Page 41 of Take My Crown

“You alright back there?” Archer calls over his shoulder.

“Oh, yeah.” He can’t see my grin, but I can’t keep the happiness out of my voice. This is just what I needed after being little more than a prisoner for the past few weeks.

“I’ll go the scenic route then.”

I don’t think it’s possible for my smile to get any broader, but I can’t help it as Archer takes us down winding country lanes, away from the town, to show me more of the area. King Town itself seemed quite small from a few miles away. Nobody seeing it from this distance would think there are four feuding families living in uneasy peace together.

All too soon, Archer turns the bike back towards the town and out to a section I hadn’t visited before. However, instead of taking us to the local shopping centre where the cinema is, he drives us to a pair of electronic gates with a sign next to them which reads ‘House Knight.’

“What are we doing here?” I ask, as he reaches forward and taps in a code on a keypad to open the gates. “I thought we were going to see a movie?”

“We are,” Archer says as he drives through the gates and up a long driveway which ends in the middle of a sprawling complex of buildings.

Parking the bike in front of one of the houses, we climb off and take our helmets off.

“Welcome to my home,” says Archer, stretching his arms out to indicate the whole complex.

“It’s… nice.” And it is. Unlike the other House leaders’ homes which are large, impressive demonstrations of wealth, this is more like a mini village within the town. The houses are pretty redbrick dwellings laid out in such a way that each has a private little garden area with no other building overlooking them.

“My parents live in the main house which is further up the drive, which you’ve seen and visited through the other gate.” Archer points vaguely in the direction he means. “They had this little complex built for the staff a few years back. There’s a gym and a pool and even stables for the horses. I prefer to live here with the staff than up at the house like Milly does.”

He takes out a set of keys and unlocks the door. Beckoning me to follow, he leads me into a very chic, modern home. The door opens straight into the lounge, which is minimally decorated. It looks more like something out of an interior design magazine than someone’s home.

“Do you want a drink?” he offers. “Seeing as you’re all legal now.”

“Sure.”

He walks over to the back of the lounge and through a door into what I assume is the kitchen area. He comes back a moment later with a couple of beers.

Passing one to me, he says, “So, you still want to see that movie? Or just hang out?”

I laugh. “Be honest, Archer. There is no movie, is there? We wouldn’t be here if there was.”

“Okay. Movie it is.”

I frown a little, as Archer gestures for me to walk with him. To the left of the lounge area are stairs leading up. Heading past them, he opens up a door underneath to reveal more stairs leading down into the darkness.

“Like I’m going down to some creepy basement with you,” I laugh.

“Come on, Ivy. You’re perfectly safe with me.”

Not so sure about that, but I know Archer wouldn’t risk upsetting my father, so I went with him.

At the bottom of the stairs, Archer flicks a switch to turn on the lights and I gasp when I see what is waiting for us.

“Shocked?” Archer treats me to one of his rare smiles, making a dimple dance in and out of his left cheek, as I slowly walk into his home cinema.

There is a large screen covering most of one wall. A large bed with plenty of cushions is laid out opposite it with a well-stocked bar to the right. Next to the bar is a sweet trolley laid out with share bags of all my favourite sweets. There is even a popcorn maker and a candy floss machine.

“I don’t know about you, but I hate going to the cinema and hearing all those people talking,” says Archer. “I much rather watch a film in the comfort of my own home and not put up with listening to someone’s running commentary about what they think’s going to happen next and which character’s going to die.”

“True, true,” I nod. “Not to be ungrateful, though, but I was really looking forward to seeing the latest Ryan Reynolds’ movie. You can’t get the latest releases at home.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Archer looks incredibly pleased with himself. “Dad’s got a lot of connections within the movie industry. He can get me any film I like at the same time it’s released, sometimes sooner. Help yourself to snacks. I’ll go and start the film. Even better–you won’t have to sit through the trailers.”

“But the trailers are the best bit!” I protest. I am aware I am being deliberately ornery, looking for problems when really I should be grateful that someone is going out of their way to make this an amazing date. I am still adjusting to this new way of living. I mean, who gets to see the latest films like this?

“You want trailers? Sure. Help yourself to whatever you want and make yourself comfortable. I’ll be with you in a sec.”

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