Renounced: The Shelean Moon, Book Two Read online

  Brios still shifted, sniffed around as he checked the path and woods behind her.

  “Wha…what was that?” She knew she sounded about six—or ninety—her voice was so tiny, and it wavered. Gah, she hated it.

  Her mum hugged her tight and Leira clung back not wanting to let go.

  “Mum?” Her mum rubbed her back just like when she was a baby. “What’s happening? Why do I feel so weird? Can you even understand me? What’s going on? Where’s Dad? Why hasn’t Bri changed? Why couldn’t any of you sense me? I was trying so hard to project, and none of you heard me.”

  Her mum just squeezed her. “We’ll sort it all out later. Let’s just get you home first, eh? Are you going to be able to walk if I help you?”

  Leira thought about it. She must be fine, surely? Nothing had happened as far as she knew, except…she’d met a stranger. Fire had shone above the water when he left, and he had said some weird things. Then another voice had entered her head. She felt overwhelmed. Just another day in Scotland.

  “I’m fine. Let’s go. I just want to be home, Mum. I don’t know what’s going on, but I want home. It was so weird. I tried to project to you…Dad said if I was in danger it would work—but it didn’t. Why not?”

  “I don’t know, honey.” Shala kissed her cheek. “Let’s hope Dad does.”

  “No one.” Brios came back into Leira’s line of vision now shifted into his human shape. “Although, I smelled something.” He frowned.

  “What?” Leira asked.

  Brios grimaced and shook his head. “Nothing really tangible. I thought, no I know, someone was on the riverbank.”

  He was lying. Leira could tell that without any Shalean powers. Was it anything to do with what she thought she’d seen?

  “Who?” she asked boldly. “How can you tell?”

  He rolled his eyes at her. “C’mon, Lei, this is me, remember? I still have my powers.”

  Ouch, not nice, Bri.

  Still, she didn’t say anything. After all, he had come with her mum to help her, and that fact alone meant so much. Now if she could just get home and under the shower, she’d be a lot happier. Then she’d think over what she thought she’d seen. After all, everything was so fuzzy, she might just have imagined it.

  Too late, Leira.

  “No,” she said, exasperated. “Get out of my head whoever you are. Go away.”

  Her mum looked at her curiously. “Leira, love…what on earth?”

  “I don’t know, Mum. Oh, please get me home, and I’ll try to explain. There was someone here. And I thought I saw…oh I don’t know…an apparition maybe? But it’s all so hazy and muddled, I really don’t know what did and didn’t happen. Not only that, but someone is projecting to me and getting through, and it’s no one I know. Please, I want to go home.”

  She knew how scared she sounded, but something bad was going on. Was it because she’d renounced, or would it have happened anyway? Who knew? Certainly not her.

  Brios took one arm and her mum the other. Strange…now that they were here she could see the lawn at the back of the house. Just another few yards and she’d have known where she was. It hardly took any time at all to walk over the short grass and into the familiar surroundings of home.

  Her mum fussed over her while Brios oozed anger. Wearily, Leira left them in the kitchen to make dinner, and she wandered upstairs. She had a shower and dressed in new PJs. She didn’t think she would ever be able to wear her red teddy ones again without them reminding her of that crappy day. What a way to describe your birthday. Her mobile rang, and she picked it up. Unknown number. Annoyed, she switched it off and threw it onto the bed.

  Probably someone is trying to sell me something.

  Answer me.

  Get lost.

  Shoot, I can’t project, can I?

  A beep indicated an incoming text from an unknown number again. She didn’t want to read it, not the way she was feeling at the moment. There was a second and a third time for reinforcements. She headed downstairs with the phone in hand.

  Her mum looked up from the pan she stirred.

  “Eye of Newt, and all that?” Leira asked. It was a well-known fact her mum wasn’t the best cook in the world. She tended to get distracted halfway through.

