Page 40 of Rise of the Morrigan

17

Cú Chulainn rolledover in bed. Aife stared back at him. Ever since they'd first met, more like collided, in the arena they could barely keep their hands off of each other. Cú Chulainn didn't love her. She didn't love him. But they were warriors, the both of them. They were, quite likely, the only two human beings on the earth who possessed the ríastrad. Whether transformed or not, the attraction was undeniable. But that's all it was for either of them. She was using him as much as he was her.

"How long are we going to keep doing this?" Cú Chulainn asked.

Aife smirked, leaped on top of Cú Chulainn, and kissed him on the lips. "Until I get bored."

Cú Chulainn huffed. "You must desire more than this... whatever this is."

Aife shrugged. "Don't ruin the fun by talking."

Cú Chulainn pivoted his hips, tossing Aife back onto the bed. "I'm serious, Aife. I want more out of life than this..."

"You're a warrior, as am I. This is the most we will ever get out of life. Why not enjoy it?"

"I'm not saying I don't like it..."

"Obviously you do," Aife said, smirking, as she glanced down between Cú Chulainn's legs.

"I'm just so angry. Like when we're together I forget about it for a few minutes."

"You don't last a few minutes... more like seconds."

Cú Chulainn sighed. "You know what I mean."

Aife took a deep breath, rolled off of Cú Chulainn, and began dressing.

"Where are you going?" Cú Chulainn asked, still lying there in all his glory.

"Where arewegoing, don't you mean?"

Cú Chulainn scrunched his brow. "I don't know where we could possibly go."

"It's clear to me you won't be any fun at all until you take care of what angers you so deeply, lover. And I'm tired of hearing about it."

"Take care of it? How are we going to do that?"

Aife smirked. "You and me, together. In our... better form. What do you say we go and get your revenge on this Forgall fellow."

Cú Chulainn shook his head as he rose from the bed and draped a cloth around his waist. "It isn't your battle, Aife."

Aife scratched her head. Took three steps toward Cú Chulainn and grabbed his hand, placing it on her womb. "For our child's sake, it is my battle."

Cú Chulainn cocked his head sideways. "Are... you serious? You're with child?"

"We are with child, you donkey's arse. And I'm not about to bring our child into this world while leaving him the example of a father who lets his enemies get away with their betrayals."

"Hisfather? How do you know it's a boy?"

Aife shrugged. "I'm always on top. That means boys, doesn't it?"

Cú Chulainn scrunched his brow. "I don't think that matters."

"Either way," Aife said. "Boy or girl, our child will be destined to be a warrior like each of his parents."

"Our child will be cursed with the ríastrad unless the gods see fit to spare him or her from such a fate."

Aife shook her head. "It is a gift, lover! Perhaps once you've put away your rage, once and for all, you'll be able to accept that."

---