Seven Black Diamonds (Seven Black Diamonds #1)(68)

Softly, Eilidh told him, “Perhaps you ought to visit Zephyr’s mother and see how she handles his moods.”

Rhys nodded and stared in the direction that Zephyr had gone. “He’s an attractive specimen, my son. With worthy fae strengths. I could see if the woman wants to mate again. She seems to be a good breeder.”

Lily opened her mouth to point out that saying such things might get him a slap in the face, but Eilidh shook her head slightly, so Lily let it go. People’s tastes were weird. Fae attitudes toward relationships were weirder still.

After a quick good-bye, and a stiff embrace from her newly found relatives, Lily and Creed headed to the dorms.

When it was just the two of them, Lily said, “This doesn’t change a thing, you know. I’m no more willing to serve Endellion than before.”

“I’ve never wanted that.”

“And I don’t want any part of politics or—”

Creed grabbed her hand again. “All I wanted tonight was for you to know. I don’t want you to belong to Zephyr or Erik or . . .” He shook his head. “It’s been a long time since I had a reason to do anything other than waste time or try to forget about the war. You give me a reason.”

Lily shivered. “I don’t want to be anyone’s reason, Creed.”

“Too late.” His smile was sad. “I pledged myself. The queen’s children know where my loyalty belongs. Even if you don’t want me, I’ve already thrown my lot with you. I live or die to serve you and protect you now. No one else. Only you.”

He started to drop to his knees, and Lily hurriedly grabbed him with both hands. She clutched his side with one hand and his opposite arm with the other. Her body jolted at the touch, and Creed’s eyes flickered closed for a moment. Whatever the connection they’d had before, it was more so now. His pledge had enhanced it.

Lily’s need to protect Creed vied with the power of their bond. “You could withdraw it. I’d . . . let you. That’s what I’d need to do, right? I release you from—”

Creed silenced her words with a kiss. It was a kiss that told her she was special, that promised things she couldn’t accept, that whispered words she didn’t dare think. Her mind went silent, and her heart ceased being her own.

When she pulled away, he was staring at her with awe plain in his eyes. “There will be no other for me, Lilywhite Abernathy. I felt it when I met you, and I know it as truth when I’m near you.” He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “I cannot be released from this vow. I will not.”

Lily felt tears streak down her cheeks. “How am I to resist Endellion now that I’m responsible for your life too?”

“The same way as you would’ve before this moment.” Creed kissed her tear-wet cheeks. “I’d already decided to give up. I’ve been racing toward the abyss for years. I won’t be a weapon used against the world that raised me. I see humanity’s flaws, but I see the goodness too. In both the fae and humanity. The two can coexist and create something better than violence in this world. Meeting you”—he kissed her softly again when her lips opened to protest his words—“proves I was right. I’m still ready to die if necessary. Now, though, it would be for someone I believe in instead of simply to escape this fate.”

She stared at him, not ready for what he was offering her, not sure if she ever would be ready for offers of love and devotion, but wanting to accept it all the same. “Tell me you’ll stop drinking.”

“Tell me you aren’t going to say yes to Zephyr, and I will.”

“On my vow, Creed Morrison. I will not accept Zephyr’s misplaced attempt to court me.”

The smile that came over him was enough to make her stretch up toward his lips again. Kissing Creed was both the stuff of fairy tales and the torrid romances that Shayla read. The stars could fall from the skies around her, and she wasn’t sure she’d even notice.

A chime and a buzz finally drew her back to reality. Creed kept one arm securely around her, and she leaned into that steadying embrace.

“Messages. Both of us,” he said, fumbling with his phone.

The only way they’d both receive the same message at the same time was if it was being sent from one of the Sleepers. No one else had contacts for both of them. Dread filled her.

Creed held his phone up so she could read it too.

Zeph crushed. Need answers. Come. NOW.

A flush of guilt came over her. She’d forgotten about Zephyr’s upset for a moment.

“Do you want me to go?”

Lily shook her head. “Both of us.”

Creed nodded, and in as short a time as possible, they were on the streets of Belfoure.

They walked several blocks in relative silence, and then a flash of a camera made her jump.

Creed released her hand and turned to go after the photographer.

“Leave it,” she said, taking his hand in hers again. “Priorities.”

“Nick Abernathy seeing me with you—and off campus too—seems like a priority.”

“I’ll handle Daidí. He’s the one who brought you to meet me in the first place.” Her picture was about to be in a magazine or up on an online site. Daidí would be livid, but it was too late to undo it, so she tugged Creed with her, and they went to the Row House.