Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl Read Online Free Page A

the Council insists on it."
    Verasa stroked Markus's hair. He was such a good child. It
would be difficult having him succeed as Thane instead of her older son
Sarapen, but Verasa had successfully manoeuvred her way through the
tortuous and occasionally murderous political strife of the werewolf
clan for long enough to be confident of succeeding in her wishes.
    "Incidentally," said Markus, raising his head. "We still
haven't dealt with the matter of the cousins about whom we do not
speak."
    An expression of distaste flickered over the Mistress of the
Werewolves' features.
    "Please Markus. I can't think about both Kalix and the cousins
about whom we do not speak. Not in the same day anyway. This family
will surely send me to an early grave."
    8
    "Cut out her heart? Ew!"
    Moonglow was appalled. So appalled that she wondered if Daniel
might be making it all up to impress her. It wouldn't be the first time
he'd done such a thing. When they first met, Daniel had told her he
could play guitar and had an older brother who made films in Hollywood.
Neither of these things had turned out to be true. And it was very
unlike Daniel to rescue anybody from a machete-wielding maniac. Not
that he'd be unwilling, just incapable. Last time they'd got drunk
together in the student bar Daniel had offended two large rugby players
and had it not been for Moonglow's tactful intervention they would
certainly have pummelled him. Daniel was not the fighting type though
he was good company, when he got over his shyness. She might have been
inclined to dismiss his story altogether if it hadn't been for the book
and the journal.
    The girl - a wild beauty, according to Daniel, who'd been
unusually forthcoming on the subject - had left them in his car,
wrapped in a plastic carrier bag.
    "The Flower Fairies of the Summer?"
    It was a children's book, with pictures of fairies sitting on
flowers. It was old and seemed to have been through a great deal of
wear and tear. The book was stained with finger prints. And paw prints,
as if a dog had walked over it.
    "This proves she was there," said Daniel, aware of Moonglow's
slight scepticism.
    "Not entirely," Moonglow pointed out. "It could be yours."
    "Very funny. And there's this as well," continued Daniel,
plucking a very worn looking notebook from the carrier bag.
    "It's some sort of diary."
    He flicked it open and tried to read from a page near the
start.
    "It's kind of illegible. She can't spell a single word right.
I think it says
My mother is mistress of the werewolves. My
father is -
can't make out that word, something like
thin
- of the werewolves
."
    They both laughed.
    "My brother is heir to the werewolf throne"
    "She's pretty consistent with the werewolves," said Moonglow.
Really, she was not unsympathetic. Moonglow was fascinated by anything
otherworldly. Tales about werewolves were always interesting.
    "Pity she can't spell it properly," said Daniel. "Her
handwriting is really terrible."
    He struggled to read more.
    "
I am fourth in line to the thin ship of the Mac -
something -
clan
."
    Neither of them knew what that might mean. They didn't have
time to read any further, there was work to do. Daniel and Moonglow had
almost finished packing to move house. Daniel was going to pick up a
rental van and when night fell they were moving to their new flat.
They'd lived in this one for eight months, moving in after becoming
friends in their first year at university. It wasn't a bad place but
they were behind on the rent and couldn't pay so they'd decided that a
moonlight flit was the best solution. Moonglow was rather anxious about
this. She didn't relish the prospect of being apprehended by an irate
landlord. Moonglow had long black hair, soft pretty features, a firm
belief in astrology, a kind nature, and no experience of irate
landlords. She was certain that if she encountered one, she'd find it
very awkward.
    9
    The early winter afternoon was already turning cold when Kalix
picked up her prescription. The