Discovered (The Shalean Moon) (17 page)

Rach looked confused. Brios thought maybe he wasn’t explaining the adult bit very well. “As we all mature at different ages some things are not feasible for us immediately. For instance, I may sense and feel the electricity of my future mate, but she must be sixteen summers before I pass this sense to her or approach her; and I must be eighteen because once I approach her and she agrees, we are as one even if we don’t formally become so.”

“So, is Donny a Shalean? And is Leira going to be his chosen one?”

How on earth did she figure that out? Her powers were very strong if she knew that.

“What makes you say that?” He asked her cautiously as he saw her dad lean forward with interest.

Rach shrugged. “I have no idea. I just know.” Her eyes widened. “What the—I know? Am I supposed to, or what? Aren’t I too young for all this sort of stuff? Anyway,” she added hastily, “I don’t need any special powers or anything to tell you she’s mighty pissed with Donny at the moment. She thinks he’s betrayed you.”

“Do
you
think that?”

She looked solemn, and then shook her head.

“No, he kept me sane in that horrible room. I think he’s doing something for you, and Lei doesn’t know; at least that’s what he told me in his projection to me.”

“Only the most powerful of our Sept have that ability to sense that,” he told her. “But, usually not at such a young age. You’ve inherited a great deal from your mother; and we must give thanks to your dad for allowing you to be shown this. With your dad’s permission we will all help you, but you’ll need to treat your gifts wisely, for they are not given lightly. It seems you’ll be well gifted Rach and this is something only those of us with a close link to Shalea are graced with.”

Brios didn’t know if she would she be receptive to shifting.

There is only one way to find out.

He wondered what her dad would say.

“You can learn to shift now, if your dad agrees.” He looked at the older man, who slowly nodded.

“It is part of who she is; and I can’t help her; but, I’m worried because I know it can be uncomfortable at first. I guess there’s no one better to show her than you, so go ahead.”

Brios stood and took her hand. That electrical zap hit him hard. Her eyes opened wide, and he knew she felt it as well.

‘Flipping Nora, Brios, is that what I think it is—the partner zap?’

‘Yes, but we do nothing about it. We’re both too young. It’s unusual for it to be felt before the age we should know of it. It’s strong—very strong.’
He heard her sigh.

‘Can we be friends though?’

‘I hope so; I would be blessed to have a friend like you’.

‘Friends it is then, yippee!’

He laughed, and then sobered quickly. He didn’t think he should mention the fact that he wanted to be more than just friends. He pulled her to him for a quick hug letting their bodies touch so she could feel what it was like to be held close by him. She sighed, in a happy way. Did she know how holding her like that made him feel? He was sure she didn’t realize how it affected him! All at once the responsibility of what he was going to do hit him hard. Really, it was his first task as a future patriarch, and leader of the Sept; both a responsibility, and a privilege.

“Remember, once we’ve shifted you and I will be able to communicate with our senses. If at any time you’re not happy I’ll know and I’ll sort it out, okay?”

She nodded. Her eyes were bright. No worry showed in them, only happy anticipation.

As he changed he projected to Rach, and watched as she slowly began to shiver and shift. It came to her with such ease and grace it was as she had been shifting for ages. He admired her poise as she slowly stood before him—all leopard; feline, feminine and assured; and, he noticed as he hastily closed his mind to her, already identical spots to him!

‘Are you okay?’

‘Wow! Oh weird, and wow! This is so amazing! I want to run—when can we run? Are there many of us? More than I met today? I’m one now aren’t I? I’m a Shalean, even if dad isn’t. Oh shoot, it won’t affect dad and me will it? I don’t want that.’

He led her into the woods where the paths were wide and clear. He noticed this would be a perfect area for their first run. She matched his stride eagerly as they walked.

‘So many questions. Slow down, and slow your
stride. We need to turn and go up the garden now. So, soon we will run; yes, you are Shalean now; and no it won’t affect your relationship with your dad.’

He heard her relieved feline chuckle, and answered with one of his own. Then he led the way back to her dad and into the house.

‘It’s time to change back. Do you want Melinde?’

‘Nope, I only want you. Shoot that came out wrong.’

His chuckle was a deep-throated purr. He could only hope that one day she would mean that.

‘Um, what is Melinde to my dad?’

‘You’ll have to ask him.’

‘Ah and why is Andy scared to say he’s gay?’

‘You see altogether too
much for one so young. He’ll do it, but he has to decide how and when for himself. I foresee lots of fun for him as he chooses a mate. Andy is very strong willed.’

Rach laughed at that.

‘My dad has an expression, the pot …’

‘Yeah, yeah, calling the kettle black. Well so does mine. It takes one …’

‘… to know one. Okay, so what now?’

‘Watch and concentrate. You’ll hurt, but tears are nothing to be ashamed of. They’re cleansing. Open up to me; watch and feel.’

‘Okay, well talk normal then. Sheesh Bri, you sound like one of those old newsreaders, oh so proper. This is me you’re talking to, not the nation.’

C
HAPTER
S
IXTEEN

Changing in front of someone wasn’t customary unless with a tutor, as it was then.

As he felt his body move he projected to Rach, and saw her do the same. Before she entered her shimmer zone and he couldn’t see her, Brios could tell how much effort it took her not to cry; either leopard tears or human ones. He knew how sore she would be and wished he could do something to help, but he knew he couldn’t; except for suggesting a relaxing bath with loads of bath salts in it. Changing was personal; to be experienced and understood alone. As her tutor he could advise her, but he couldn’t take any of her pain away; no one could. He bit his lip and waited with sympathy until the shimmer zone disappeared, he could see her again, and they were both standing in the kitchen in their clothes.

