Discovered (The Shalean Moon) Read Online Free PDF Page A

brother.”
    “Now you sound so American,” he retorted. “Or is that just teen-speak? Don’t forget I’m a poor old man who doesn’t understand these things.”
    “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Rach rolled her eyes and made a face. Instead of laughing like he usually would, or tweaking her nose or something, he grimaced.
    What’s wrong now?
    Her dad, who had always been open and honest, was holding something back. She’d bet her Lady Gaga download on it.
    “Dad, are you okay? You look weird.”
    He nodded, but Rach wasn’t convinced. A weird dad was so not okay with her. She knew something was grossly up, with a capital ‘U’.
    “Da-ad.” That usually guaranteed the answer she wanted, but not this time. Instead he kissed her nose and said absently, “Chicken, it’s all fine.”
    Chicken? Chicken, why on earth does he always call me chicken? It might be just a pet name, but I don’t like it!
    She wondered what he was worried about. She’d be sixteen in a few months. She bet he’d had friends of both sexes at her age.
    Probably indulged in, whoa—don’t go there Rach, too gross.
    She liked everyone she’d met today. Well, nearly everyone she amended silently; that Struan guy had seemed a bit off, but Leira and Brios had been great to talk to, and had waited until her dad turned up to get her. Brios had even introduced himself; shook hands with dad and told him who he was, where he lived and stuff; really mature and adult like.
    Her Dad had acted really strange though; quite short and not very friendly, not like him at all. When she asked him whether he liked Brios and Leira he’d just said he didn’t know them, and changed the subject.
    “What’s for tea?” she asked to take her mind off Brios and how good he looked; and how he made her go all tingly. She’d bet another download, or ten, that he was a great kisser. Not that she thought he’d want to show her. She might be nearly sixteen, well fifteen and a bit, but he must be nearly eighteen. He probably just thought of her as his sister’s friend.
    Pity! I’d love to see him in boardies. Gah Rach, stop thinking about Brios in boardies; so un-cool.
    “Shall I cook?” She wrinkled her nose hoping he would say no. He was a way better cook than her.
    “No need. I made fish pie and it just needs heating. There’s salad to go with it, and don’t screw your face up. I didn’t put radishes in it, I kept them separate.” She watched as he seemed to hesitate, and then he asked, “What do you know about that boy today?”

C HAPTER T HREE
    ‘That boy’ … Oh dear …
    She’d guessed that her dad wasn’t too sure about Brios; but, it wasn’t like him to jump into something just like that; usually he’d be more subtle.
    “Brios? He’s Leira’s brother, and he’s nice.”
    Her dad looked at her impatiently. “Rachael Marie Connor, that tells me precisely nothing.”
    What on earth is this all about?
    He only called her by her full name when he was really mad about something. She couldn’t think of anything she’d done, or forgotten to do, that warranted the whole name bit.
    “How do you mean?”
    Her dad repeated impatiently, “Define nice … Alan Kitchen was nice, and he killed his girlfriend with a rock. Rory Smith killed his girlfriend here in Scotland—people said he was nice. You know precisely nothing about him, and you wanted me to let him drive you home.” He shook his head. “I really thought I’d taught you better than that. How many times have I told you? You do not go off with people you don’t know—never, ever!”
    Wow, he’s seriously pissed.
    This was not like her usual calm and levelheaded dad.
    “Um, did you have a good day at work?” Rach said, trying to distract him.
    He stared at her and she felt goose bumps on her arms.
    Oh-oh, something’s not good.
    “Thank you, yes. Do not change the subject. This boy—this Brios Parde—how old is he?”
    “I don’t know seventeen, eighteen, I guess. He’s doing