Renounced: The Shelean Moon, Book Two Read online

  “Over my dead body.” Donny’s eyes flashed, and he growled more than talked.

  “I’m sure that can be arranged,” she said quietly. “But—for the second time—I renounce Shalea.”

  “Leira, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” her mum said.

  Help, Lei, really? Is it that bad? Rach projected.

  Oh yeah, it’s more than that bad. Tell you later.

  “I’m getting my own life, Mum, something I don’t think I’ve ever had. So, for the third time, I renounce Shalea.” The air shimmered, Leira grabbed her pile of presents and dashed out.

  2

  Donny growled in frustration. He couldn’t understand why Leira didn’t see what was so glaringly obvious. They were made for each other. Everyone was aware of that. He knew they were meant to be partners…maybe not yet. He accepted she had loads to do first. So did he, but that didn’t matter. Eventually, it would happen. Donny was as sure of it as he was that Shalean moon happened every three months.

  Or, he thought…as gloom set in…he had been. What happens now?

  “Why is she being so stubborn?” he asked no one in particular. “It’s obvious we’re to be together.”

  “Not to Leira,” Rach put in. “Sheesh Donny, you’re a moron. D’you think she wants to be told at every opportunity that she’s yours? Lei is sixteen, for God’s sake—not twenty-six. She wants to enjoy life, and go to a club without you glaring at her every time some boy—who I might add she has usually known since playgroup—stops and says hi, or asks her to dance. And yes, you know I mean a club where she’s allowed in. You’re pushing her away. So, now she’s renounced Shalea, and it’s all your fault.” She dashed a tear away from her eye in annoyance. “Let her be.”

  My fault? All I wanted was for her to admit her heritage.

  Rubbish. You want to mark her as yours. I know, so don’t try to pretend otherwise. Be glad I haven’t told Brios, or her mum and dad. Take a step back, and bite your tongue, not Lei.

  Aargh. Rach has caught on to all things Shalean much too fast. Donny heard her chuckle and realized he’d projected that thought. He projected a swift sorry, and then he felt some sympathy from her for the first time. If only Leira would show him some.

  You understand, Rach. Why can’t Leira? She knows it’s right. He knew he sounded whiny and pathetic, but he couldn’t stop himself.

  Maybe, but that doesn’t mean she has to accept it. You’re gonna have to suck it up and give her space.

  He didn’t like the sound of that. “Well, you and Brios know you’re made for each other. You’re happy, and you’re not even of an age when most Shaleans know about these things.”

  He saw her smile as she looked at Brios.

  “Donny, you’ve got to remember…Lei has had Shalea as part of her life forever. As the daughter of a Patriarch, she knew about these things earlier than a lot of Shaleans. I didn’t even know about Shalea until recently. Now, I know my mum was up in the hierarchy. She gave me my gifts just as Leira’s mum and dad gave her hers. The gifts we have run in our Shalean blood. Until we moved here, I knew nothing of any of this and yeah, at first it freaked me out. After all, does it seem likely to be told that you can change from a person to a leopard and you can suddenly hear people talking to you in your mind? You think—er, hello—I’m not stupid, you can’t sell me a bridge. Now though I’m ready to be involved. When I met Brios, I just knew he was my one, and I was his. Still, I guess it hadn’t been rammed down my throat all the time. I got to choose if I became involved. Leira didn’t, it was just there.” She patted his arm in a silent gesture of sympathy. “Don’t forget, we’re still young—I’m only fifteen. Brios and I have our own creeds we’ve agreed on. I’m going to be a doctor and qualify before anything else, I hope. Have you ever asked Leira what she wants to do with her life—if she wants you to be a major part of it?”

  No, he thought, ashamed. I haven’t.

  “What do we do?” He wasn’t surprised when no one replied and hadn’t really expected an answer. “I mean, with due respect, Patriarch,” he addressed Brios and Leira’s dad politely. “Can she just leave like that?”

  “Oh, she can,” Mr. Parde said in almost a whisper. “Nevertheless, she has to have time to think it over, and then she’ll have to formally decide at the next Shalean Moon. That gives her three weeks. I’ll talk to her when she calms down a bit.”

