Evelina and the Reef Hag (19 page)
It was up to
Oceana
.
The Swamp Hogs’ chariot flew up to the lifeguard tower just ahead of
Oceana
.
“Damn!” Abby roared. “That means they’ll get another card.”
Tally covered her face and groaned.
“Cards please, gentlemen,” Sydney
McCrystal
spoke into the megaphone. The Swamp Hogs have four Aces.”
A cheer rose from the beach.
The Swamp Hags whistled and jeered.
“
Oceana
has… a royal flush!”
The crowd burst into cheers.
“And the winner is,” Sydney
McCrystal
boomed into the megaphone, “
Oceana
!!!”
“
Wooo
hooo
!”
All three girls jumped up and down.
Then embraced.
Then jumped up and down again.
They’d won!
Frankie and Cliff’s tribe had won!
Evelina’s ears rang from all of the screaming.
The rest of her felt numb with joy.
At least, until she spotted Frankie on the shore with
Eydis
Turtlemoon
.
Chapter Fifteen
New Year’s Eve and the surf shack was jam packed. Tanned bodies dripped over every deck and balcony. The scent of lime and coconut swirled everywhere.
Evelina wove her way through the crowd, breathing in the salt air. Now that the drama was over and Udora had gotten her off on a technicality for interfering at the Flurry, she just wanted to relax and have a good time.
“Hey, Crimm!” Evelina looked up to find Abby waving from the balcony above. “Up here! Come on!”
Evelina headed for the stairs on the right, then spotted
Eydis
Turtlemoon
talking and laughing to someone by the steps.
Clearly not the road to fun.
She veered left.
And ran smack into Frankie.
“Whoa!” He grabbed both of her arms to steady her, sending a shiver rattling through her limbs. “Still on the run?”
“Nope.” Her body went hot. “The Council cleared me? Udora somehow convinced them that they were at fault for not having enough security. And since I didn’t use magic they decided to let it slide.”
“I heard.” He flashed a bright smile. “Congratulations.”
“She said it wouldn’t affect you.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “I hope it didn’t.”
“It didn’t. The councilors stepped up and took responsibility. Even Acheron admitted they should have assigned extra security.”
“Good.”
“Yup.”
The noise seemed to increase around them, encasing them in a big throbbing cocoon.
The crowd closed in.
She made to leave.
“You found your necklace.”
She turned back. “Yes.” Her hand went to the silver sand dollar on the chain. “You didn’t send it?”
“No.” He lifted it with his hand, examining both sides. “Nice gift, though. A silver sand dollar is good luck. It also comes in handy if you ever meet a
Morwitch
.”
“Oh.” Who could have sent her that? First the Wave Wire and now this. The Wave Wire led them to
Lefever’s
ship, who apparently hung out with
Morwitches
. Were they somehow connected? “Well, let’s hope I don’t ever need it.”
“I have something for you, though.” The intensity of Frankie’s golden gaze made her tingle. “I wanted to wait and give it to you in person.”
“I don’t think
Edyis
would like that.”
“She won’t care.”
Evelina swallowed hard. “I will,” she croaked, her throat closing so tight she could barely speak. “
Edyis
is a sweet person. I don’t want to hurt her.” But most of all she didn’t want to hurt him. She wanted him to succeed. And the only way that could happen was if she let him go. “You need her to be a good Time Keeper. It’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
His gold eyes darkened to amber. “It doesn’t have to be.”
“What about your family?” She didn’t want him to be alienated from them. She knew what that was like. She didn’t want Frankie to ever feel that. “You shouldn’t disappoint them.”
“I won’t.”
Her heart constricted. “I saw you with
Edyis
at the Apothecary.” It was all she could do to say it. “I really think it could work for you two.” She turned to go.
“It’s not like that.” Frankie grabbed her by the arm to draw her back. “She just wanted to tell me something.”
Somehow that didn’t make Evelina feel any better. She assumed a bored expression. “Oh?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “She wanted to tell me she’s releasing me from the betrothal.”
Her breath hitched in her throat. Her pulse beat fast. “What?” That was the last thing she expected him to say. “Why?”
“She says she’d never be happy with me.”
Joy bubbled up from her toes. “Oh?” Was she crazy? Who couldn’t be happy with Frankie? “Why?”
“Because I told her I care about someone else.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “I do.”
A smile spread across her face. He’d just said the two words she’d never thought to hear.
Frankie’s voice turned husky. “This is for you.”
Evelina opened the envelope. Inside the card read,
One free flying lesson
. Her blood bubbled. “Wow!” She stared down at the card in disbelief, then back up at him. “Really?”
“Really.” He grinned. “At the Flurry.”
The Flurry? Her bubble of excitement deflated. That was a whole six months away! “Why not right now?”
“You’re not ready.”
“How do you know?”
“Trust me. I know.”
He was probably right. No sense rushing it. Flying wasn’t anything to fool around with. When she finally blasted up into the sky she wanted to know what she was doing. The chance to learn with Frankie was worth the wait.
Evelina couldn’t stop smiling as Frankie took her by the hand to lead her toward the balcony stairs.
“Did you really say that—to
Eydis
?” She said when they reached the bottom of the stairs, curiosity eating her up. “Or, did you make that up.”
“What?”
“That you care about someone else?”
“Is it that important?”
“Yes.”
“I did.” His lips found hers in a long, lingering kiss, sending little sparks rushing through her, making her forget the question.
Maybe flying wasn’t the most exciting thing about being a witch.
THE END
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