Seven Black Diamonds Read Online Free Page A

seventh polite exchange, Lily was already feeling the strain of politic answers that bordered a bit too closely on lies.
    When Creed switched to a calmer song, “Belladonna Dreams,” she felt her skin tighten and knew he waswatching her. There was something about Creed Morrison; he was temptation incarnate. She glanced his way, and in that moment, she couldn’t see anyone but him. The world vanished.
    Then Shayla’s voice interrupted her longing: “Lorenz Calvacante. His son, Vincenzo, and his daughters, Maria and Angela.”
    And Lily returned to her dutiful acceptance of gifts and birthday greetings.
    Vincenzo bowed his head. “When the presentation is done, I would be honored to lead you in a dance.”
    She nodded. All of their generation had been forced by their families to learn the very formal dances of the past. The waltz (Viennese and English), the tango, the foxtrot . . . Someone had unearthed a series of old television shows from just after the turn of the century, and a weird craze for formal dancing had begun. Most of them were horrible at it; only Erik took to dance gracefully.
    The Calvacantes left, and Lily’s gaze drifted back to Creed yet again as she tried to decide whether or not it was better that they couldn’t speak privately.
    “In the desert, I bartered my soul,” he sang as she glanced his way. “In the darkness . . . please keep me from surrendering to these belladonna dreams.”
    It was a song he’d written far before tonight, one that rode charts on every continent, but as he sang, he stared only at her, and Lily couldn’t help the foolish feeling that his words were just for her. It was impossible, but in that instant,she believed he was begging her to save him.
    This was part of why the fae-blood were imprisoned. History taught that the fae were manipulative and cruel. Reality proved that they could manipulate people with their affinities and their innate beauty.
    Although Creed Morrison wasn’t using his gifts to hurt people, he obviously could twist emotions with his voice—or maybe Lily was more susceptible to him. Either way, she felt the magic of a fae affinity in his voice, and it made her struggle not to respond. The question was whether that response was to go to him or to lash out at him with her own affinities. Neither would be wise.
    By the time Lily had finished the gifts, Erik was waiting. Gently, he pulled her out of her chair. No one was on the dance floor yet. Her feet made next to no sound as she followed him.
    “Tango?” he asked.
    The music Creed was playing was all wrong, but they could make it work.
    “Don’t expose my thigh,” she warned.
    “I thought this was a weapon-free event.”
    Lily rolled her eyes. “Am I to believe that neither you nor your father are armed?”
    “I only have what I was permitted by my host,” Erik said, reminding her in his usual way that he was in a separate class from the rest of the guests. Daidí trusted no one as much as he trusted the Gaviria family, and the idea of any of them being unarmed was as likely as Lily leaving her roomwithout a blade of some sort.
    When Erik stepped back, he stared at her, and a prickle of nervousness slid over her, but then he nodded. They both took several steps toward the other. Erik lifted his left hand and simultaneously curled his right arm around her body. His hand rested on her back with a familiarity that the dance allowed.
    She took his hand and wrapped her free arm around him as well.
    “The rock star can’t take his eyes off of you,” Erik said as he pulled her closer to him.
    She rolled her eyes. “Daidí hired him.”
    Erik walked her backward, hip to hip. “I know you, Lily. You’re looking back at him.”
    Lily followed Erik’s lead, the hardest part of the Argentine tango for her. Being passive, even in a dance, didn’t come easily. Her skirt brushed against him, and she felt the material swish as they moved, reminding her how close they were.
    “He’s not one of