  “Ha, ha, mushroom soup…and before you ask…no, I didn’t pick them.” This was another running joke after Rach had told them about the time her dad had gone foraging and picked magic mushrooms by mistake. Leira’s mum had always been a keen herbalist, and she’d gone white when she’d heard that gem. Now, unless she’d grown them herself, all the mushrooms in their house came from the local farm shop.

  “Tinned?” Leira peered over her shoulder.

  “Huh, cheeky child,” her mum pretended to be hurt. “As if I would.”

  Brios entered the room. “Dad’s on his way. He’ll be about ten minutes.”

  “Where is he anyway?” Leira wondered.

  “Sept business,” her mum said. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  Ah, that told me. Leira ignored the fact that even if she had still been in the Sept, she probably would’ve been given the same answer. Need to know basis was always used. The timer on the stove pinged, and she remembered her phone and the unread texts.

  “Um, Bri…would you look at my phone for me, please?”

  Her brother raised his eyebrows. “What? You’re letting me loose on your phone? You must be ill.”

  She ignored his sarcasm. He must have understood there was something wrong because his eyes narrowed before taking it from her without another word.

  His roar was more than anyone could have expected—Shalean or human. Her mum dropped the spoon she was using to stir the soup with an almighty splash into the liquid, which spilled over the sides and onto the stove with a sizzle and a terrible smell of burning. At the same time, the back door flew open with such force it hit the wall with a thwack and bounced back and hit their dad who was on his way in. Donny and his dad were close behind.

  “What…why…who…where?” her dad spluttered as he looked at all of them. “Why didn’t you project? Tell me quickly.”

  “Marok, calm down,” her mum said in a tone Leira guessed was supposed to be soothing. By the look on her dad’s face, it wasn’t.

  “Whatever it is, it’s on Leira’s phone,” Shala said as she moved the saucepan to one side of the stove. “She hasn’t seen anything, and Brios only just has. So wait, draw a breath, and let him tell you.”

  Her dad nodded. Leira looked at Donny. Why isn’t he even checking to see if I’m all right? She felt hurt until she reminded herself that she’d forbidden him. She refocused her mind on the crisis at hand.

  “What is it, Bri?” she asked firmly. He gave her a brief glance but didn’t say anything. “Brios, please tell me. After all, it’s my phone.”

  “In a bit. Look, dad.” He handed the phone to their dad. Donny and his father also looked. Donny growled, and Brios passed the phone to Shala. She nodded.

  “When you’ve shown the world,” Leira said not so sweetly, “how about showing me?”

  Dammit, he’d shown everyone else before he walked over to her. By then she was ready to stomp on his toes.

  Come on, Leira, she reminded herself, you didn’t want to know. You handed it over without reading.

  “Is it bad?” she hesitated.

  In answer, he held it to her…screen lit. She scrolled through the messages.

  “I don’t understand…Why do they think I’d want to be a Rogue?”

  7

  “I think we need to eat and get a drink before we go into all of this.” Her dad had gone straight into Patriarch mode.

  Her mum nodded. “You all go and sit at the table—all of you. Leira, do not pull a face.”

  “I wasn’t,” she protested and went to rub her side. She had only frowned because she realized she hurt. Her left side was sore as if she’d been hit with something. She remembered the flash of fire as the mysterious man had swum away it had
seemed to flash towards her.

  “What’s up?” Donny noticed. Nobody said anything about him talking to her now.

  She shook her head to clear it, and when she touched her side, she felt fuzzy again.

  You need us, Leira. We will care for you.

  “Go away.”

  “Leira.” Her mum sounded really annoyed.

  “What? Hell, Lei grow up.” Brios was just as irate.

  “Oh, no. Donny, I didn’t mean you,” Leira said, mortified at how her words must have come across. “Some bu—er…person keeps getting into my head. Not in a nice way either.”

  “What?” her dad shouted. “And, you haven’t told me?”

  His face was so red he looked like he might burst a blood vessel. That would be the last straw. She rushed to speak.

  “Well, Dad, to be fair,” she pointed out, “I haven’t actually seen you. Don’t forget, I can’t project anymore.”

  There, she thought, that should calm him down. Calm them all down.