  “I think Leira needs to see what it’s like without any of her Shalean powers,” Rach said. “Because she doesn’t know anything else. I love Lei like a sister, but until I met her, I had no idea what stubborn was. My dad says I’m bad—but Leira is loads worse. I’m not trying to be rude, but…”

  “Oh yes, you are.” Brios laughed. “Go ahead, and say it anyway.”

  “Grr, I hate it when you do that.” Rach sounded really indignant, and Donny couldn’t help but join in the laughter. They all knew she could tie Brios up in knots when she wanted to.

  “As I was saying, before fat-head interrupted—Oh gosh, sorry Mrs. Parde, but you know what these men are like.” Brios’s mum smiled as Rach carried on. “Leira has a lot to think about, and no one is letting her do it, or listening to her…not really. Let her do her own thing for a bit. I’m betting she’ll find it weird to not be able to project and stuff.”

  “You’re right, this period will help her to see what it would be like.” Marok Parde walked across to the window and looked out at the garden. “If you want to get in touch, the pair of you’d better make sure your phones are charged,” he continued in a humorous voice. “And don’t drop them down the loo.” Both Leira and Rach had been guilty of that.

  Rach grinned as she turned around. “And Donny…back off. If you don’t, you’ll have me to answer to, okay?”

  He nodded. What is it with girls and sticking up for each other? he projected to Brios. I suppose we’d side with each other at any time but…isn’t that different?

  No, it isn’t. We watch each other’s backs, and so do Leira and Rach. They need each other, just like we do. Don’t forget, until Rach came along, Leira was pretty much on her own regarding her gifts. None of the other girls were anywhere near as advanced.

  Donny shook his head. He was hurt and fed up. Not only because he had a sneaking suspicion he’d messed up Leira’s birthday for her—and he was really sorry about that—but also because of the way she was treating him.

  He well knew the sixteenth birthday was a big thing in Shalea, even if, like Leira and Rach, the person was powerful enough to be allowed their gifts before then. That was the age most Shaleans began to find their talents and learn how to use them.

  Donny decided to do the manly thing—apologize and leave. It was going to be hard enough to keep away from Leira, so he figured he’d better practice now. He said his goodbyes, reiterated how bad he felt to have spoiled the day and left the house. Shoot, his mind was a mess, and his thoughts were conflicted. While he was sorry that he’d spoiled the birthday—he still felt that everything he’d spoken was true and that it had to be said. Tough if it wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear. Life couldn’t be all soppy films and chocolate. He strode across the gravel forecourt, where once shifted no Shalean ever went. The pebbles got stuck onto their pads. It was, Shala Parde said, a surefire way to protect her hallway floor from claw scratches.

  At a bit of a loose end now, the day hadn’t gone as he had planned. Donny was halfway down the drive when a whistle stopped him. He turned around and saw Brios running towards him.

  “Hold on. Shoot, Donny you’re motoring.” Brios caught him up and cuffed him on the shoulder hard enough to sting. “You’re so involved in your own thoughts, you wouldn’t let me project. I was coming over so loudly, it’s a wonder the whole village couldn’t hear me—even those who aren’t Shalean.”

  That stopped him. He’d never shut Brios out before.

  “Sheesh, sorry,” he said as an apology. “I’m a bit pissed.” Both with himself and Leira.

  Brios grinned. �
�Yeah, I could tell that. Seriously, Donny? C’mon, you need to chill. Remember, to share a soul you must let it run free.”

  Easy to say, not so easy to do, Donny thought. He shrugged to hide his sense of disquiet. “Yeah, so you say.”

  “Do you know what Leira wants to do when she leaves school?” he asked Brios. The idea it was something he might not like was irritating, and worrying him.

  Brios looked surprised. “Of course, I do, and I think it’s great. Why, don’t you?”

  “If it’s what she wants, I do too,” Donny said with no shortage of ambiguity, but still somewhat ashamed. He didn’t want to admit that he’d never bothered to ask her. “How is she, d’you think?” Donny changed the subject quickly in case Brios asked him about Leira’s plans. He had to admit he didn’t know what they were. He was going to have to try and discover more about them without upsetting anyone.

