Kalindra (GateKeepers) Read Free Page A

can save you. Not even her.” His laughter turned maniacal, not stopping until Kalindra picked up his own sword and removed his head from his body.
    She stared at the corpse for a long moment. Such senseless death. If he had never come here, he would still be alive, his companion would still be alive, and those poor humans would still be alive. Foolish.
    Her gaze shifted to the human before her. He stood his ground, even lifted his chin, as she crossed to him. Somehow his bravery didn’t bother her like the vampire’s had. On the human, it was a novelty that appealed to the warrior spirit inside her. She removed the rag from his mouth and pushed it so it hung around his neck.
    “Key?” she asked, pointing to the cuffs.
    “Front left pocket,” he said on a cough, nodding his head toward the vampire on the ground. At least it hadn’t been on the woman. That would’ve been messy.
    Once she’d located the key, she released the man, and watched as he rubbed circulation back into his hands.
    Anger flared. The vampires had cuffed him too tight. But why did she care? In surprise, she realized she felt sympathy toward him.
    “Why you?” she murmured.
    “Sorry?” he asked.
    “Why did they take you when they killed the others?”
    The man shrugged, but his gaze drifted away. She recognized diversion when she saw it.
    “Dunno. Maybe for food?”
    Lies. This man knew why he’d been taken. What was he hiding?
    “You saw what happens to those who lie to me,” she warned.
    As she expected, the man shivered in disgust, or maybe it was apprehension. Most likely a mix of the two.
    “How’d you get through the gateway?”
    She heard the man swallow. Now, wasn’t that interesting? He hadn’t been frightened of her before. Cautious, yes. Frightened, no. But something scared him now.
    “These two took us through.”
    The quaver in his voice was barely detectable. But it was there. More lies? But what was the point?
    “I think you’re lying.”
    The man’s gaze met hers, and she knew she’d been right in her assessment. She didn’t know why, yet, but she knew the man hadn’t told the truth. “Until I get some answers, you’re coming with me.”
    “Wha…” he started as she took off into the air, only to stop when she grabbed his shoulders in her talons. “No, wait.”
    “Relax.” She sighed. “I won’t kill you until I get answers.”
    “Somehow that doesn’t reassure me.”
    The man’s hands swept over her legs. Searching for a grip, no doubt. But she had no intention of letting go. And not just because she sought answers, although she would get those.
    Something about this man intrigued her. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she wanted . Until she found out the answers she sought, he could keep her company.
     

 
    Chapter 2
     
    The creak of the door as Cameron eased it open ricocheted down the empty stone hallway. He grimaced at the sound. Subtle. Why didn’t he start whistling, too? Just to make sure the harpy knew he was coming.
    Since he’d washed off the dirt and blood from his capture, reality had set in. He couldn’t figure out what was worse, prisoner to the vampires, or prisoner to the harpy.
    That was a lie. The harpy had no need for what he guarded. Wouldn’t use it for her own gain. The vampires had no such qualms. Once they’d figured out what took him through the gate without detection, they’d have killed him and used it to slaughter hundreds.
    Still, he had no guarantee the harpy wouldn’t kill him. His mind flashed back to the female vampire, splattered on the ground like road kill. A shudder surged through his system until his whole body shook in revulsion. His resolve to leave the room almost crumbled.
    Pissing off the gatekeeper…not a great idea. But his curiosity–always getting him into trouble–got the better of him. Slowly, he started forward once again.
    So far, the harpy had treated him more like a guest than a prisoner. Had led him to a room with