, Annie Nicholas

All rights Reserved, Lyrical Press, Inc.

Chapter 1

Never make a deal with a dragon.

Koishi yawned so wide his jaw cracked. If he didn’t kill something soon, he’d–he’d have to find a hobby. A shudder ran down his human form’s spine. At least the winds were growing stronger so there would be good flying tonight.

Takai Crossing, the gate to Outremer in the east, had been quiet the last two months. Too quiet. Nothing had tried to escape into Inverness, otherwise known as Earth.

Outremer was the realm of magic. All manners of creatures lived there, including his kind. It was a dark and dangerous world. The gates, where both worlds touched, allowed people to cross. Keepers, such as he was, protected the worlds from spilling too much into each other.

The two worlds around his gate were safe for the moment.

The rough seas splashed warm water onto his bare feet and washed away the dirt from the dock. Dark storm clouds brewed over the horizon, racing toward Izu Oshima Island. Bands of orange and red slashed across them as the sun set.

He couldn’t wait until it arrived. Flying against the elements, muscle and sinew versus lightning and rain, would provide some relief from this calm.

Sheep bleated as the cargo ship knocked against the dock wall.

“Moe,” he called out over the noise.

The animals scurried to the far end of their pen and silence fell over the small herd. Sometimes animals were smarter than humans. They could sense a predator in disguise.

“Koishi.” Captain Moe waved from across the ship’s deck. He helped a female to stand, hanging her head and arms over the side rail. “Vomit in the sea, not on my ship,” he told her before shuffling toward the stern.

Clinging to the pens, Koishi kept his balance and surveyed the stock. A few cattle, less than he’d like. Twentyish head of sheep, difficult to count when they squeezed together like that. From the barking–he grinned–a few dogs.

Moe gave him a quick bow, then gestured to the livestock. “This week’s order. Was Master Ishi pleased with last week’s?” His voice shook. Who could blame him? Koishi’s dragon form was fierce, which forced him to hide among them in his man-form, as his own servant. A genius idea.

“Yes, he especially enjoyed the little dogs you brought.” The small bundles had been tender and their hair very short so they didn’t tickle when swallowed. They went well with a movie.

“The Chihuahuas?”

“Yes, those. You should buy a few breeding pair and start producing them. He’ll buy whatever you bring.”

Moe grimaced, but nodded.

Why did humans frown upon him eating dogs? They were delicious. He’d even sent his crazed mother a basket of them as a present. He would have loved to see the expression on her stern face when those arrived. She never played with her food. Her warrior nature wouldn’t allow such nonsense.

The boat jerked from under his feet as a fierce wave knocked the ship once more. “Better unload my–uh–Master Ishi’s–cargo before the storm hits. He finished the last of his prey yesterday and is hungry.” His stomach grumbled and he rubbed it. Not long now.

A groan traveled from the half-conscious female hanging on the side-rails for dear life.

“Your woman looks ill.”

Moe snorted. “Not mine. The ferry won’t run in this weather and she refused to wait. She bought passage with me.” He chuckled. “She fed the fish the whole way across. Where such a tiny thing keeps all that stored is beyond me.”

The smell from that side of the ship soured the air. He shook his head. Tourists. Always in a rush, clogging the beaches and disturbing his home. No matter the rumors of his existence, a few had to be chased down the volcano’s side as a reminder that the area wasn’t safe to play around. He doubted any of them truly wanted to cross through the gate–it would be suicide–but he couldn’t allow concrete evidence of him to surface. Baker Morris, a human company that dealt with the gatekeepers, would have a fit.

The magic realm tolerated some humans, but not the section where his gate exited. Shadowburn was a place where nightmares were born, and Takai gate resided close to a goblin nest. Whatever mortal stepped through wouldn’t survive for long. No, his duty was to keep the vermin from crossing into Inverness, or like the humans called it, Earth.

His memory surpassed those of the short-lived locals, though they did tell their young the goblin stories. He had heard them repeated often in taverns and around campfires. In each one he was the hero. He’d driven back the goblin hordes when the last gatekeeper had been overwhelmed, and he would continue to do so until he fell.

What dragon wouldn’t want such a destiny?

He had easy food, battles at his doorstep, and an island full of people who worshipped the myth of him. The gate had chosen well when it bonded to him.