  It didn’t.

  “That’s your answer?” Donny was incredulous. “Oh, Dad, I can scare you all half to death because I can’t project…Oh, for our gods’ sake.” He shook his head incredulously. “Grow up.” He noticed everyone in the room looked at him. He’d forgotten they were there.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  Leira’s dad smiled at him.

  Phew, at least I’m not going to get chewed out by him even though Leira looks as if she’s got a lemon in her mouth.

  “I think you summed that up perfectly, thank you, Donny,” Mrs. Parde said. “He’s right you know, Leira. You sound like you did when you were five after you did something you shouldn’t and I told you off. Now, let’s all sit down—calm down—and you tell us from the beginning. Leira, can you please put the cutlery out? Marok, please cut the bread?”

  When Shala Parde spoke like that, everyone obeyed. Donny took his seat at the table without really thinking about it. The seat was the one he always took when he was in the Parde house, the one next to Leira. No one said a word.

  Perhaps, this no contact thing is null and void until we sort all this stuff out? he wondered.

  They had bowls of steaming soup deposited in front of them, and Mr. Parde—Marok—Donny remembered he’d been asked to call him that—spoke their Shalean grace. Then, he turned to his daughter for the first time since they had all piled in like rescuers in a B film. Donny thought Leira looked scared, not of her dad, but maybe of something else.

  “Okay, honey.”

  Blow the no contact rule, Donny thought. He gave her hand a squeeze under the table, and he was pleased when his hand got a quick squeeze back before she pulled away.

  “Tell us about your evening.”

  Donny watched her take a deep breath, and then she quietly and briefly explained what had happened after she’d left the house. He could tell he wasn’t the only one to get agitated as she spoke.

  “And now my side hurts,” she said. “If I touch it, I go all woozy.”

  “Do not touch it.” Her dad’s voice was the stern one of the Patriarch. “Let me see.”

  “Da-ad, not here…” Donny could see her begin to blush. He looked at his watch. Well after midnight.

  The meet at the Old Mill had been a no-show. He’d turned up as requested to find it closed and shuttered. Nobody—human or leopard—around. After waiting a full half an hour, he got back in his car and had almost reached home when Brios projected to him to pick up his dad and come to the Parde house. He wondered if the message had just been a trick to get him out of the way. Perhaps, from someone who didn’t know the state of affairs between him and Leira. He said as much quickly, giving Leira a chance to calm down and her dad something else to think about. He had to admit he wanted to see Leira’s side. In all honesty, he’d like to see a lot more than her side…

  Lift your thoughts, Donny, he told himself glad he hadn’t projected that one.

  “It could be…” Marok sounded thoughtful. “Especially as…well…anyway. Yes, you could be right there.”

  “Especially as…” Leira asked.

  “Nothing for you to know. Now show your mum or me your side.”

  “Mum.” Leira stood up and walked out of the room with her mum close behind. Donny watched them leave.

  What will be—will be the decision of our gods. Brios tried to reassure him. Donny shook his head in amazement.

  You think Leira will let the gods decide instead of her? That’ll be the day.

  He sensed Brios’s laugh and watched as Leira and Shala re-entered the room.

  “Well?” her dad asked.

  “Shalean Fire,” Shala said.

  “What…”

  “How?”

  “Who…”

  He had no idea who shouted which question. Leira sat down again and began to eat some bread. Shala waited until they were all quiet.

  “Thank you.” She reseated herself, picked up the teapot, and poured a mug of tea before she continued, “Since Leira has renounced, she was easily hit. I don’t think whoever did it knew this. They just wanted to show her they could be in charge. It seems to me someone has decided…” She hesitated. “That Leira would join the Rogues because of Donny.”

  That made sense, Donny thought. If the Rogues still think of us as partners to be and now that Leira’s sixteen, it would make sense to them that she would join me.

  He wondered who was going to explain all that to Leira. Nobody had a chance. Leira had jumped to her feet.

  “Well, that’s just tough on them then, isn’t it? I’m not his partner, and I have renounced.”

