by Lisa Kessler
Ted’s jaw went slack. “Just like that? Kronos is gone?”
“I’ll explain when I get there. I’m five minutes away.”
The call ended, and Ted turned just as Tera’s mother shoved him. “I need to call my daughter.”
He handed her his phone. Maybe it would calm her down. “I don’t have the number.”
“I’ve already committed it to memory.”
She walked into the other room with his phone, leaving Ted to pace the room wondering if Kronos was really dead. When Mikolas came through the door, Doris was leaving her daughter a third voicemail message.
Mikolas glanced at Doris and back to Ted. “Is she going to be a problem?”
Ted shrugged. “I don’t think so. Either way she’s occupied at the moment.” He led Mikolas to the parlor, and keeping his voice low, he asked, “What the hell happened?”
Mikolas rubbed a hand down his face. “It all went down so fast, I’m still not sure.”
Ted rolled his eyes. “How about trying?”
Mikolas held out his hand, staring at his palm. “Mrs. Zervos—Rhea—she…” He lifted his gaze to Ted’s face. “She stabbed Kevin in the back with the crystal shard, and he went down, bleeding. We all thought it was over, but my birthmark started to burn. When I turned around, he was on his feet and moving. He was going to hurt one of the muses. So I yanked the crystal out of his back and shoved it through his heart.”
Ted let out a relieved laugh, but Mikolas didn’t smile. Ted sobered. “Sounds like good news, but you don’t look happy.”
Mikolas opened and closed his hand. “Rhea said touching that crystal should have killed me, but it didn’t even hurt me.”
“You said your birthmark was burning? Maybe your Guardian gift kicked in.”
Mikolas shrugged. “But my muse is dead.”
“Maybe she’s not.” Jealousy and bitterness coiled like a snake in Ted’s gut. “Maybe Nia wasn’t your muse after all.”
He shook his head. “My grandmother is the Muse of Astronomy. My grandfather is her Guardian. It makes sense that I’d be the Guardian for the Muse of Astronomy for this generation, right? But the Order killed Nia.”
Ted crossed his arms. “You’re only guessing that the two things are connected. And there is still one muse who hasn’t found her Guardian…”
Mikolas frowned. “But that muse is—”
“Trinity,” Ted cut in, then ground his teeth.
He should be thrilled. He wanted Trinity to be protected, so she needed to find her Guardian. But why did it have to be Mikolas? Hadn’t Mikolas taken enough from him? He already had Ted’s company and Ted’s father’s office. Why did he have to be marked by the gods to protect the only woman Ted had ever loved? It was fucking unfair.
Not that Trinity wanted anything to do with him anyway, but Ted’s feelings for her were one of the few happy memories he had left.
Mikolas stared at him. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
“I agree.” Ted shook his head. “But there’s no other explanation.”
He turned and walked away before Mikolas could respond. He couldn’t stand to look at the Greek any longer. How could the gods be so cruel? He finally had a friend, and all along, Mikolas was marked for Trinity.
Fate really was a bitch.
Ted stormed out the front door, calling back over his shoulder, “Keep Trinity safe, or I swear I’ll kill you myself.”
Gavin woke up in a hospital bed. He turned and found Tera sleeping in a chair next to him, her fingers splinted and taped together. He watched her for a moment and marveled at the emotions she inspired inside of him. He had asked her to stay, and here she still was. She’d never left his side.
He lifted the blanket and inspected his bandaged torso. He’d been wounded before. It might leave another scar, but he’d do it again in a heartbeat. He’d do anything to keep her safe.
Tera stirred and opened her eyes. “Hey, stranger.” Her sounded as groggy as she felt. She sat up and took his hand in her uninjured one.
He chuckled. “Have I been out that long?”
“Not really.” She shook her head with a smile. “We got here last night.”
He pointed to her bandaged hand. “How are your fingers?”
“Dislocated. Hurt like a mother when they snapped them back, but I should be fine.” She leaned in to kiss his forehead, but he tipped his head back, catching her lips instead. She hummed and pulled back, staring into his eyes. “You scared me.”