  God, I was such a prick. All me, me, me and never thinking about Leira. Hell, so not good. He didn’t really like himself very much at that moment.

  “How’d you think?” Brios asked. “Honestly, Donny, what’s up with you? Have you forgotten everything Shalea has shown you? I don’t know how Leira is. Well, I can tune into her if I feel it’s necessary, but it isn’t…so I’m not going to yet. Dad says it’s for emergency use only. I’m not gonna cross him without a damned good reason. You with your boxers in a twist doesn’t count as one. So I can if I have to but you sure as heck won’t be able to. Mum and Dad are waiting until Rach has talked to Leira before the rest of us approach her.” Brios took a deep breath and sighed. “Look, Donny, I needed to talk to you as well. This is informal, but—watch yourself. Let her get on with it. Harassing is a big no-no.”

  “I’m not harassing.” Donny was indignant. In his book, wanting to look out for Leira wasn’t harassing. It was caring. He was shocked by the look Brios gave him.

  “Aren’t you? Think about it, and sort yourself out before the council does it for you.”

  Donny looked at his friend in a way he never had before. Brios sounded distant, almost a stranger. “Brios, are you threatening me as a friend, or my future Patriarch? Because, either way—butt out.”

  The look Brios gave him almost devastated him.

  “Take it how you want. If you think that’s threatening, then heaven help you if this does go to council.” He stared at Donny. “No, you ass, I’m trying to help my friend. You obviously don’t want help. You want to dig your hole bigger all by yourself it seems. Go right ahead, but don’t expect me to find a rope to haul you out.”

  Donny nodded. Sadly, he knew Brios was right. “I’ve so messed it all up, haven’t I?”

  “Understatement of the year, mate.”

  “What on earth do I do next?”

  “Nothing.”

  “What?” Donny couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “You’re kidding me.”

  “Never been more serious in my life. You do nothing except step back and leave Leira alone. Don’t try to talk to her, reason with her, or anything. You don’t go to uni before Shalean Moon, so you’re just going to have to keep out of her way. Let her choose her own path. No provoking or annoying. She’s so stubborn and will do the exact opposite of what’s right if you push her. You know that. Okay?”

  Donny nodded, resigned to an uncomfortable few weeks. There was nothing else he could do. Brios might be his friend, but he was also his superior.

  “Will you let me know how she is?” he asked in a pleading voice he’d never heard himself use before. “Please, Bri, don’t leave me totally in the dark. I might deserve it, but I didn’t mean to provoke her. It’s just that I’ve always known she was for me and thought she felt the same. Heck, I know nothing’s going to happen for years, but I wanted to show her how much I care.” Donny shook his head. “Shit, I sound like a wuss.”

  Brios shook his shoulder. “Hey, no you’re not. You’re just too intense, that’s all. Take a step back, and let her breathe.”

  Donny sighed. He knew Brios was right.

  “Yeah, I guess so…what now?”

  “We go and play squash.”

  “You’re on. Loser buys the burgers.”

  3

  Leira was wearing a track on her bedroom carpet. She was too angry to cry and too upset to even start thinking about her presents. That was it. She was over everything to do with Donny Farriday and Shalea. From now on she would to do her own thing and go out with who she wanted, whenever she wanted.

  Stuff him. He is so not my keeper.

  There was a knock on her bedroom door. Leira wondered who was there because she didn’t sense anyone. Then she remembered she’d renounced Shalea so, there was no more sensing. That was going to take some getting used to.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s Rach, can I come in?”

  “It’s open.”

  Leira watched as Rach came through the doorway. It gave her a jolt to see that her friend looked sad. “What’s up? You look how I feel.”

  Rach smiled. “Gee thanks, is that good or bad? So how’d you feel then?”

  Leira thought about it. “Ah, empty…but sort of…well…happy—weird, really…I need to think about it.” She didn’t like the way Rach looked at her. “What? I haven’t got a spot on my chin have I?”

  “Nah, you didn’t tell him about your plans, did you?” Rach shook her head. “You’re moaning about Donny and his attitude, but you’re just as bad. Honestly, Lei, how can he know what you want if you’ve never told him?”