  “So what happens next?”

  “Not a lot.” Donny was fed up with all of this. “You just go your own sweet way, Leira. Ignore all you’ve held dear and all you’ve been brought up to believe and trust in. Hell, ignore everyone who loves you, why don’t you? I never realized this before, but you’re selfish. You say I am? Just look in the mirror, and look into yourself while you’re at it. I’m sorry, Matriarch, Patriarch.” He was careful to be formal. “Brios, Dad, if Leira doesn’t want me as a partner so be it—I’ve had enough. I’m Shalean and proud of it, and I’ll do anything to keep us, and everything Shalea stands for safe. I mean anything—on my oath. If that means I’m out on a limb, well…so be it. If Leira chooses to believe I’d harm Shalea, then maybe we aren’t meant to be together.”

  I hope she doesn’t, but I’m too pissed off with her to even try and find out what she thinks.

  He stood up. All he wanted was to be by himself and come to terms with the changes in his life. Things had not worked out at all like he’d hoped they would. When he’d gone to the glade to see her that morning… No, yesterday morning now it was past midnight…he’d been full of hope for their future. He risked a quick glance at Leira. She was white, and her eyes were troubled. It gave him a little confidence…just a little.

  Not that he’d expected anything to happen between them yet. Well, not much anyway, except he’d prayed she’d be willing to accept that one day they would be partners. Instead, here he was, worried sick about what was going on and with no idea what he could do about it all. He just had to keep on playing his role knowing that his dad, Brios and the Pardes were guarding him.

  Donny, what’s going on? Bri isn’t answering, and I’m getting a mass of color and noise from Leira.

  Rach had picked up stuff, and by the sound of it, she was worried. Hold on, I’m going to make sure Bri explains it all to you.

  You tell me—now.

  Rach, I can’t. It’s not up to me—hold on.

  He felt her tension seep into him. Why on earth couldn’t Brios feel it? Rach was his partner to be.

  Do not forget our meet.

  What? Oh crap…now the Rogues are at me again.

  He needed to speak to Brios or Marok without Leira around. I need help—without Leira about. He projected to them and was glad they could select who received their thoughts.

  Say you’re l
eaving, and go to Shala’s workroom, Marok replied.

  Donny had already stood up. He walked around the table towards the door and then turned and faced everyone.

  “Our gods and us.” He spoke the formal Shalean welcome and farewell and then looked Leira in the eyes. “And Leira, I wish you well. Goodnight.” He heard her sharply indrawn breath at his implied insult.

  Well, if she’s determined not to be Shalean, no way am I going to include her in a blessing that means so much to me.

  Donny headed to Shala’s workroom in the converted coach house at the edge of the drive. He stood by the door taking in the night and enjoying the rustlings of animals going about their business, the sight of the stars twinkling in the nighttime sky, and the small wispy clouds that made their lazy way in front of the moon.

  To a Shalean, the night was a friend…an ally who allowed them to shift in relative safety, to stretch, and rejoice in their leopard…to seek out fellow Shaleans and enjoy the feeling of harmony and well-being achieved from running as a pack.

  He realized that now there would be no group run the following night since Leira’s age ceremony wouldn’t take place. The next time the Sept got together would be on Shalean—the night the moon called to all of them and they answered. He wasn’t sure how he would feel about taking part without Leira there. Ever since she’d been old enough to shift, and he’d sensed they should be together, he ran beside her and looked after her when Brios couldn’t. She was his. He knew then with a flash of blind clarity that if she didn’t come back to him, he would lead a lonely life.

  He stamped his feet because the night was quite chilly, and in his hurry, he’d forgotten a jacket. He wished the others would hurry up.

  Hello, Donny. Are you ready?

  Who the…

  8

  Leira watched the men go out and leave her and her mum in the kitchen. She glared at her mum.

  “More male bonding?” she asked. She didn’t care how petty she sounded. “Or should that be Shalean bonding? Shouldn’t you be there as well, Mum? To do the Matriarch thing and stick up for women?”