Renounced: The Shelean Moon, Book Two Page 3

  “Grow up,” she agreed.

  Hmm, easier said than done, Leira thought as she opened her presents a few minutes later. Brios wasn’t there, and they were always together on each other’s birthdays—another thing to blame Donny for.

  He’s not worth it, Leira. He’s not for you.

  Who the eff was that? And how come someone had got through to her?

  The voice wasn’t Scottish. It certainly wasn’t anyone she knew, and it wasn’t Struan the Snake as she called him…unless he’d taken up acting. This voice was deeper, more mature. She looked around to see if anyone else had received the projection, but by the way they were chatting, it didn’t seem likely they had.

  I’m your friend, remember that. The voice was back. Okay, it was Australian and male. As far as she knew she didn’t know any Australians.

  Who are you? No answer. Well…duh, Leira, she reminded herself. You can’t project anymore…so, how the hell did whoever-that-was get through then? Dad had slipped up there…

  “Um, any new Shaleans around?” she asked, nonchalant. Her dad looked up from the piece of paper he’d placed in the bin.

  “Why?” he queried, his eyes narrowing. “What does it matter to you anyway? You’ve renounced.”

  Oh, so it’s like that is it? Okay.

  “Oh yes, so I have. So hey, as I won’t have an age ceremony tomorrow, I’ll be off to the Showroom,” she said as if it was no big deal. “Are you coming with me, Rach? It’s the night for our age.”

  “Sure, I’d love to if my dad says it’s okay.” Rach smiled at her in a way Leira knew was sympathetic. “I’ll ask him when I get home and sense…oh shoot, text you what he says. He’ll probably pick us up.”

  Leira smiled. “Brios will moan about you going, you know.”

  Rach laughed. “That’s up to him. It won’t make any difference as long as Dad says it’s okay. I’d love it.”

  “Mum or I will pick you both up if Rach’s dad can’t.” Leira’s dad said. “And if necessary, I’ll speak to Brios. Whatever he thinks—he’s not your keeper, Rach. Now, c’mon Leira, open the rest of your presents.”

  Leira laughed and did as he suggested. She opened a furry leopard-patterned dressing gown and slippers from Rach and Brios.

  Hmm… sooo they’re already doing joint prezzies.

  Next, was a new top of the range iPod and a tablet from her mum and dad, as well as chocolates, a book token, and the usual undies and socks. There was one present left to open—a small, square box with a purple ribbon on it—her favorite color. Slowly, she untied the ribbon and took off the lid.

  She looked at the contents and burst into tears.

  “Leira…love…” Her mum cuddled her. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing…oh, Mum…” She could barely see through her tears. She heard her dad’s footsteps as he left the room and felt Rach cuddle her while her mum stroked her back like she had when she was little.

  “Come on love…there, there.”

  Leira giggled, even if it was more of a hiccup. She and her mum had always thought that was such a stupid thing to say.

  “Lei, what’s wrong? Is it something nasty?” Rach said, worried.

  Get a grip, Leira—say something.

  “Um, can I have a tissue please?” Rach passed her the box. “Thanks.”

  She blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “God, I could swing for him. I really could. The moron knows how to press my buttons.”

  “Oh, I hope not.” Her dad came back into the room. “Here,” He passed her a mug of tea. “I presume you’re talking about Donny?”

  “Who else?” Leira said, resigned. “He knows I love this stuff and buys it for me…and, then acts so…so…”

  “Possessive?” Rach offered. “Asshole-ish?”

  “Yeah, and stupid. Look…” She held up a thin, silver chain with a tiny leopard charm on it. The eyes glowed a rich amber. “I’ve been coveting a silver ankle chain for ages and not only does he get me one, but he had a Shalean leopard put on it.” She sighed, in a very over-the-top dramatic way. “I won’t keep it. I can’t wear anything to do with Shalea.”

  “Don’t talk rubbish,” her mum said. “It’s lovely. You won’t do anything so heartless.” Her mum was in stern parent mode. “We brought you up better than that.”

  “Lei, you can’t give it back. That would be too cruel. If you can’t bring yourself to speak to him then just write him a thank you note and wear it with…I don’t know…affection maybe?” Rach’s voice was full of compassion.

