Renounced: The Shelean Moon, Book Two Read online

  “Yes, let’s.” She glared at him, doing her best to speak quietly so only he could hear. “Did you put that asshole up to this?”

  He held his hands up in that who me gesture she hated. “Nah, though I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It so worked in our favor, eh? Hi again, Leira.”

  She squinted up at him. She guessed that he was almost a foot taller than her and unfortunately, every bit as good looking as she’d thought he was…much better in the daylight than in the gloom of dusk.

  “Why did you come down the river?” she asked. When he leaned to offer a hand to her, she shook her head. “No thanks, I’m going to swim my temper off. So, why?”

  “To meet you, of course, why else? Enjoy your swim.”

  She watched in disbelief as he calmly walked back to the lifeguard’s chair, shook water droplets from his body, winked in her direction, and retied his hair.

  Leira shook her head. My life is so definitely screwed up—what next?

  I’ll win.

  That bugged her. Struan was so sure he would win. Why, and what did he think he was going to win anyway?

  Shalea—all mine.

  In your dreams, Struan Scott, in your dreams.

  “Oh, for goodness sake,” she spoke aloud in her annoyance. “What is it with so-called macho men?”

  “They like to show off and win?” Rach had swum up and heard her. “Brains not in their head but in their you-know-what.’”

  “Yeah, all of that. Did Struan push me in?”

  Rach nodded. “Very subtly. He sort of did a shifty sidle past and nudged you with his hip. On anyone else, I would have said ooohhh go you, I bet you fancy her. With him, its more of an eww you resent her.”

  Leira laughed. “The slimy toad does a good shifty sidle. I’ll give him that. Shifty—not shifter—he’s crap at that.”

  She felt his anger rush through her—over her—and fill the building. The water began to roll again. Swimmers stopped in amazement as waves pulsed over them.

  In the shallow end, a young girl of seven or so started to cry as she was engulfed. Troy was in the water straight away. He lifted her high out of the reach of the swell and comforted her. An older lady who was obviously with her had tried unsuccessfully to stop the girl from crying and now looked at Troy with hero worship as the girl gave him a watery smile.

  “Struan,” Leira said. The disgust in her voice was obvious. “He’s a bastard.”

  “What’re we going to do?” Rach asked with interest. “I’m with you whatever it is.”

  “Dunno yet. I’ll let you know when I do…Tell Dad, I guess.”

  “And Brios, and Donny?”

  She shook her head. “Brios maybe—not Donny cos he’s out of the picture.”

  “Hmm.” Rach didn’t sound convinced. “If you say so.’

  There was no way Leira would have been persuaded either if she could have seen Donny at that moment.

  “Stop thinking, D—just feel.” Brios sounded thoroughly exasperated, and Donny could understand why because he felt exactly the same. Here was Brios—his best friend—his Patriarch to be—going against all he’d promised so he could help him, and he couldn’t get his head round what was asked of him.

  “The more you try, the less likely you are to succeed, you know that, D. We’ve been told it often enough in other things. Now shut your thoughts down, close your eyes…let nothing interfere—just feel. If you’re serious about all of this, you need to do it properly and for fu…well, whatever you do, block the elders. They’ll have both of us deep in the shit if they find out what we’re doing.”

  Donny knew that. The risk for Brios was even worse than for him. Brios was putting his future as Patriarch on the line. However, they both realized how important it was that Donny be able to link to Leira if he had to—even if it was expressly forbidden.

  In his mind, Donny felt himself float, felt the mist and swirl of colors that meant he was feeling—not thinking.

  Did Struan push me in? It was Leira. He waited patiently until he still sensed his own colors encompass him, welcome him, and help him.

  He’s a bastard.

  Well, she’s got that right, he thought. So Struan was back again. He wondered if Brios knew.

  I do now. So, it’s working?

  Yup, thanks, it works. For you as well?

  For me as well.

  “Although, we’ll only get through if it’s something she’s really thinking deep about. Donny, we’re going to have to be careful.”

