Page 25 of Take My Crown

“No, I’ve got that covered,” I reply, and I really do. I’ve always loved watching makeup tutorials on Youtube, but I never had the money to buy the things to actually do them. “Is it okay to use the mirror in your bathroom?”

“Sure,” Milly says. “I’ll go get changed.”

Standing in front of her mirror, I had to acknowledge that Milly knew what she was doing. Much as I was a little uncomfortable exposing my navel, Ididhave a good body and the clothes she has lent me makes me look sexy without going too far.

I have a deep red lipstick with me and I keep the makeup around my eyes light to draw attention to my pouting lips. A little shiver of excitement runs through me as I imagine Declan kissing it off later if I can find him at the party. I mean nothing has happened since that one kiss, but I want tonight to change that. Finally, happy with my appearance, I walk out of the bathroom and stop dead in my tracks when I see Milly.

“Wow.”

“Do you like it?” Milly stands on her tiptoes and does a little twirl, showing off all angles of an outfit that left nothing to the imagination. I think she looks like Jessie J in herDo It Like a Dudevideo, all legs and attitude. She is wearing black lipstick with a metallic sheen and just like she says she can, she is sporting a mean smoky eye.

“You look…amazing.”

She really does. I have always thought of Milly as a wallflower, but seeing her like this brings out a whole new side of her. There is an air of confidence to her that is missing while she is at school. Maybe Archer is right, Milly is a Knight and one day she will snap at school and show them who’s boss.

“Thank you,” she smiles. “Do you see what I mean now? These parties are an opportunity for us to show off who wereallyare. Outside of school, I’m Milly Knight andnobodymesses with the Knights.”

There is a knock on the door.

“Yes?” Milly shouts.

Archer walks in, his eyes fixing on me. I blush under his scrutiny and I can’t help but notice how he looks sexy as hell, too in a tight blue shirt with a few buttons undone and dark jeans. He has to clear his throat and pull his eyes from me to his sister. “You two look amazing. I take it you’re ready to go?”

Milly and I look at each other and nod.

Archer turns around and walks out, but Milly catches my arm to stop me from following.

“If you like my brother, he definitely likes you. Just saying, there are worse men than him.”

Maybe Milly is right…but Archer has a lot to make up for before I’d ever trust him with my heart.

Chapter Twelve

Declan Dauphin

Looking at the guitar in the corner of my room, I can't fucking stop thinking about Ivy. It only serves to remind me of her. Of her sweet lips, how she smells like the fucking best thing in the world and she breathed more life into me in just one kiss than anyone has ever done.

And I'm lying to her.

Fuck, I've messed up.

"Hey handsome. Your servant guy let me in," Ally states, and I turn to see her drop her bag onto the wood floor of my bedroom.

"His name is Philip, not servant," I all but growl at her. Another thing I hate about my girlfriend, Ally, is how she doesn't see the people who work here as people. She treats them like toys and whereas the other houses might be shit to their people, we are not.

My parents look after their staff and brought me up to do the same.

"Whatever," she dramatically sighs, climbing over me on the bed.

I freeze as she presses her lips to mine, but only for a second before pushing her away from me and climbing off the bed. I run my hands through my hair as she stares up at me in shock.

And a lot of burning anger.

"It's fucking Ivy Archaic, isn't it?" she snaps, kneeling upon the bed. "You want to dump me for

her, don't you?"

"Come on, Ally. We are just fucking and you know it. You sleep with five other guys, that I know of, and we have never been serious. What the fuck did you expect to happen long term with us?" I question her. "I just want to end whatever this was."

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