Which meant, Wendell was morally deficient as well as delusional.

"Later, hog boy!" Abby grabbed Evelina by the arm, yanking her through the crowd.

Evelina wasn't about to protest.

The thought of Wendell having a thing for her made her skin crawl.

But she'd never let him know that.

He enjoyed making people squirm.

A good reason to avoid him at all cost.

Chapter Seven.

Music and laughter danced along the ocean air.

Somehow Evelina got lost in the crush.

One minute Abby and Tally were ahead of her-the next, they were gone.

The crowd swallowed them up.

The pier was jam packed with golden bodies, reeking of coconut oil. Bursts of color in every shade met her eye, mango, orange, gra.s.s green, dazzling white. Bright laughter and shouts turned her head as she threaded her way along the pier under the strings of white lights.

She hopped in the air, searching for Abby and Tally. Abby was tall. That head of glossy black hair should be easy to spot.

But instead, Evelina found someone she didn't want.

She sucked in a sharp gasp.

Leviticus Wilkes.

Frankie's trainer.

This couldn't be good.

No doubt he was here with some dire warning-stay away from his prodigy or else.

She'd been down this road before. It was dank and dirty-a trail she'd rather not travel again-especially tonight. She was supposed to be having fun.

She made a sharp right.

The last thing she wanted was some pointless confrontation. Did he really think he could make Frankie Holler do something he didn't want to? She hadn't known Frankie long, but even she realized how bull-headed and stubborn he could be.

What made Wilkes believe she had any influence over what Frankie did or didn't do? Frankie was a law onto himself. Nothing would change that.

But then again, neither would running from Wilkes. He was a Time Keeper's trainer, for G.o.d's sake! What was the point?

Evelina did an about face.

Not such a great plan.

As it turned out, she collided with the foot of someone heading south.

She grabbed the post of an awning to keep upright, coming nose to nose with Psycho Sally.

Evelina's pulse raced.

c.r.a.p!

Sally interrupted her reading to clamp an icy hand around Evelina's arm to steady her.

Evelina came upright fast.

She gulped in air, attempting to catch her breath. "Sorry!" she squeaked out between rasps. "Are you alright?"

Sally cracked a slow smile, turning her eyes to pale slits. "No harm done." She sliced a glance at the chintz cup in her hand. "It's fortunate I'm reading the leaves and not the tea."

Her customer, a young man with curly black hair, held up both hands and grinned. "I'm good."

Evelina didn't wait to hear more.

She continued to squeeze her way through the crowd, up the pier, away from the riot of music and laughter.

She glanced over her shoulder when her feet hit the sand.

Leviticus Wilkes was nowhere in sight.

She turned back around.

And there he was, all tall dark and foreboding, black duster flapping in the wind, blue eyes turned to midnight.

d.a.m.n!

"Alright." She heaved a sigh of surrender. "What do you want?"

His dark gaze locked onto her with steady concentration for a long moment before he said in a deep baritone, "I'm here to deliver a message."

"Clearly." It was difficult to control her annoyance. "And what would that be?" As if she couldn't guess.

"Frankie's parents would like to meet you."

"What?"

Alright.

So she couldn't have guessed.

It took a moment to get her brain working again. "Why?"

"Why, indeed," Wilkes bit out. "I have expressly advised against it, but they believe they can reason with you. I have advised them you are an inexperienced novice, but they insist on giving you the benefit of the doubt."

Evelina's blood rose. "Well, that was rude." She pushed down her annoyance and did her best to remain calm. "But apparently you have no social skills, so I'll let it go." Hopefully she could trust him to pa.s.s on a message. "Tell Mr. and Mrs. Holler that there is no need for us to meet. There's nothing between Frankie and I. So they can stop worrying."

"They want what's best for their son," Wilkes said through tight lips. "They have high hopes for him, as do I."

"Does he know that you're here?"

"He won't be surprised, if that's what you mean." Wilkes flashed a tight smile. "He knows what's expected of him. Traditions are there for a reason-to protect the bloodline."

"Really? I'm curious as to how that all works. I mean with all this interference how do Time Keepers get happily married and reproduce? Where do all the little Time Keepers come from?"

"Time Keepers do not marry for love," he said in clipped tones. "They are matched-a domestic arrangement of sorts that does not interfere with their duties. Understand?"

She understood alright.

Frankie was engaged.

The news. .h.i.t her like a sledge hammer in the chest.

"Wow," was all she could manage to utter.

How cold was that?

A flicker of something akin to remorse altered Wilkes' features before they closed again. "His mate was chosen at birth. He is betrothed."

"Mate?" Her belly twisted. "Is that what you call her?"

"There is a contract in place." Wilkes bit out each word distinctly. "It cannot be broken."

Evelina blinked back at him, hardly hearing what he said.

"I'll deliver your message," Wilkes said.

Then...

Poof!

He was gone.

Evelina stared at the spot he'd been, trying to swallow what he said.

Frankie was engaged?

Why hadn't he told her?

The whole thing was a bit weird, but at least Frankie's parents cared about him-in a twisted, control freak sort of way. She couldn't fault them for that. Although, driving him into a lather wasn't exactly model parenting, either was forcing him down the aisle with a stranger.

Yet, she'd never heard him complain. Maybe it was his nature to run through life full tilt. Maybe he hadn't told her about the engagement because he hadn't agreed. If he had he would have certainly told her.

Wouldn't he?

Maybe it was just a big misunderstanding.

His parents were tenacious. She'd give them that. At least he had parents. Luckily, she still had Grammy Crimm-in a way. She couldn't touch her or hug her, but she still had their Cosmic Calls every month.

Evelina lifted her hand to touch the black pearl ring on the chain around her neck.

But there was nothing there.

Her heart stopped.

It was gone.

She searched her neck and throat in disbelief.

She retraced her steps, covering every inch of the ground.

Where could it be?

Her belly twisted.

She had to find it!

It was the only way she could talk to Grammy Crimm.

She went cold.

Her head began to swim.

It felt as though she was losing her all over again.

No! No! No!

This couldn't be!

She needed that ring!

The hollow echo of voices bounced along the night breeze. Vendors slid bolts and clicked locks, closing up shop in the Old City. The scent of roasted pecans and hot peppers followed Evelina down the brick-lined street.