  “Yeah, I know. You reckon it’s needed though, don’t you, especially with Struan back?”

  Donny watched Brios nod, a worried look on his face. “Something big is going to happen. No idea what or when, but it’s coming. I can smell it.”

  Tonight, at eleven, at the old mill.

  There was no way he was going to let them mess with him again. He wanted to go to that damned club tonight to keep an eye on Leira.

  I was there last night. You weren’t. How do I know you’ll turn up tonight?

  You don’t, but we will. Last night we tested you. You passed. Tonight we move forward.

  How…What do you want?

  Tonight…Eleven.

  That was it. He waited, but there was nothing else. He looked at Brios and briefly explained what had happened.

  “Well?”

  Brios shrugged. “No idea. I’ll make sure you’re protected and that I’m tuned in to you, if you’re going to go.”

  Donny stared. He knew it was important, and he had to go. He’d told Brios as much. “Why the change of heart?”

  Brios shrugged. “Well, you said you wanted to go to that damned club, and this really is over and above anything normal, so it doesn’t have to happen.”

  “My Patriarch asked me to do this,” Donny said simply. “So I’m going. If they think they can upset Shalea…well, not without me trying to upset them first. I’ll trust you to keep an eye on the girls.”

  Brios groaned. “So I’ve got to go to that flipping club then? Thanks a bunch.”

  Donny shrugged. “Yup.” He knew Brios wanted to be there to keep an eye on his sister and his girlfriend. “Ah, bless, scared to go without me to hold your hand?”

  “You bet. All those girls.” Brios shuddered. “Why don’t you come ’til the back of ten?”

  “And piss Leira off? You think that’s going to make things better between us?” Donny shook his head. “I value my body as it is.”

  That made Brios laugh. “Wuss. I know what you mean, although it’d make things better for me if you were there. Okay, you win. I’ll make sure I’m outside and will listen for you by quarter to. Dad can pick the girls up.”

  As Donny walked back from Brios’s house to his own, he found it strange not to be out with his mates. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t notice Ali walk towards him until he almost bumped into her, which was easy to do because she’d stopped right in front of him.

  “Hi, Donny, aren’t you and Brios coming to the club? I know strictly you’re too old,” she chuckled. “But hey, I won’t tell, not if you dance with me.”

  Donny groaned softly. He had too much to worry about already, what with the Rogues and Leira, without Ali trying her come-hither looks and supposedly sexy smiles on him. She’s always seemed so quiet up until the last couple of months. Now she seems to be making up for lost time.

  He moved her hand off his arm.

  “Nope, I’m busy. I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself though.” He went to move away, but Ali mirrored his actions and stopped him.

  “It would be better if you were there, Donny,” she said in a strange voice. “Especially now that you and Leira aren’t an item. You know so you could dance with me. It’s obvious you want to.”

  It is? Only in her dreams.

  “Sorry Ali,” Donny said flatly. “I’m not interested. Look, you’re a nice girl, and I like you as a friend, but that’s all. Enjoy the dance.”

  He didn’t smile, just moved around
her, carried on walking and almost missed the words she spat out at him.

  “Just wait, Donny Farriday, you’ll see. You don’t know what you’re saying. You’ll be mine before the moon turns.”

  He almost stopped and turned round, but somehow he managed not to. What did she mean by that? It was a strange thing for a human to say. He’d have to mention that to Brios as well, after this visit to the old mill.

  10

  Leira argued—not very successfully—with Brios and her parents.

  “I don’t want you there.” She glared at her brother as he calmly ate a slice of pizza and ignored her. “I want to enjoy myself without feeling someone’s eyes on me all the time. You just give anyone who comes within a yard of me the evil eye ’til they back off. I want to dance, not be billy-no-mates. Anyway, you’re too old,” she finished triumphantly. “Under seventeen, remember?”

  “Fifteen to seventeen,” Brios corrected her. “I’m still seventeen, so that’s okay. Now you’ve got me wondering. Why don’t you want me there? What’re you going to be doing that you don’t want me to know about?”

