Morrigan by Laura DeLuca Read Free Book Online Page A

anymore.”
    His breath teased the hairs on the back of
her neck, making her shiver though she was hardly cold. It was a
magic that was very different than what she was witnessing with
Condon, but it was just as captivating. She was a little
disappointed when he stepped away.
    It seemed they were standing there for an
eternity with no change in Condon’s expression. Morrigan started to
shiver in the cool autumn night. She was about to ask how she would
know when the brothers made their connection when Condon answered
the unspoken question for her. Not with words, but with his fluid,
surprisingly agile movements. He stood with his eyes still closed
and raised his gnarled hand to the sky. On the palm of that hand
was what might have been a tattoo or even a birthmark. It was an
endless spiral—the spiral of creation.
    Morrigan gasped at the familiarity of the
symbol. She instantly recognized its power. Just looking at it made
her feel dizzy and somehow less substantial, even before it started
to glow a brilliant, radiant purple. Then she could only sit back
in silent awe as the symbol grew and rose away from the man’s palm,
growing larger and brighter, until it became an entity all its own.
The spiral glowed in shades of violet and green and moved in a
circular motion in never-ending rays of light. Entranced by its
strange beauty, Morrigan took a step toward the gateway, but Tiarn
restrained her.
    “Sorry, Morrigan, I am always a gentleman,
and under normal circumstance, I would certainly abide the rule of
ladies first. But when you are traveling between worlds, you never
know what might be waiting for you on the other side. And Condon’s
brother is known for his lack of integrity. So, I think it best I
do the honors.”
    Morrigan couldn’t argue with that. She hardly
wanted to be the first to walk into a dragon’s lair or a castle
under siege. She stepped back and allowed Tiarn to move
forward.
    “I shall see you on the other side,” Tiarn
said and winked as he approached the portal. “I hope...”
    He jumped into the swirling circle of light
before she could ask what he meant by “I hope” and instantly
vanished from her sight. To her surprise, Danu and Dagda were fast
on his heels. They must have been anxious to get back to their true
home because they felt no fear whatsoever about what was waiting
for them on the other side. Morrigan didn’t feel nearly as brave
when it was her turn. She breathed deeply to steady her nerves and
took a small step forward.
    Before she could go farther, someone grabbed
hold of her wrist. This time is was Condon. He looked at her in a
strange way, and tried to open his mouth to speak. It was obviously
difficult for him. It must have taken a great deal of energy to
keep the gate open. To try to do any more had to be next to
impossible.
    “When . . . the time comes . . . sweet
Morrigan . . . choose the light . . . choose the light . . . .”
    He didn’t give her time to ask what that
meant. She saw him start to crumple to the ground just as he shoved
her through the opening of the portal.

Chapter
Seven
    Morrigan was floating, surrounded by a
whirlpool of colors. Red and orange, yellow and green, blue and
indigo flashed before her eyes in a blinding kaleidoscope. Then
finally a bright violet overtook all the other colors. The color
seemed to become almost a tangible thing, wrapping her in its glow;
opening and expanding like a lotus flower in bloom. She could
almost feel the soft petals of the flower against her skin,
embracing her, like a warm and welcoming blanket. She let her eyes
slip closed for just a moment, feeling surrounded by peace and
wanting to linger in the safety of the womb-like shelter.
    Nothing so wonderful could last forever. She
felt the warmth suddenly withdraw, and the air around her grew
cold. When she opened her eyes again, the soft violet petals were
gone. In their place there was an endless maze of life-size tarot
cards—the same five cards from her