  “Leira Carriel Parde, you will speak to that boy and thank him properly. Do you understand?” Her dad was in father mode. It didn’t happen very often, but when it did, they all jumped.

  “Yes, Dad.” There was nothing else Leira could say. He nodded and accepted that the subject was closed.

  “Rach, do you want to ring your dad and see if he’s fine about tomorrow night? We’ll take you and bring you home if he wants.” Marok Parde had taken charge and changed the subject.

  Leira watched Rach nod and take out her phone. After Brios’s projection to her earlier, Leira would bet her new tablet that there was some angry projecting going on between him and Rach.

  Damn, I’ll need to remember to keep my phone charged and not lose it. Where is the darn thing anyway? She fumbled in her jeans pocket. She found a two pence piece and a polo mint. She wondered frantically where her phone could be but didn’t dare tell her dad it was mislaid again.

  “Try the downstairs loo,” he said in a dry voice, “on the vanity.”

  Oops again.

  “Thanks, Dad.” She didn’t think she’d mention it wasn’t polite to listen in like that…or at least that was what she’d been taught.

  To her surprise, her dad laughed. “Leira, I love you, and I didn’t dip into your mind. I didn’t need to. Anyone who knows you could tell you were looking for your phone and wanting to tell me off for listening in. I won’t abuse my authority, I promise you. Treat these weeks carefully: learn, think, and listen to your heart. Remember, we’re here for you if you need us.”

  Right, so is that deep or what?

  4

  Beating Brios at squash was the only bright spot of Donny’s day. It was not something that happened very often. He was pleased, and he knew it showed.

  “Mine,” he said with satisfaction as they dressed after their shower. “Three to one. Hallelujah. How often does that happen?”

  Brios chuckled and flicked him with his towel before he rubbed his hair dry.

  “Like never, or maybe once,” he replied. “You must have needed to throw yourself into something.”

  Donny nodded. “That’s for sure. It stopped me from breaking something.” He pulled his jeans on. “You mentioned burgers earlier. I want salsa on mine. I need to spice up my life.”

  Brios laughed.

  “Well…maybe not spice it up exactly. But do something, anything legal. I’ve got to fill my time somehow if I can’t go near Leira.”

  “I hope you’re not telling me what I think you are.”

  “Of course I’m not. She’s only sixteen today. No way would I abuse our friendship or her trust.”

  “Just as well, bro. You could take up knitting.” Brios smirked. “Or macramé.”

  “In your dreams, Bri. In your dreams. Now…coaching a ladies netball team? That may have possibly…Fu…Shh, hold on.” He flapped his arms to quiet his friend. Luckily, Brios understood his frantic gestures because he nodded and carried on getting dressed.

  Come to us, Donny. We need to move up.

  Now? Why? It was almost as if they knew his every move.

  You do not get to ask—you chose us.

  “Donny, what’s wrong?” Brios said urgently. “You’ve gone grey.”

  Donny’s hands shook, and his heart raced at the thought of what might be about to happen. “Rogues again,” he said briefly. “Shit, I thought they’d backed off. Hell, it’s been months.”

  The Rogue Chapter
of Shaleans—who were not happy with the agreed hierarchy of the Sept—had been suspiciously quiet since they’d tried to kidnap Rach a couple of months earlier. Their leader, Gregor Grier, had left the area for a holiday, he’d said, but no one had found out exactly where he’d been or had seen him since.

  Donny had been asked to infiltrate them to help the Sept. He’d done it, but that had been the beginning of the real trouble between him and Leira. She either could not or would not accept his assurances that he really was working for Shalea—not against it. If only she trusted me.

  “What? They’re projecting to you again?” Brios asked. “What are they saying?”

  “Just now, the sods. They want to move up.” He thought for a moment. “I didn’t recognize the voice though. It wasn’t Gregor, that’s for sure, too highland and islands for him. It wasn’t Struan either. As far as I know he hasn’t shown his hand with them.” Gregor’s accent was definitely Glaswegian, and Struan’s was local. “What d’you want me to do?” he asked Brios. “Go or not, it’s up to you.”

  Brios rubbed his chin and then nodded to himself. “Play it by ear, Donny. They still think you’re in with them?”

