by Lisa Kessler
Nate came onstage with Maggie and Noah in tow. Reed joined him with baby Hope in his arms. Cooper came out from the wings, and Mason followed, his tool belt still fastened around his waist. Hunter and Gavin came up from the audience with Mikolas’s grandfather. The men joined their muses, and a wave of emotion washed through Trinity’s heart.
She smiled up at Mikolas before she addressed the crowd again. “These guys believed in us even when everything seemed to be falling apart. Can we show them a little love?”
The roars from the crowd filled the space, and through the noise and applause, an older gentleman gradually made his way to the stage. He had on khaki slacks, and a plaid shirt with a v-neck sweater. As he got closer, a smile warmed his face. He stopped in front of Agnes.
Trinity nudged Erica, and as if her best friend read her mind, she took the cordless mic over to him. “Do we know you?”
He took it, eyeing the black cylinder suspiciously before looking back up at Agnes. “Are you Agnes Hanover?”
Color flushed her pale skin as she nodded.
He lifted his other hand to his forehead, wiping away what could only be nervous sweat, and Trinity noticed the bright-red crescent-shaped mark on the back of his hand. Agnes’s Guardian. It had to be. She bit her lip to keep quiet.
The older guy finally held the mic up again. “I’m Everett Seagle. I know this sounds crazy, but…I wasn’t sure why I came here today until I saw you.” He glanced over to the left corner of the theater and back to her. “Your friend Zack told me your name. I…I’ve never done anything like this before.” His voice softened, as if the rest of the packed auditorium had vanished. “I’ve been searching for you my whole life. I never gave up.”
The audience cheered as Hunter jogged down the stairs to help Everett come up on the stage. Trinity went to peer at the immortals at the back of the theater, but they were gone.
Whether it was a good sign or not, she had no idea. But she had hope. And tonight, that was enough.
EPILOGUE
Six months later – Nea Kardylia, Greece
Trinity walked down the dock, her flip-flops popping against the weathered wood planks. Their vacation was over. Tomorrow they’d be flying back to Crystal City, and then she could focus on songwriting again. She hadn’t written anything new since the night Mikolas had almost died battling the Piercer.
Six months.
Gods, she’d never gone so long without a new melody in her heart. She tried not to panic. Maybe she just needed Erica to come up with some lyrics and it would flow again.
Mikolas had been quietly supportive, trying to give her time to write, buying her fancy notebooks and sheet music paper for her notations, but so far…nothing.
Thinking about it, and worrying, definitely wasn’t helping her writer’s block.
As they neared the end of the dock, she wrapped one arm around the bottom of her pregnant belly and the other slid around Mikolas’s waist. “You were so lucky to grow up here, right on the banks of the Struma River. It’s gorgeous.”
“When I was younger, all I could think about was moving to a big city.” He grinned, helping her into the rowboat.
Once she was seated, he got in and reached for the oars. “Are you ready to go home?”
“I guess so. I miss my sisters, but I have a hard time telling if it’s me or if Euterpe is just excited to be back in Greece. It does feel like home here.” She drank in the view of Mikolas’s muscular shoulders and arms as he pulled the oars though the water and thought about what was waiting back in California for them.
The theater was still open, and no one had seen the immortals again since that first night. Rhea, Zack, and the Guiders of Destiny were all missing from Blessed Mary Village, and the mansion Kevin Elys had rented was empty and on the market. Mikolas had taken over Belkin Oil and closed their off-shore drilling division.
And she still hadn’t written a single song. Ugh!
But she was grateful for each new day. Not only did the God of Time not wipe out humanity but she was going to have a baby soon with the man she loved more than she ever realized she could love anyone.
She leaned back, closing her eyes and soaking up the Mediterranean sun. The rhythmic squeak of the oars, the current of the water—it all blended into a symphony of sound. When the boat stopped at their dock, she shielded her eyes and peered up. A familiar face smiled down at her.
He tugged on the brim of his purple hat. “You’re glowing.”
Her jaw dropped as she looked over at Mikolas. “Did you know Zeus was here?”
Mikolas smiled. “He asked me not to say anything, and since he saved the world, I thought I would indulge him.”
Zack shook his head. “I didn’t save the world. Love did.”
Mikolas helped her out of the boat. Once she was on the dock, she hugged the Olympian and stepped back. “We’re naming the baby Zeus, even if it’s a girl.”
“She’s going to change the world,” he said with a wink.