  What normal almost eighteen-year-old guy wants to go to a non-alcoholic disco with kids of fourteen and fifteen? Well, apart from my annoying brother…

  “Nothing.” She was so cross that she almost shouted. “Seriously, Bri, it’s so irritating to have a brother around all the time. Gah, if I actually do get the chance to dance with anyone, you’ll just glare at them. Mum, tell him.”

  Sometimes she felt like a three-year-old when Brios was in this I am your brother, I know best mood. Well, at least it wasn’t his I am your future Patriarch mood.

  Her mum laughed. “Deal with it, love,” she advised. “You can moan and groan as much as you like and it won’t make any difference. These Shalean men are, well…”

  “Pains in the you-know-where,” Leira finished for her. “Don’t I know it. Look Bri…” she appealed to her brother. “Can we do a deal? Don’t be there all night? Let me at least have an hour without you?”

  You don’t need him. I’ll be there for you, babe.

  Great, all I need—another Mr. I’ll-take-care-of-you—even when you don’t need it annoyance.

  Hopefully the Aussie—Troy—wouldn’t be as protective as Brios or Donny.

  Even more than that, babe, better believe it. Just you watch me.

  She was getting spooked here. Who was he, and why had he turned up now, after she’d renounced and told Donny where to go? It seemed an awfully big coincidence, and she’d been taught not to believe in coincidences.

  Brios still scowled, and her dad jumped in to save another row.

  “Bri will go for the first hour to check that everything is okay. I’m going to pick you up twenty minutes before it’s over—no arguments,” he added, as she went to do just that. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it. I know it’s supposed to be booze-free, but I also know sixteen and seventeen-year-old boys—so, twenty to eleven.”

  Actually, that makes sense. Especially as it means no Brios for a while…hold on…there might be a catch. “Er…and no Donny either I hope?”

  “I can’t answer for Donny,” her dad replied. “He’s his own man, and after all, love, what’s it to you? You don’t want anything to do with him, remember?”

  Of course, she remembered, but she knew that wouldn’t stop Donny if he wanted to be there.

  He didn’t show up. Leira didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed. Rach’s dad had picked her up and taken the two girls to the club where Ali and some of their other friends joined them patiently standing in an ever-lengthening queue.

  She noticed Ali looked at her strangely.

  “What’s up Ali? You look weird.”

  “Oh?” Ali shook her head. It made her dark curls bounce, and her long, silver rope earrings jangled making the tiny bells on them ring. “Nothing really. I just wondered if it’s true that you and Donny have split up, Lei?”

  Leira nodded “Yeah, why?”

  Ali smiled in a secretive manner. “Oh, I’d heard you had, and it didn’t seem right. I mean you’ve been together since ever.”

  Leira nodded. “That’s why. We need a break. Hey.” She burst out laughing as she heard what she’d said. She and Rach had been watching her mum’s old Friends DVDs the week before. “We’re on a break.” She looked at Rach, and they both giggled. Ali looked baffled.

  “You two are crazy. Anyway, about Donny, if he’s a free agent,” she said and winked. “I might just try my luck.”

  What? No way—Donny’s mine…hold on, what do I mean? I don’t want him, but Ali? I thought she’d got over fancying Donny ages ago? She never let on that she hasn’t—though, I guess she’s always been the quiet one.

  “Good luck then,” Leira said, her voice even and disinterested. Rach’s eyes widened. If only she could project and explain.

  What was I supposed to say, I don’t want him, but you can’t have him? Better to try and be mature. Anyway, she didn’t think Donny would go for Ali. Not really—well, she hoped not.

  Luckily, the queue started to move forward just as Brios joined them. Rach greeted him with a smile, Leira with a scowl, and Ali with a question.

  “No Donny?”

  Brios shook his head.

  “He’s busy.” He took hold of Rach’s hand. Leira groaned inwardly. Not much fun if Brios monopolized Rach. Ali was okay, but a bit intense, and she wasn’t as close to the other girls as she was to Rach. Then she saw Rach whisper in Brios’s ear and smile at him. He scowled, nodded, and turned to Leira.