  It was his turn to nod. “Yup…well as far as I know they do. They have no reason not to, Bri. After that night, Gregor slunk off. Since then everything’s been quiet. I’ve heard nothing— well until now. I must admit, I thought—hoped even—they’d given up. After all, they know what they’re up against, don’t they?”

  He watched his friend’s eyes become cloudy. He was obviously projecting to someone, to his dad—to ask his advice…

  Donny nodded at him.

  Good idea. Can you sort of…in a roundabout way…check if Lei is okay?

  Pushing it, D—pushing it.

  He’d known that but felt it was worth a try. He waited impatiently, and then he saw Brios’s eyes brighten again.

  “She’s fine. Still spitting tacks, but then what’s new? Dad says you should go and listen to what they want, if you don’t mind, Donny. We know it’s a lot to ask, especially as you can’t let anyone know what you’re up to. If you keep your mind open, I’ll listen in.”

  Donny nodded. “No problem.” He hoped not anyway. “Will my dad know?”

  “Yeah, he and my dad will watch everything. It’s just…” Brios hesitated.

  “Yeah, I know…Leira.” Donny sighed. “Once she gets an idea in her head…no one, but no one…can get her to change her mind. I’ve given up trying. If she still thinks I’m the bad guy, I’ll just stay the bad guy. Hell, she was told I was on your side. I don’t know why she chooses to forget that now.”

  Brios thumped him on the back. “I’m afraid I’ve nothing to say there, bro. Why not ask her outright? You know all you do is appreciated.”

  Donny knew that; however, it didn’t make it any easier. As for asking Leira…there were only so many times he was prepared to try and tell her he was not Rogue. Her lack of trust hurt him. He finished getting dressed and grabbed his sports bag. He’d have to live with his life as it was and sod her.

  Right. Show time. Brios and his dad had enough to worry about without him going off on one.

  “Burgers?”

  Brios grinned. “Burgers,” he agreed, “with lots of onions.”

  Donny had a thought. “Look Bri, if you need to be at home and have a meal with Leira, I’ll understand. Hell, you should be there with her, not with me. It’s her birthday…an important birthday. I’ve messed it up enough already. You go home.”

  Brios looked at him with doubt.

  “I mean it, Bri. Come on, let’s not spoil her day even more. I’ll drop you off.” He walked to his car as he spoke, and unlocked it. “Well?” he asked impatiently as Brios hadn’t moved. “You coming?”

  He felt his body shake.

  Tonight…at eleven…the old mill.

  Who is this?

  He didn’t really expect an answer, and he didn’t get one.

  Brios still hadn’t moved. Then, he slowly walked across to Donny and shook his head. “Burgers…and we need to meet my dad somewhere later. He’s just projected to warn me to behave. Rach and Leira are off to that flipping Showroom tomorrow night, and I’ve been told to butt out. Plus, he said to watch out cos Gregor Grier is back. Sheesh, life sucks at times.”

  It made sense. “Probably why I got the call then. I need to talk to your dad, but…er…why burgers?”

  “Oh, the girls have got themselves Chinese, and they’re watching cheesy DVDs with mum. Dad’s gone to the golf course for a meeting about competitions.”

  Poor Leira. Some birthday I’ve given her. Hopefully, she likes my present. If not, I’ll find it in my letterbox tomorrow morning.

  He would have felt a lot happier if he could project to her.

  “Would projecting to Rach about her be acceptable?” he asked Brios. “Not a lot, but maybe on occasion.”

  “No.”

  Just as he thought.

  “Damn it, Bri. This is so difficult.”

  “Yup, that’s life.”

  Yeah, true enough. He waited until Brios had fastened his seatbelt, and then he started the car’s engine before he spoke.

  “Happy Cafe?”

  “Why not.”

  They ordered their food and grabbed a table in the corner of the cafe. Apart from a group of backpackers, the place was empty. Music that came from the jukebox on the wall was tinny and the atmosphere friendly. The waitress fluttered her eyelashes at them both, Donny specifically. She rested her hand briefly on Donny’s shoulder.

  “Hi, you two…no Leira or Rach? Thought it was Leira’s birthday, and you’d both be there. You know, brother and…er…friend?” she asked, her tone curious.

