Morrigan by Jonathan King (cat reading book txt) 📕

They kissed, starting soft and growing passionate, like the goodbye it was. But it’s not forever, Abel reminded himself. You’ll see her again soon.

“Hey!” Mac called from the deck. “You two want to spend less time exploring each other’s lips and more time exploring the Wave Sweeper?”

“Actually, this is as far as I go,” said Abel. “I have to say goodbye now.”

Mac’s face fell. “But … my ship…”

“Oh, don’t make it harder on him than it already is,” said Brigid, bustling back down the gangplank to wrap Abel in an enormous hug. “Don’t stay away too long now.”

“From you all?” Abel grinned. “Never.”

She let go, and Mac took her place, bruising Abel’s ribs. “There’ll be a grand tour waiting on you when you get to Ireland.”

“Can’t wait.”

The two older gods went back aboard the ship, but Morrigan hesitated at the bottom of the gangplank.

“Could you come for Christmas?” she asked.

“Do the gods celebrate Christmas?” Abel asked.

She shrugged. “Christmas, winter solstice, it all gets mixed together. Pagan and Christian elements go side by side in a Tuatha Christmas.”

“Just like us,” Abel said, smiling at her. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

“I’ll have a feast waiting for you,” said Morrigan.

“You don’t cook,” said Abel.

“I’ll have someone else have a feast waiting for you.” Morrigan hesitated. “I’ll be counting down the days.”

“Me too.”

She took a step closer, thought better of it, and blew him a kiss. “Don’t die again.”

Abel struggled to keep the smile on his face. “I’ll try not to.”

Morrigan hurried onto the ship and below decks. Brigid and Mac gave one last wave from the deck. Then Mac made a sweeping gesture, and the Wave Sweeper glided silently out of port and shot out into the open ocean. In only a moment, it was nothing but a white dot riding a massive gray sea, headed home.

Abel stood staring out at the expanse, the infinity of choice it offered, the nearly borderless world in front of him. And then he turned and walked back to his mother and wrapped an arm around her, but it didn’t feel as though he were walking away from all that possibility. For the first time, Abel Whittaker was as wide open as the sea, finally and truly free.

Glossary and Pronunciation Guide

Áine (AHN-ya) – Mac’s daughter and the goddess of summer.

Badb (BIVE) – Morrigan’s crow, sometimes thought to be the Morrigan herself.

Balor (BAH-lore) – A Fomorian chieftain, known for his one eye that caused paralysis. He was killed by Lugh.

Bodhran (BOW-ron) – A type of Irish drum, held in one hand and played with a stick.

Brigid (BREEJ) – Goddess of fire, the forge, and inspiration.

Caorhannach (QUEER-hawn-nock) – A dragon-like monster and the mother of so many monsters, she’s rumored to be the mother of Satan himself. She once fought St. Patrick; some say he killed her, while other say he banished her from Ireland.

Clurichaun (CLOOR-ih-kawn) – A tiny man dressed in red, who is always drinking and always drunk. If your kitchen is empty, it may have been raided by clurichauns. They are a close relative of leprechauns.

Dearg-Due (DAH-ruh-guh-DOO-ah) – A vampire, returned from the dead after being held captive and abused by her husband. She sucks blood from anyone but takes a special delight in seducing and draining men. Her voice has siren-like properties that cloud men’s minds.

Dullahan (DUH-la-hahn) – A headless horseman and an omen of death. It wields a whip made from a human spine and carries its head in a box. Every time it rides, it speaks one name. If it says your name, you’ll die soon after. It is deathly afraid of gold.

Dagda Mor (DIE-da MOR) – The chieftain of the Celtic gods, now missing. He had many artifacts to help him on his adventures, one of which was his club. One end dealt death, while the other gave life.

Diangalach (DEE-an-gah-lahk) – A physician of the Tuatha, now deceased.

Eriu (AIR-ee-oo) – Patron goddess of Ireland, currently missing.

Errimas (AIR-ih-mahs) – Morrigan’s mother, now deceased.

Fand (FAHN) – Mac’s wife.

Fethnaid (FAY-nid) – A musician of the Tuatha, now deceased.

Finnegas (FIN-eh-guhs) – A poet who devoted himself to catching and eating the Salmon of Knowledge.

Fomorians (fo-MORE-ee-ans) – Monstrous giants and enemies of the Tuatha.

Fragarach (FRAH-ga-rock) – Mac’s sword and lie detector. When it’s at your throat, you have to answer, and you can only speak the truth.

Keres (KIR-ehs) – Female death spirits from Greek mythology. They were associated with a violent death, especially murder or death in battle.

Manannán mac Lir (mah-nah-NAHN mac LEER) – God of the sea, foster father, and inventor.

Miach (MEE-ack) – The son of a Tuatha physician, now deceased. He was an even better doctor than his father, making King Nuada a new arm of flesh. His father got so jealous that he killed his own son.

Niamh (NEE-av) – Mac’s daughter, best known for her golden hair.

Nuada Argetlam (NOO-ah-da AR-get-lahv) – Former king of the Tuatha, now deceased. He lost his right to rule when he lost his arm and replaced it with a silver arm.

Loch Lugborta (LOK loo-BORE-tah) – An Irish lake in which Lugh was drowned.

Lough Derg (LAH-oo DERG) – An Irish lake that is also a gateway to Hell.

Lugh (LOO) – Mac’s foster son, now deceased. He was a god of light, skilled with the spear and sling, and a jack of all trades.

Red Cap – A Scottish fairy, a bloodthirsty gnome with iron talons and a hat drenched in blood. They drink human blood. The only way to kill them is by reciting Scripture.

Ruadan (ROO-a-dahn) – Brigid’s son, now deceased.

Salmon of Knowledge – A salmon who ate hazelnuts from nine trees of knowledge and now knows everything. She was eaten by Finn McCool.

Samhain (SAM-hane) – A pagan festival celebrating the end of fall and the beginning of winter, during which the walls between our world and the world of the dead are the thinnest. It falls on October 31.

Shamgar (SHAM-gar) – An Israelite judge who killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.

Sluagh Sidhe (SLOO-ah SHEE) – Also known as the