  “He never asked,” Leira said in defense.

  “Sheesh.” Rach rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m sure he knows you’re good at art. We all do. However, have you ever said exactly what you want to do with it—where you want to go and study?”

  Leira firmed her lips. She didn’t appreciate where this was going.

  “I thought not.” Rach shook her head and rolled her eyes. “He’s a guy, for God’s sake. He needs everything spelled out to him in words of one syllable.” She gave Leira a hug. “Look, Lei, it’s all a bit of a mystery to me, all this now you sense, and now you don’t. On top of it all, your dad said if you really needed me, you’d get me. He’s blocked everyone except himself, your mum, Brios, and me.”

  “That doesn’t add up.” Leira tried to get her head around it and didn’t succeed. “How will you know something’s important?”

  “I’ve been told that if it is important, it’ll hit me. I don’t know how, so there’s no point in asking. This is hard for me as well, you know. I’m new to all this, and now I’ve got to learn a whole new set of rules. Anyway, your mum wants to know if you’ll bring your prezzies down and open them with her, your dad, and me.”

  What about Brios? She forgot she’d have to ask out loud. It was definitely going to take some getting used to.

  “Brios…isn’t he here?”

  Rach shook her head. “Nope, your dad sent him to sort Donny out.”

  Leira snorted. “That’ll be the day. Some hope.”

  Rach laughed. “Yeah, well…he can try. You do know, don’t you, that Donny has your best interests at heart. He’s a bloke and doesn’t know how to show it. Or I guess know when to butt out.”

  “Pooh, you sound just like Mum.” Leira smiled to show she didn’t mean any offense. “If he has, he’s got a stupid way to show it. It’s all him, him, him. Never ever, hey Leira, what do you want? Always, it’s hey, this is what’s going to happen. He’s never once asked what I’d like since we were in nursery and he wanted to know if I wanted the red crayon or the blue one when his class came to help us make our hats for the Christmas party. Darn him. I’m going to go back to school, get my exams, and head off—and he can whistle. Maybe I didn’t tell him, and that’s my fault, but he’s never asked me what I want to do with my life, and that is his fault. I mean, I know he’s off to uni, going to St. Andrews. Has he even asked me if I want to go to uni, get a job, anything? Never. Just when I finish my degree we can move on.” She was parroting his words at that poin
t. “Well, he’s welcome. Do you know, Rach, I’ve never been to a school dance without him lurking around and scaring off any male—half decent or otherwise—who gets close to me? Gah, it’s not as if I wanted to sleep with them or even snog them, but to have him stand over me and snarl at every bloke is not what I want. Brios never does that to you.”

  “To be fair, Rach, I’ve only been to one dance,” Rach pointed out. “And Bri was there as well.”

  “Yup, but he let you dance with who you wanted. Donny stood so close to me, no one dared to come near.”

  “I didn’t dance though,” Rach said. “Not until Brios was able to dance with me.”

  “Exactly, but you only wanted to dance with him. I don’t want to dance with Donny,” Leira said, triumphant she’d made her point.

  “Why not?” Rach sounded genuinely interested. “He’s a good mover.” Leira raised her eyebrows, and Rach burst out laughing. “Well…I guess I wouldn’t know about that, would I? For heaven’s sake, Lei, you know more about that than I do.”

  Leira tried not to blush. She really did.

  “You haven’t?” Rach sounded curious. “I thought you might have.”

  “No, I haven’t, not really. We’ve messed around a bit, but Donny said we wouldn’t do anything until I was older when it was all legal and I felt ready to have sex. I thought I was—and we would—but at this rate, I never will…not with him anyway. Besides, I don’t fancy anyone else. Oh, for God’s sake, what do I sound like? I’m only sixteen, and lucky there’s no hurry.” She rolled her eyes. “Shit, Rach, this is all such a mess. I was supposed to have my age ceremony tomorrow, and now Donny’s spoiled it.”

  Hell, I sound like a real brat.

  Rach must have thought so as well because she just looked at Leira and said nothing.

  “Grow up?” Leira asked and smiled ruefully.

  Rach smiled back.