“No way was I checking out.” He smiled. “I’m going to be there to cheer for your first three-point shot, and our kid’s first dance recital, and our grandkid’s first…whatever they love.”
She grinned. “You’ve got it all planned out.”
Seeing her happy warmed him like the afternoon sun on his back. “I just wanted you to know I’m thinking long-term.” A few months ago he never would have dreamed a future like that was possible. “If you’ll have me.”
She lifted his hand to her lips, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, I plan on having you. Many times.”
His blood heated as a crooked smile curved his mouth. “How soon can we go home?”
Right on cue, a nurse came around the corner. “Sorry to intrude. I need to get vitals again.”
Gavin kept his eyes on Tera but spoke to the nurse. “Any word on when I can get out of here?”
The nurse worked as she answered. “You’ll have to ask the doc. I’m pretty sure you’re staying with us overnight again for observation.” She finished up her notes and smiled. “Everything looks great, though. You were lucky.”
She left the room, and Gavin grinned. “Damned lucky.”
Nate and Mel came by to visit Gavin and give Tera a break for some lunch. Clio met her in the cafeteria—with Mason. Tera blinked back tears. He grinned and grabbed a tray, leaving her to wonder if she had imagined all the bullets and blood the night before.
They found a table in the corner, and Tera whispered to Mason, “How are you yourself again? And upright? The way Cooper carried you out last night, I was worried you…um…” Talking to Gavin was never this hard. “You were in really bad shape yesterday,” she finally spit out.
He glanced at Clio. “She already knows, right?” Clio nodded, and he shifted his attention back to Tera. “Zack paid us a visit after Cooper took me back to our place.”
It took Tera a second for the name to register. Her eyes widened. “Zack as in Zeus? That Zack?” Anger churned in her stomach, and the pain in her fingers throbbed. “Why didn’t he help us?”
Clio poked at her lunch without making eye contact. “He claims he did.”
Tera put her fork down harder than she’d intended, and it made Clio look up. Tera struggled to keep her voice down. “Gavin is lying in a hospital bed with a bullet wound, my fingers were dislocated, and Mason almost died. How exactly is that helping us?”
Mason pulled his chair in a little closer to the table. “He gave Gavin the gift of speed because he knew if Kronos ever made it out of Tartarus, he could manipulate time. And he marked me because he knew my lineage would make me immune to the magic of the gods.”
Clio cleared her throat. “And last night, he let the air out of Trinity’s tire. That’s why she was so late and missed the actual recital.”
Tera took a sip of her water and sighed. “Well, now that Kronos is dead, maybe Zeus won’t have to hide from us anymore.”
“Maybe not.” Clio looked over at Mason. “He used his magic to remove the bullets from Mason’s side, and then the wolf healed before our eyes. When Mason shifted back, he barely had a scratch on him.” Clio looked at Tera again, her voice getting softer. “He asked me to tell him what happened. When I told him about the shard they stabbed Kronos with, Zack…Zeus explained that the shard didn’t kill Kronos, it banished him back to Tartarus.”
“Just as good, right?” Tera opened her soda. “He can’t hurt us from there.”
Clio nodded. “Yeah. Good as dead I guess.”
Tera’s phone buzzed. She picked it up quickly, worried it was Gavin or the doctor, but her mom’s name flashed on the screen. She rejected the call and set it back on the table.
“Everything okay?” Clio asked.
“It seems my mom isn’t frozen in Kronos’s time warp anymore. That’s the sixth time she’s called me today.”
Mason frowned. “What if it’s something important?”
“It’s not. Not really.” The voice mail notification popped up. She clicked the “play” button, followed by speaker, and her mother’s voice intruded on their lunch.
“Baby girl, I wish you’d answer your phone. I think Kevin drugged me. I could have died, all to further your career. The least you can do is talk to me. It’s that Gavin guy, isn’t it? Can’t you see how he’s controlling you? I can help you. Call me back.”