Rach’s face was white, and her cheeks were covered in tears. Without thinking he gave her a hug, just like he had given Leira when she’d first shifted. Only, he felt this hug conveyed more than a brotherly
well done
, and judging by the way Rach’s eyes widened, so did she.

“I know it hurts now, but I promise it gets easier, “ he reassured her. “But, hey Rach, you’re a natural. Well, of course you are, but you know what I mean.”

She sniffed and grinned at him through her tears.

“Thank goodness. I’d hate to think I went through all that ’cause I was rubbish. Darn it, I need a tissue; hold on.” She rummaged in her pocket and dabbed at her nose with the tissue that she found. “That’s better. Wow, shifting was awesome! When can we do it again?”

Is his Rach feisty or what? He liked the sound of that—
his
Rach.

He hoped he hadn’t projected that to her. That was something he needed to consider, and she needed time to come to terms with. Even though they had mentioned it earlier, he didn’t think she’d really understood just what their empathy meant. He’d have to think carefully before he tried to explain things further; however, not right now; there was too much else going on, like the forthcoming Shalean Moon. He decided just to answer her question.

“We will shift again soon, but it’s really up to your dad. Let’s go and let him know you’re okay.”

“Hold on, let me wash my face.” Rach wasn’t going to let her dad see her like this. Even though he sort of knew what she’d be like, a girl had to have some pride. Strangely, she hadn’t been worried about Brios seeing her; it was weird, but that felt okay. She didn’t know why it did, and she wasn’t going to think about it now. The only thing she knew for sure was that a girl—human or leopard—had to have some pride. Now, before anything else, she needed to go and let her dad know she was all right. She splashed cold water over her face and then dried it.

“Right, let’s go.”

Her dad and Melinde were sitting in the garden; a glass of wine in each of their hands, an opened bottle in a cooler on the table between them, and a big jug of her dad’s special homemade lemonade in an icy bowl next to it. Her dad looked worried.

She gave him a hug, and smiled shyly at Melinde. It was weird knowing that the woman knew what she had just experienced. Melinde stood up and hugged her close.

“Welcome to Shalea, Rachael.”

“Are you all right love?” Her dad returned the hug and held her tightly before moving back slightly to stare at her. She saw the strain on his face, and hoped she could reassure him about just how
all right
she was.

Nodding wasn’t enough; she gave a great big sigh of happiness. “Dad it was awesome,
totally
awesome! I wish you could do it.”

“So did your mum; But, I can’t so you’ll have to do it for us both.”

He was he looking at Brios like he expected him to say something.

“Dad, what’s up?”

He shook his head. “Nothing, why?”

He was running his hand over his head again, and Rach felt that there was something definitely not right here.

“’Cos I know you, something is. Tell me, or I’ll tickle you.” Her dad was really ticklish, and even just the threat was usually enough to make him squirm.

“I think Brios wants to ask me something, and won’t.”

She stared at him. “Hello, are you a seer as well?”

“No, but I’m right aren’t I?” He was challenging Brios, who looked sort of respectful.

“Yes, Sir, may I ask your permission?”

“Dad, what’s going on? Ask your permission for what? Tell me, please. You’re both worrying me here.”

She’d never seen such a proud, but sort of hurt look on her dad’s face before. He was looking straight at Brios.

“Ask away.”

Brios took hold of her hand.

Whoa, he isn’t going to ask anything sort of gross is he?

She felt him reassure her.

Okay, then what?

“Mr. Connor, may I have your permission to take Rach to run with the Sept on Shalean?”

What the heck is that about … formal or what?

Dad took her hand and gave it to Brios. “Yes, you may.”

“Then I, on behalf of my Sept, welcome Rach—with love from our God’s and us.” He looked at her dad. “As her father, you are still with us.”

“What do you mean ‘still’; and what is this ‘run on Shalean’ business?” She was lost here. Brios squeezed her hand.

“Even though your dad took one of us out of the Sept we never forgot her, and as her mate we respect him. As your father we respect, trust and protect him.” Well, most of them did. “So, in answer, Shalean is our moon, and the night when all good deeds are done. It is the night when we run together rejoicing in our heritage, and unleashing our leopards. Your dad has allowed you to run. Running before you’re sixteen is unusual, but it’s acceptable for some. I think—no, I know—you’re one of those; so is Leira. Tomorrow is Shalean, and your dad has said you can join us to run and be presented to the rest of the Sept; to learn to stretch and fulfill that part of you that is not human, and to understand more of your mum’s heritage—if you so desire.”

Rach felt like she could burst with happiness. She’d always known there was something missing in her life, and she was betting this was it; and to learn more about her mum? That was something she’d always wanted. Her dad had told her all he could—well all he would—but she always knew there was more. If her mum didn’t project any more, maybe one day she might even speak to Gregor Grier about her—maybe. She certainly wasn’t going to go out of her way to speak to Struan Scott though.

The ground shook.

‘Bog off.’

“Struan,” both she and Brios spoke together.

“So, do you so decide to learn and uphold Shalea?”

“Do I ever, this is so cool!”
Oops, not cool Rach
. “I mean I am honored. Is there anything else?”

‘Not yet, we’re young.’

‘But I know.’

Even though she had been so sure she wasn’t going to think about the ‘anything else’ it was there in her mind.

‘Of course it’s in your mind. It’s also in mine. It’s our future.’