Read Morrigan for Free Online Page B

her
and rolled his eyes.
    “You really need to stop reading so many
fairytales, Morrigan,” he said with a small snicker. “And stay away
from that . . . now what do they call it? Oh, yes, the boob tube.
Vampires do not really burst into flames in the sunlight. Witches
do not really fly on broomsticks. And werewolves do not need the
full moon to change form. We can transform whenever we so
desire.”
    “Can you show me… now?”
    The thought excited Morrigan, but Tiarn’s
expression changed. All hint of mirth and even arrogance were
instantly gone. When he spoke, his emerald eyes were filled with
sadness.
    “I hope, for your sake, my dear Morrigan, you
never witness my transformation. I have very little control when I
am in wolf form. I am afraid my animal side has gotten me into
trouble on more than one occasion. The strength and freedom of the
wolf comes at a great price. One I am not willing to pay. If I can
help it, I will never change again. Of course, the choice may not
always be mine to make.”
    Morrigan was touched by the deep emotion in
his voice. It was the most sincerity he had shown since their first
meeting, and it made her heart swell with love for her poor,
tortured knight. She reached out a hand to touch his shoulder. “I’m
sorry, Tiarn. I would never want to bring up memories that were
painful for you.”
    He gave her a small smile. “I know you meant
no harm. Now, come along, Morrigan. He is waiting for us.”
    Morrigan jerked back in surprise and very
nearly stumbled over Danu and Dagda. “Who?” she asked. “Who’s
waiting for us?”
    He gave her a mysterious look. “The
Gatekeeper,” he said. As if that explained everything.
    “The Gatekeeper, of course,” she muttered
sarcastically under her breath. “Who else would we be meeting in
the projects of Baltimore?”
    Tiarn laughed out loud. He had let go of
whatever small bit of sentimentality had overtaken him and was back
to his normal, aggravating self. Still, she found it hard to stay
angry with him when he took her completely by surprise and grabbed
her hand. It sent her heart racing and fluttering with excitement,
even though he was leading her down shady alleyways. She was glad
for his presence beside her and her own supernatural abilities.
There was no telling what kind of people might be lurking in the
dark corners. No telling who might jump out and attack them at any
moment.
    “Well, well, Filtiarn! Back so soon? And what
is this I see? You have brought company with you. Guardians,
nonetheless!”
    Morrigan jumped at the sound of the new and
unfamiliar voice. With the same sort of strange accent as Tiarn, it
was certainly not the sound of a born and bred Baltimorean.
Glancing around the alley, her eyes finally came to rest on an old
man lying in the corner. She hadn’t even seen him—he blended so
well with the bags of garbage and cardboard boxes. Old and dirty,
he was missing more teeth than he had, and his straggly beard was
probably lice infested. His clothes were little more than rags, and
the smell—as he stood to walk toward them, Morrigan couldn’t help
but lift her arm to cover her nose. It was the only way to keep
from gagging.
    Tiarn had no such qualms and instantly
reached out a hand in greeting. “Condon, my friend! How are
you?”
    “Much the same as I was this morning when you
passed through my gate—cold and weary. I look forward to the end of
the moon cycle when I can switch places with my brother and return
to Tír na NÓg. Even a war torn world is better than a soulless one.
Yet still, I am much better off than you. A lycan in the company of
Guardians? And here I thought these old eyes had seen all the
wonders the worlds could possibly show them.”
    “Not my choice, Condon, I assure you. But you
know how stubborn royalty can be.”
    “Royalty? So this is the girl? The one the
prophecies spoke of? I never thought I would live long enough to
see—”
    “She is the daughter of Ceridwyn,”