  “Once you’re all inside, I promise not to sheepdog you. I’ll be there in case you need me. I’ll sit over by the bar, and I expect to see you at least once every half hour.”

  Sheesh, and that’s not a watchdog? What’s with the every half hour? I thought he was only going to be here for an hour? However, Leira nodded and smiled. There wasn’t much else she could do. “Deal.”

  They reached the front of the queue and Leira watched as the door opened to let them in. The guy who stood there made her rock on her heels. Someone behind nudged her, and she moved quickly forward.

  Troy? What the hell?

  “Hi, babe. Happy birthday…again.”

  “Er…hi…Um, this is my brother, Brios, and my friends.” Quickly she introduced them all as they walked to the cashier and paid their money.

  “Enjoy yourselves,” he said as his voice deepened. “I get a break soon. I’ll have a birthday dance with you. Laters, babe.”

  “Babe? Babe? What the hell is all this shit, Leira?” They had hardly gotten inside before Brios pounced. “Who’s he?”

  She thought quickly…

  “The new lifeguard at the pool. He used me to show lifesaving techniques today, and thanked me for helping him.”

  He overstepped.

  Put your nose out of joint, did he Struan? Good for him.

  The screech in her mind hurt her ears. The noise was so intense that she winced. Of course, Brios saw it.

  “What’s up? Are you making faces because I care?”

  “Of course not,” she replied impatiently. After all, she’d rather have his worry than his indifference. “I just got a pain in my head. It’s gone now—not worth bothering about.”

  You won’t be saying that later. I’ll show you, I’ll show you all. I am the force to reckon with.

  Leira waited until they’d all climbed the stairs and gone into the main room of the club before she turned to Brios. Rach—with that uncanny way of knowing what was needed—grabbed the others and headed to the bar to get drinks, leaving Leira with her brother.

  “Um, Bri…all this apart…can you tell Dad that snake-face can still get through to me. He can read some of my thoughts—luckily not all. He’s a pain. Why’s it happening?” Leira asked him, anxiously. “I thought nobody except Mum, Dad, you, and Rach could get through dad’s block? Well…and the creep who keeps asking me to join them.” Plus, it seemed Troy could as well, but she didn’t
think she’d mention him at the moment.

  Brios looked serious. “I asked Dad. It has something to do with twisted powers, Lei. Dad’s working on it. However something—or someone—totally malevolent is pushing Struan, and with it, he’s getting to you. More so, we think, because you’ve renounced. In all honesty, we don’t really know. That could be diluting what you get, so it might be helping that you’ve renounced. The join us voice seems to be all tied in with Struan, or the Rogues. Dad is trying to find out who and why. So that’s the reason we need you to take care.”

  I’ll take care of you. You didn’t tell him about me, babe, did you? I wonder why…

  Leira ignored Troy as best she could. He was one more problem on top of all the others.

  “Okay, sorry Bri. I’m a bit strung-up at the moment.”

  Maybe not the best expression to use, babe, not with a witch about.

  What is he on about? Leira wanted to scream. Just let me have a good evening, she thought. Just one night with my girlfriends, laughing and dancing. I’ll worry about everything else tomorrow.

  Okay, babe, you’re on.

  That sounded good.

  You wish. I will be haunting you, Leira—you’re mine now. Mine.

  That didn’t. “Get him out of my head,” she muttered. “Or I might be the first Shalean of modern day to be guilty of breaking our laws on purpose and asking for intervention from other entities to get rid of Struan. Do we know any witches to put a spell on him and turn him into a crack in the pavement I can jump on or something?”

  You do, babe…you do. She didn’t think she’d pass that snippet on to Brios. He’d have her out of the way before she could say bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble. Dare she say, for goodness sake, do it.

  A laugh was her reply. Plus…I’ll think about it.

  Ah, well, it was worth a try.

  Sure was but our creed is harm ye none.

  Damn it.

  Yeah. Laters babe.

  Brios laughed, and she jumped as she came out of her dreams—if that was what they were—and into her reality.