“See?” Tera gestured to her phone. “Every message is a different version of that. It was a huge mistake to talk to her and agree to meet her patron of the arts. Even if he hadn’t been Kronos, I shouldn’t have gone. She’ll never leave me alone again.”
Clio sighed. “I’m sorry, Tera.”
“It’s not all bad.” Tera shrugged. “Her constant badgering used to send my anxiety off the charts, but now it’s only annoying, not debilitating. I’m choosing to see that as improvement.”
“Speaking of improvements…” Mason leaned in to kiss Clio’s temple. “I need to get back to the theater. The inspector is scheduled to come at the end of the week.”
With all the insanity after the dance recital, she almost forgot about the theater. “You think he’ll pass us?”
“I think so.” Mason stood up. “Then Callie can get the insurance rider and we can finally plan the grand opening.”
Clio smiled up at him. “I’ll be right behind you.”
He grinned, giving his ass a little shake for her as he headed out of the cafeteria. Clio giggled, shaking her head. “I used to imagine falling in love would be this dramatic, all-encompassing tidal wave of emotion that changed you forever, but I’ve never laughed so much.”
Tera could relate. “Mason’s a great guy.” When she lifted her head, Clio was staring right at her. “What?”
Clio chuckled. “This is the part where you spill all the details of your love affair with Gavin.”
Tera swirled her water bottle and was probably grinning like a lovesick goober, but strangely, she didn’t care. “He makes me feel like I’m enough—the good and the not so good. He’s never once tried to change me.” She shook her head. “And did you see him dance yesterday?”
Clio fanned herself playfully. “Damn straight, I did.”
“He worked his ass off and learned it in record time. His technique isn’t perfect, of course, but he’s got the heart and passion of a dancer. You can’t teach that.”
“Your partnership was beautiful.” Clio smiled. “I’m so glad you found each other.” She picked up her phone and checked the time. “I better get to the theater, too.” She started to get up. “Will Gavin be able to make it to Erica and Reed’s wedding?”
Gods, Tera had almost forgotten that, too! The wedding was Saturday on the beach. She hadn’t even asked Gavin to be her date yet. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I hope so.”
“Friday night is the rehearsal dinner,” Clio reminded her. “Let me know if you need a ride.”
“Okay.” Tera stood up and smiled. “Thanks for meeting me for lunch.”
“That’s what friends are for.” She gave her a quick hug and hurried off after Mason.
Tera’s smile didn’t fade. Friends and a partner who loved her?
Damn, she was the lucky one.
CHAPTER 20
Gavin was still sore when he tried to twist or bend, but the doctor was happy with the way he was healing. Tera led him across the sand to two empty white chairs, and he draped his arm around Tera’s shoulders. He recognized almost everyone seated and waiting for the beach wedding to begin. Only Trinity wasn’t seated. Instead, she was up front working double duty as the musician and the maid of honor.
Hunter stood at the makeshift altar next to Reed. Erica had insisted the wedding be informal and fun, so all the guys were in board shorts, Gavin included. Hunter and Reed had their surfboards standing up in the sand behind the minister, and Erica and Callie had their shorter boards in the middle.
Trinity changed the tune to a new song she and Erica had written for the wedding. Everyone turned around, and Maggie came down the aisle in a pink Hawaiian sundress, dropping flower petals onto the sand with a big grin on her face. Close behind, Nate followed with Noah up on his shoulders. The little guy wore board shorts like his dad’s and gripped Nate’s forehead with both hands, so his dad had to carry the ringbearer pillow.
Tera placed a hand on Gavin’s thigh, and he laid his on top of hers. He’d attended a few weddings for some of his friends from the service, but nothing like this. The love wasn’t just beaming from the bride and groom’s faces but from the face of every person witnessing it.
This was hope.
Finally, Erica walked down the aisle in her bikini halter top and a Hawaiian-print wraparound skirt. She had their little girl, on her hip wearing a matching outfit, and the smile on Reed’s face said it all. Love was the only thing that mattered.
