Seven Black Diamonds (Seven Black Diamonds #1)(50)

Creed’s hand fell on her shoulder again, stopping her this time. “I could vow to live by these with you. As a sign of my . . . affection.”

The pain in her heart was only equaled by the exhilaration in her body.

“I can’t do this,” she said after several tense moments. “We agreed to be friends, Creed. You admitted that Zephyr wouldn’t approve of your interest in me. I don’t want to cause you two trouble, especially as you seem to have enough trouble already. Be my friend, Creed.”

“Don’t say you aren’t feeling the same things I am.”

Lily exhaled roughly. “I never said that. It doesn’t change anything though. All this talk of being fae, of a mission, it all sounds . . .”

“Crazy.” Creed’s arm snaked around her waist, holding her to him. “I think you’re breaking your own commandments, Lily. Be bold. Be assertive.” His words brushed against her skin, not because of his affinity but because he was standing that close. “You’re my deadly girl, and I’m yours whether you want me or not.”

Her one affinity that she’d not shared with him flared to life at his words, and she leaned back into his embrace and let him see that part of her too. Flickers of fire danced on her hands; sparks of blue and white flames slid across her flesh like prima ballerinas dancing across a stage. “I don’t want to be drawn into the war.”

Creed reached out like he’d touch the flames on her hands. “None of us do. We can’t avoid it though, and if I’m going to die, I’m not interested in wasting time that should be spent living. Being with you, talking to you, touching you, that’s living. If it comes with some risks . . .” He shrugged. “Feeling like I do around you is worth any risk.”

“I don’t want . . .” She tried to finish the lie and found herself unable to do so. She did want him to want her, did want to be his, even though it was a very bad idea.

Creed murmured against her ear, “I’m yours to command no matter whether you love me back or not.”

“People can’t love someone that fast,” she objected, even though it took a lot of effort to say it.

“Really?” Creed whispered, and she couldn’t tell whether it was his affinity or if he was now so close that his breath stroked her skin. “Maybe people can’t, but that’s not what we are. I may not like the lot we have in life because of our heritage, but I like this part of being fae. I like knowing that my heart has found its home. I wasn’t sure it would happen before I died.”

She couldn’t speak, couldn’t keep trying to lie. His words were playing havoc with her emotions. Lily knew she could trust him, felt it in her marrow, but that didn’t mean she liked it—or that she could return his feelings.

“We should go,” she said finally. “The others will think the wrong thing if we take too long.”

“Not the wrong thing, Lily. The inevitable thing.”

She chose to ignore him again, stepping out of his embrace and walking into the dark. This time, though, she kept the fire in her hand. He knew now, and she liked having the light to help guide her.

When they reached the other side of the passageway and stepped out into the garden, the others were all waiting there. Two cars idled. As Lily and Creed came into view, doors opened in both cars. Violet sat in one with two boys Lily presumed to be Will and Roan, and Zephyr and Alkamy were in the other.

“Lilywhite.” Violet beckoned as she stepped out of the car. She glanced at Creed and ordered, “You can ride with Kamy and Zephyr.”

“Oh joy,” Creed muttered. Still in a low voice, he added, “Better me than you, though, right? He needs to get it through his head that he has no claim on you.”

Lily didn’t acknowledge what Creed said, although she agreed with him. She walked out to the car where Violet was and slid in. Violet opened the front passenger door and climbed in there, leaving Lily in the back with Roan and Will.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Lily.”

The boy immediately beside her peered at her from behind black-rimmed glasses that she was sure he didn’t need, unless he was only barely fae. The sheer ugliness of his glasses did, however, help at drawing her attention away from his exquisite, delicate features. He had a soft mouth and the thickest eyelashes Lily had ever seen. He was dressed like he’d stepped out of an Ivy League university brochure, and his hair was cropped in a faux military style. His physique was anything but delicate; he looked like he exercised nonstop.

The other boy was the antithesis of the pretty conservative boy next to her. Floppy dark-brown hair fell into his face, partially hiding seal-dark eyes. His skin was also as dark as a seal’s. He was obviously the other water affinity fae-blood.

“Roan, right?” Lily looked to the boy seated closer to her. “That makes you Will.”

They nodded.

“I have water,” she told them, selecting her words carefully since she didn’t know the driver. “Not strong enough to swim though.”

“I thought you were earth,” Will said.

“I’m a mixed bag of tricks.”

“No wonder those two are acting worse than usual.” Roan draped an arm around Will possessively. “Luckily, we’re already spoken for.”

Lily smiled at the warning. “I don’t poach.” She met their eyes each in turn, looking from Roan to Will to Violet as she said, “And Zephyr is very obviously as much in love with Alkamy as she is with him, so he also . . .”