Page 14 of Take My Crown

“Wow, Ivy,” says Milly, as I sit next to Archer in a bid to maintain the charade there is something going on between us. “I didn’t realise you are dating my brother. You kept that quiet, Archer. How did you two meet?”

“We’re not-”

“It’s a long story-”

Archer and I start to speak at the same time before he gestures to me to go ahead.

“We’re not dating,” I tell Milly. Her face falls.

“Really? But you two would make such a cute couple. And Archer deserves someone like you after the way Ally treated him. Oh, and Taylor. Really, I should make a list of girls-”

She jolts as no doubt Archer kicks her under the table.

“Ahhh.” I nod slowly. “Sothat’swhy you kissed me. You wanted to get back at your ex.”

Archer shrugs expansively. “Can you blame a guy, especially now I’ve got the honour of being the first one to taste you? I figured you’d enjoy seeing Ally and Taylor being put in their place. You’re swimming with sharks at the Academy. It’s eat or be eaten here and I aim to be a top predator. Tell me you don’t love seeing how pissed off they look.”

“Itisfun,” I grin.

“Something tells me you and I are going to have a lot more fun together.” Archer looks at me as if he is hungry for more than the food being served up. A desire bounces between us as we stare at each other. I will admit it might be fun and dangerous to start something with Archer.

But right now?I need to focus on surviving King Academy and not letting my hormones take Archer for a ride.

“See?” Milly claps her hands, breaking the mood. “Isaidyou’d make a cute couple! So howdidyou two meet? You didn’t actually say.”

“No, I didn’t.” I take a sip of my lemonade, side eying Archer. “Why don’t you tell your sister the story? I think you’d tell it better than me.”

“If you’re sure…”

“Of course,” I smile. “I think Milly should hear it from you.”

“Okay, well, I was out on my bike when I saw Ivy. I didn’t know who she was at the time, but there was something about her, so I pulled over to talk to her and things moved quickly from there. I suppose you can say I swept her off her feet.”

“That’s certainly one way of describing it,” I agreed, impressed by Archer’s audacity. The way he tells it is almost exactly what had really happened but spun to make him look like a charismatic charmer instead of the kidnapping sleaze he really is.

“That’s so romantic,” Milly sighed, tilting her head to one side. “I wish someone would sweep me off my feet.”

“They will one day, little sister. You wait–once you get out of this place, you’ll have men falling over themselves to date you.”

“You really think so?” The sad hope in Milly’s eyes almost breaks my heart.

“Absolutely. Don’t you agree, Ivy?”

“Sure,” I nod. “I mean, look at you, Milly. You’ve got those gorgeous big blue eyes and a figure most girls would kill for. Once you’re out of that crappy uniform and in something more flattering, I reckon you'll have boys throwing themselves at you. I will help you however I can.”

Glancing at her brother I think, boy problems are something I know a little about.

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course. That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”

And just like that, Milly became my first true friend at King Academy.

Chapter Six

Ivy Archaic

Somehow, I survive my first day of school. When the final bell rings to signal our release from confinement, hundreds of pupils stream out of classrooms and out to the front of the building where drivers are waiting to ferry all the rich kids home to their mansions.

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