Seven Black Diamonds (Seven Black Diamonds #1)(38)

When he was done, the queen said, “And Lilywhite? You say nothing of her.”

“We’ve only just met,” he hedged. “I came to you as soon as she arrived, as I was instructed to do by Clara.”

The Unseelie Queen stepped close enough that she could tuck one of her bare feet under his knee. It was an odd gesture, and he wasn’t sure if she meant to injure him or merely get closer.

“I dislike secrets,” she told him quietly. “Stand.”

He obeyed.

She cupped his face in her hands. Despite the chill in her eyes, her skin was hot enough that he wanted to cry out in pain. He didn’t. The necklace of blood rubies dangled from her hand. It was pressed into his cheek and draped along his throat. He suspected it was burning marks on his flesh.

“Tell me,” she said.

“She knows nothing of us,” he admitted. “She didn’t join us before now because she didn’t know . . . anything.”

The queen said nothing for almost a full minute. They stood with her hands on his face and the blood-wrought necklace searing his skin. He ground his teeth together to keep from asking for mercy.

“It is as I feared then.” The queen released him and turned her back. The ruby necklace clattered to the stone between them. “You will bring her here before the next cycle of the moon.”

And then she left without waiting for his reply.

“Yes, my queen,” he whispered into the once-more empty air.

He wasn’t sure whether to leave the necklace or take it. He had no use for it, but the queen had seemingly refused it. Silently, he scooped it up. They might look like rubies, but those stones were his blood. He wasn’t entirely sure what they could be used for, but he was very certain that he shouldn’t let his blood fall into just anyone’s possession.

Zephyr turned away. He had his first direct order from the queen, and it wasn’t a simple task like setting a bomb. Kidnapping the daughter of a criminal who had no desire to spill her secrets seemed unwise—but disobeying the Queen of Blood and Rage seemed even more foolhardy.

Somehow, he would have to gain Lilywhite’s trust. He clutched the blood necklace in his hand and whispered a silent prayer to whatever deity listens to faeries. Then he headed back to the toadstool gate.





seventeen


LILY

Lily didn’t expect the first night at St. Columba’s to be so difficult. Alkamy showed her around and talked about a few of her friends.

“You’ve heard of Creed and Zephyr, I’m sure. You’d have to live under a rock to avoid their names.” Alkamy paused. “Vi is in film, so you’ve seen her on the screen or in pictures with the boys or with me.”

“I have,” Lily agreed.

“Vi isn’t back yet, but she’s been the only other girl really until you got here.” Alkamy shrugged as if her lack of female friends didn’t bother her. “She’s more of a friend than a sister. The boys, on the other hand, are like brothers . . . or maybe annoying cousins.”

“Really? Even Zephyr?”

“That’s the past,” Alkamy said with a stiff expression. “So, if you were interested—”

“I like Creed’s music,” Lily interjected, cutting off that topic before it could get any weirder.

“You’d never know that Zephyr has any skills other than looking pretty, but he does.” Alkamy stared at Lily with a singular focus that was reminiscent of both of the boys. “Don’t underestimate him.”

“So you aren’t over him . . .”

“We’re not meant to be,” Alkamy said.

Lily heard the omissions in her words as clearly as the words themselves. Alkamy loved Zephyr. Why they weren’t “meant to be” was beyond her. She lapsed into silence for several moments before prompting, “So, you, Violet, Creed, and Zephyr, is that everyone?”

“There’s Will and Roan too.” Alkamy paused then and gestured at a closed door. “This is the dining hall. It’s surprisingly good. Organic produce, grass-fed hormone-free beef, healthy stuff, you know? Plus, they meet every dietary restriction. Non-dairy? Non-meat? All meat? No carbs? Low-carbs? Raw food? Whatever it is, they can supply it.”

Lily nodded. Her father had already told her all of this in one of his Columba’s-is-good chats.

“So Will’s mom is some politician. Roan’s family is in pharmaceuticals”—Alkamy shot an uncomfortable look at Lily—“like legal ones.”

Lily couldn’t help it. She snickered.

Alkamy sputtered, “Look. I didn’t want to be rude, and . . . Oh, stop it, Lily.”

Lily had barely stopped when their eyes met, and then they both started giggling.

“I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me,” Alkamy said when their laughter abated. “I really can be tactful. Usually.”

Lily waved her apology away. “My father has been in the public eye since well before I was born. I know what people say, and I know what he does. His associates are around like an extended family the way some people have uncles or cousins.”

Alkamy looked very serious for a moment. “So until you got here today . . . did you know any normal people?”

“You mean rock divas like you?” Lily teased. “Or boys like Zephyr and Creed who have been on every gossip show? Or future CEOs like Roan? Or politicians’ kids like Will?”