Page 61 of Take My Crown

I narrow my eyes and shake my head. “No, I won’t. You disgust me.”

“You’re being silly.”

“No, I’m not.” Filled with a rage the likes of which I have never experienced, I can’t stop shaking. “You kidnap me, use me, manipulate me, and then expect me to begrateful? You’re sick in the head and my mother must have been so horrified. No wonder she ran away and chose me! You likely made it so easy by being crazy!”

“Calm down, Ivy.” He demands, his eyes burning with anger.

“Calm down? Calm down?” It is the worst thing he could say. I’m not a child and I won’t let him kill my guys. “Go on, make me, old man. I’m so sick of being scared of you!”

With a roar of rage I throw myself at him, wanting to scratch his eyes out and do any damage I can. At that moment, I wanted my father dead.

“If anything happens to Archer, I’llkillyou!” I scream. “If you touch Romy or Declan, I will kill you fucking slowly!”

My father is almost too stunned to defend himself as I slap him hard, but he quickly recovers, grabbing my wrists with impressive strength. That doesn’t stop me as I start kicking him getting hits in wherever I can. I don’t care how I hurt him. I just want him to feel the same kind of pain Archer is in.

“E-nough!”

With a deft movement, my father spins me round, pinning me down so I can’t move.

“I. Hate. You,” I scream as my eyes burn with tears. “I wish you weren’t my father!”

“If you feel like that now, youreallywon’t enjoy what’s going to happen next,” says my father with a coarse laugh. “I need you alive because you’re my heir, but that doesn’t mean I owe you anything. You are a resource for me to use as I see fit, nothing more. Your mother knew this, which is why she stole you away from me. She swore I would never get my hands on you.

“The foolish woman had no idea that theonlyreason I left you alone is because it suited me. All I needed to do was give the word, and you’d have been back here in a heartbeat. Know your place, Ivy. You are my property, nothing more, nothing less.”

“I’m your daughter, you sick psycho!” I cry, but my father just laughs.

“And as my daughter, you get the privilege of choosing the nature of how each of your friends die. I hear some of them have treated you rather badly, so if you would like them to suffer for their crimes that can easily be arranged. Once I’m done with them, we’ll be the only House in a position to rule the town, which unfortunately makes you a very, very precious resource to be protected. Isabella!”

My father’s aide had clearly been waiting nearby because she appears only a few moments later.

“Yes, Solomon?”

“Escort my daughter to her room and lock the door. Make sure she is comfortable and has whatever food and drink she requires, but she is not to leave her chambers under any circumstances or I will hold you personally responsible. Do you understand?”

“Of course, Solomon. She won’t be going anywhere.”

“And if she gives you any trouble, feel free to tase her,” my father instructs and lowers his voice for me. “I’m protecting you and knocking out all the chess pieces in the way so you can rule like the queen you were born to be. One day, you will thank me as you rule the town.”

“It would be my pleasure.” The smile on Isabella’s face sent chills through me just as much as my dad’s words.

She steps forward, a set of handcuffs in her hands. She snaps them around my wrists, making sure they are super tight. Roughly grabbing my arm, she shoves me in front of her.

“Come on, Ivy. You know the way.”

“I’m going to get you for this,” I say over my shoulder as we walk away.

“Try little girl,” my father grins. “Try.”

Chapter Thirty

Ivy Archaic

Isabella shoves me into my room, making me fall to the floor and scrape my hands across the carpet.

“Get up,” she coldly orders.

“Why are you being like this?” I ask, clumsily pulling myself to my feet.

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