Trinity looked up at Mikolas and back to Zack. “Okay, so maybe I was kidding about naming her Zeus…Maybe Zoe.” She grinned. “So where have you been? What happened the night of the theater opening?”
“Alexander gave me the key to ending the battle. My father and I spent eons fighting for dominance when all we really wanted was acceptance and respect. I planted the seed, but you, your sisters, and your Guardians inspired him and my mother to try again.” He took Trinity’s hand. “I came to say thank you.”
She started to reply when his disguise faded. His true form, a being of light and energy, was blinding.
“Keep singing your songs, Trinity.”
And then he was gone.
Mikolas took her hand, shaking his head. “He’s still a show-off.”
Trinity dropped her head back and laughed. Mikolas swept her up into his arms and started carrying her up the dock away from the river. She hooked her arms around his neck. “You’re going to get a hernia lugging my pregnant butt all the way back to your parent’s house.”
“You’re not that heavy.” He smiled down at her. “I love you. Both of you.”
She rested her head against his chest, staring at her belly bulge as his heartbeat became the tempo for the only Greek tune she knew, his grandparent’s song. She sang the words, and she would keep singing. When she left this world, her songs would live on in her children—their children.
She looked up at Mikolas and smiled. “Someday you’ll have to tell me what the words mean.”
He set her down on her feet when they reached the door and lifted her hand to his lips. “You are my sun, my moon, and stars. The gods gave you to me to cherish until the stars call us home.”
“That’s beautiful.”
“It’s not what the song means.”
She raised a brow. “Then what is it?”
“It’s my promise to you. I know everything happened quickly, and according to my grandfather, we’re doing this backward, having a baby before we get married and all, but I want you to know how much you mean to me.” He rested his hand on her belly. “I love you.”
She tipped her chin up and kissed his lips. “We’re lucky girls.”
He chuckled. “I will do my best to make sure you always feel that way.”
He opened the door, and they stepped inside to find his grandparents had dozed off in front of the television, still holding hands. Her heart melted.
And suddenly a new melody whispered through her soul. Her eyes brimmed with grateful tears. The music was back. Inspiration had struck.
Mikolas frowned at the tears welling in her eyes, but she rose up on her toes, kissing him before he could ask what was wrong.
The answer was nothing. Everything was just right.
The song was simple, like his grandparents falling asleep holding hands. Life was messy and uncertain, but love made every second worthwhile.
She tasted his lips once more before pulling back and smiling up at him. “I think I need a pen.”
/> Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading Song of the Soul and if you enjoyed the story I hope you’ll post a review online. Even short reviews help readers find books.
Song of the Soul was such a joy to write. Wrapping up a series is always emotional for me, like telling my best friends goodbye, but this one left me feeling uplifted and so grateful that I got to write these books. The Muses, and their sisterhood, have been a thrill from the first book to the last, and I’m so grateful to all of you for coming along on the adventure with me!
First off, I need to thank my editor, Danielle Poiesz from Double Vision Editorial for helping me with this entire series. You always make me better and help me pull out depth from every character. This was our first complete series together and I already can’t wait to start the next one.
I also want to give a shout out to my terrific cover artist, Fiona Jayde, for all her work on this series and making all the Guardians look so good. Thanks for making all the tweaks and never getting sick of my questions.
And huge thanks to my intrepid beta readers for this book, Denise Vance Fluhr and Heather Cox, who read this book so fast for me. You guys are the best!
Big thanks to my Night Angel readers on Facebook. You all cheered me on through this book and the entire series. Your encouragement keeps me sane!
This entire series was inspired by a short story I wrote called, Unemployed Muses Anonymous, during my 52 stories in 52 weeks challenge that Ray Bradbury had suggested. So far, his writing tip has yielded two different series, totaling fifteen novels, and I’ll be forever grateful to him for his sage advice. To all the writers out there, never give up and give yourself the freedom to write short. You never know what might be inspired.
Last but never least, big thanks to my husband, Ken, for his never-ending patience while I brainstorm out loud about fictional characters. Your love and support make these books possible. 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 Sedona Pack
SEDONA SIN
SEDONA SEDUCTION
The Sentinels of Savannah
MAGNOLIA MYSTIC
PIRATE’S PASSION
Summerland Stories
ACROSS THE VEIL
FORBIDDEN HEARTS
Stand Alone Works
BEG ME TO SLAY
FORGOTTEN TREASURES
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Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She’s a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal.
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
You can learn more at Lisa-Kessler.com