Page 22 of Take My Crown

“What’s up?”

I look up to see Declan standing in the doorway, leaning against the door frame. My heart pounds in my chest every time I see him, even when I’m aware how dangerous he is. Declan doesn’t allude danger, but his name and title at this damn academy gives him away. Under his playboy charm and elusive attitude, lies a hunter who gets everything he wants.

Declan is a king at the academy for a reason…but my heart doesn’t listen one bit. It just sings him a damn song and makes me far too aware of him.

“Nothing.” I wasn’t going to admit I can’t remember my own song to him. He is a god at music and I doubt he forgot a single note to anything he wrote.

“Do you want to play it to me? Maybe I can help.”

Nope.

“Okay.”

He grins before he comes to sit opposite me and gestures for me to start playing. Our eyes meet as I strum the guitar, like two magnets dead set on finding each other. I have to admit to myself…I’m attracted to Declan Dauphin and I think he feels the same way. I tuck my blonde hair behind my ear, wondering exactly what he sees when he looks at me.

I close my eyes when I have to sing, his gaze way too intense for me to cope with and remember any of the words at the same time.

“Let it keep,

I’m strong, but I can’t stand,

The deceit, the games, your dishonest ways,

I’ll still love you.

‘Cos under the blanket of lies

I see you.

And you are always haunting me.”

Just like last time, although I know the chorus, I can’t remember the second verse, so I stop playing and open my eyes.

Declan stares at me intently, something I can’t figure out shining in his eyes. Understanding, perhaps?

“That’s all I’ve got.” I shrug awkwardly. I’m shocked silent when he moves closer, placing us inches away from each other.

“I’m a fucking monster and a liar. You should tell me to leave, Ivy,” he murmurs against my lips. Damn, I’m a traitor to myself because there is no way I want to push him away.

I don’t care. I lean closer and kiss him, gently at first and then with more urgency as he kisses me back like a man without a soul. Like I can somehow pour my soul into his, we battle against each other with each kiss, the connection I felt between us blasting to life and weaving this kiss into my mind forever.

We break apart, but Declan stays close, leaning his forehead against mine. He sinks his hands into my hair and closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath.

“I never do anything for me. It’s always for my family...except for this,” he whispers to me.

“Then own your own crown and do whatever you want, Declan,” I suggest. His eyes look pained as he stares back at me. I know it’s not that simple…this town isn’t simple and I’ve only cracked the surface with all the lies and evil that it owns.

“I’m so glad we teamed up for music,” he tells me, back to his playful self, the guy I briefly saw washed away like a sandcastle on the beach.

“Me too,” I smile. “You’re one of the few people in the Academy who’s actually nice to me.”

“The other girls are just jealous and the boys are mad they can’t get into your pants,” Declan replies with a cheeky grin. “I mean, look at you, Ivy. You’re smart, funny, talented and one day rich. And you will be head of House Archaic one day. Who wouldn’t want to be with you?”

Declan lets me go and I miss his touch right away, like someone just cut the air supply off and I can’t get it back.

“Can I borrow your guitar? Mine’s at home,” Declan asks me and I stare at my baby. Well, it’s Declan…I can share it. I try not to look nervous as I take the strap off and hand it to him. He looks amused.

To my surprise, Declan starts playing my song, the song he has heard justonce.It has a strange poignancy being sung by a man. I can really feel the heartbreak in every note.

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