The ceremony was short and sweet. They slid the rings on each other’s fingers, and Reed dipped her for a kiss. Everyone went crazy with cheers as they turned and waved. Mel took the baby from Erica, and the newlyweds grabbed their boards and ran for the waves. Hunter and Callie followed behind them.
Tera rested her head on his shoulder. “That was…so them.”
He chuckled, kissing her hair. “They seem really happy.” Gavin lifted Tera’s hand to his lips. “Walk with me?”
“Sure.” She followed him down the beach, her fingers laced with his.
Once they were far from the party, he stopped and stared out at the setting sun. “I think we need to renegotiate our relationship.”
She looked up at him, her smile fading. “What?”
“Yeah. With Kronos dead, or at least gone, you won’t be needing a bodyguard anymore.”
Her shoulders relaxed, that sexy smile returning to her lips. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m wondering if you’d consider sharing a roof with me, even though you won’t be requiring my services anymore.”
She raised a brow. “Oh, I’m pretty sure I’m still going to require your services.”
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her long and slow. He rested his forehead against hers and smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Her hand slid up his chest. “So when are you moving in?”
He chuckled. “You could move in with me.”
“No way.” She shook her head. “We already have memories at my place.”
“I guess we do.” He grinned and kissed her forehead. “Okay, you win. We’ll stay at your place.”
“Yeah.” Her smile faded as she looked up at him and nodded. “I have definitely won.” She searched his eyes, her tone softening. “You promised to fold my sheets.”
Gavin laughed hard enough to make his wound ache, and he didn’t give a shit. They had survived, and whatever the future held, they’d dance through it.
Together.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading Tera and Gavin’s story. This book was so fun to write. Throughout the series, Tera had been the “shy” muse and I was aching to get her story. The part I never expected was Gavin. Loved writing him!
Lots of people to thank, but I’m going to start with my cover designer this time. The fabulous Fiona Jayde gave me this cover and sparked the whole idea for the big Paso Doble dance scene at the end of the book. Thanks for the amazing covers for this series and for the inspiration for the Muse of Dance!
I’m sending HUGE thanks to my fabulous editor, Danielle from Double Vision Editorial. Your comments always make my books stronger and
seeing your LOL at my Yelp joke made my day! I am super grateful to my intrepid beta readers: Denise Fluhr, Heather Cox, and Elizabeth Neal who read this one so fast for me! You guys are the best!
And to my Night Angel Legion readers, thanks for all your support for my books! Your enthusiasm and reviews encourage and inspire me to write more books. I couldn’t do this without you all telling your friends about my books. And to my Patreon patrons for this one: Janet Pritchett, Olivia Welch, Brenda Henderson Mason, Carol Westphal, Bobbi Haden, Gina Johnson, and Alexandra Shanak THANK YOU! Your support means the world to me!
I also need to send out a big thank you to my daughter Panda! She’s danced her entire life on and off the ice and without her help with dance moves, names of things, etc, this book would’ve taken me much longer. Any mistakes I made are on me!
Finally, I’m so grateful to my husband for his love and support, and for walking into the room and saying “Are you sprinting?”… He supports my writing and always makes me feel like a rock star while I’m banging on the keyboard…. I love you!
Other Novels by Lisa Kessler
The Muse Chronicles
LURE OF OBSESSION
LEGEND OF LOVE
BREATH OF PASSION
LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT
DEVOTED TO DESTINY
DANCE OF THE HEART
SONG OF THE SOUL
The Night Series
NIGHT WALKER
NIGHT THIEF
NIGHT DEMON
NIGHT ANGEL
NIGHT CHILD
The Moon Series
MOONLIGHT
HUNTER’S MOON
BLOOD MOON
HARVEST MOON
ICE MOON
BLUE MOON
WOLF MOON
NEW MOON
The Sentinels of Savannah
MAGNOLIA MYSTIC
Stand Alone Works
BEG ME TO SLAY
FORGOTTEN TREASURES
ACROSS THE VEIL
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