  Brios smiled as she put their order on the table. “Hi, Ali. Nope, they’re eating Chinese and watching chick flicks.”

  She walked away but not before squeezing Donny’s arm in a supposedly friendly gesture. Donny wasn’t sure it was as innocent as it was made to look.

  “Their loss…I wouldn’t leave my friend out of my birthday celebrations. We’re all going out tomorrow,” she proffered as she glanced back at Donny. “Sadly, it’s a boys’ butt-out night, or I’d be sure to ask you to dance, Donny.”

  Boy’s-butt-out? Hmm, so they told us, but so not on.

  Not that he would listen. There was no way he was going to let Leira go to a club without him. Even if he couldn’t approach her, he would still be there. He took a bite of burger before he spoke.

  “I’ve got a rotten feeling about all this, Bri. Why is it all starting up again now, and why is that bloody Ali all over me like a rash again? I thought we’d sorted that out ages ago. Do you think it’s a coincidence that it’s Leira’s birthday?”

  Brios’s face was somber as he shook his head. “Nah, I don’t think so. I think it’s planned, but I just don’t know why. Hopefully, Dad will know more.”

  Donny remembered what the Rogues had projected to him earlier. “I might by tomorrow. They want to meet tonight at the old mill.”

  Brios looked startled as Donny nodded. “I got that just before we got into the car. I was going to ask what I ought to do.”

  “We need to talk to Dad.”

  Donny kept eating until Brios spoke again.

  “Dad says to meet him at the golf course in half an hour. Is that okay with you?”

  Donny nodded. “I don’t have anything else planned today, not now.” He smiled to himself. “Not doing a mump-fest…just saying.”

  Brios’s face showed his sympathy.

  “I know, Donny. It’s not easy. Even so, it really does have to be done…all of it. You have to let Leira figure out what she wants on her own, and we need your help with the Rogues. Let’s just hope it all works out as we’d like it.”

  Dammit, it was not very reassuring news from that direction. Donny wished that all of this wasn’t happening at once. First the business with Leira, and now the Rogues. By our gods, Brios is right. This is difficult.


  It was especially so when they met Brios and Leira’s dad, and he started to talk to them both, seriously, as future elders of the Sept. Brios was going to be the next Patriarch, but it had long been decided that Donny would be Brios’s second, his right-hand man so to speak.

  “The Rogues are definitely up to something,” Mr. Parde said as he gave them both a cola since neither could have alcohol. Brios wasn’t old enough, and Donny was driving.

  “I don’t know all the ins and outs,” Marok Parde confessed, “but I do know Struan Scott and Gregor Grier are plotting. They’ve been seen with Lachie McKeand and his Chapter. They’re another few I’d not trust as far as I can throw them. I can sense a certain amount of what’s going on, though sad to say, not enough. There’s a lot of conspiracy and very little sensing. It’s mostly vocal, and that’s harder for me to get. Although, I confess I do have someone tracing emails.”

  Donny wondered who the hacker was. He had his suspicions though. Andy Fairmain, a friend of his and Brios, was a whiz with computers and almost able to make them sing.

  “That’s why…if you’ll do it for us, Donny…your presence would be invaluable,” Marok finished. “But I will understand if you choose not to.”

  “Well…Leira hates me enough already, so I don’t suppose this will make much difference,” Donny said, his tone wry. “So yeah. I’d do anything to protect Shalea. Well, as long as it’s legal.”

  Leira needs to learn she can’t know everything. She won’t listen to what you or I have told her, and she won’t accept what she’s seen. Maybe now is the time to let her go her own way. Take a step back and be there to pick up the pieces, Marok projected. “Yes, it’s legal,” he added out loud.

  Donny had a sudden thought. He wondered if Leira’s refusal to believe that everything he had done and was still doing was for the good of the Sept—not the bad—was her way of not having to deal with the fact that he wanted them to be partners. As was her decision to renounce—or was he exaggerating his importance in her life?

  “You know Leira thinks everything is on a she-has-a-need-to-know basis,” Brios added. “But even knowing how Donny helped us before…she still chooses to not believe. Rach knows because of her rescue, and that’s it. No one else other than us three.”