Page 58 of Take My Crown

Seriously?Isabella had always been nice to me. What is with the attitude now?

“Whatever,” I huff. “Can I take my bike to the party?”

“No.” Isabella shakes her head. “Your father wants a driver to take you. He’s waiting outside. He’ll stay outside the Dauphin’s place while you have fun and when you’re ready to leave, he’ll bring you back here. Just make sure you’re not ready to leave until midnight at the latest, okay?”

“Fine.”

There is something very weird going on tonight, but I know no one is going to tell me what, so I go outside and get into the waiting car.

Loud music blares as I walk up the drive towards Declan’s house. Out of all the main houses in King Town, this one is the best. It’s like a big cottage with ivy crawling up around the white stone and next to it is two more modern houses. The rest of the area is covered in thick trees, making it impossible to see much further. Expensive cars line the driveway around the naked Greek goddess statue, water fountain in the middle, water pouring from her open hands. Teenagers are spilled all over the place and my driver has to stop further away when it’s clear a passed out teenager isn’t going to move.

“Thanks!”

“Ivy, be careful,” my driver tells me, and I don’t recognise his voice. I look into the screen, wishing I could see who the new driver is before getting out. I’m sure my dad will not let him be nice to me for long. God help anyone who is nice to his heir. Kindness is a sin in King Town. Going inside, Ally pushes past me, tears streaming down her face and we both nearly tumble over.

“Ally! What’s wrong?”

“You aresowelcome to him!” she sobs. “I’m going to ruin you both for this! I’m glad he doesn’t care about the consequences anymore because they are going to hurt him bad. You. Did. This.”

“What do you mean, Ally? Ally?”

She ignores me, running off into the night and for a moment I feel bad for her, if not a little confused. If we were friends, I would have gone after her, made sure she is okay, but Ally has made it very clear we are rivals, so I leave it to someone else to deal with her.

Instead, I head off in the direction of what I think is the kitchen so I can fix myself a drink. If I am not driving, I am going to hide in a corner and get absolutely off my face and try to puke on my dad’s expensive shoes when I get home. Whatever the reason is behind my father wanting me to be here, I don’t care. I am going to stick around until midnight and get the hell out of here the moment I am allowed.

Declan’s house is jam-packed with teenagers, most of them from the Academy, although there are a few faces I don’t recognise. Inside it looks like a regular home, quaint and kinda cute. Pictures of Declan and three other guys who could have been his twins are above a stone fireplace. They must be his dead brothers.

I soon spot Carly kissing some guy I don’t recognise as someone bumps into me and I step to the side. It looks like her romance with Archer was as short lived as mine.

Leaving the dancers, I find myself in the kitchen. It is as big as the whole ground floor of Katy’s house, with a breakfast bar and two hobs. A trestle table had been set up along one side of the room, heavily laden with food. My stomach rumbles and I realise I hadn’t eaten since lunch and then it had only been a sandwich.

I go over to the table and fill a plate with snacks before getting myself a glass of punch. Then I go through the double doors to one side of the room and out to the back garden. There is a large pool and there are a few people skinny dipping.

Better them than me.

I perch on the edge of a lounger and take a large swig of the punch. It is sweet, a combination of fruit juices I can’t completely identify, but it certainly packs a kick. There is more than a little vodka mixed in with a couple other spirits.

“Ivy! I’m so glad you came. I was hoping you’d change your mind.”

Declan sits down next to me and I breathe in his scent. Masculine with a mix of lemon and it’s comforting as well as sexy.

“I wasn’t given much of a choice. How did you manage to persuade my father to make me come?”

“Your father?” Declan looks genuinely confused. “What’s he got to do with this?”

“Don’t play dumb with me,” I say. “My father basically ordered me to be here. I have no idea why, but he made it very clear that I had to be at this party, so here I am. But if you think I’m going to do anything more than sit here and get quietly drunk so I can ruin his shoes, you’re very much mistaken. So why don’t you go find your girlfriend and see what’s got her so upset.”

“I don’t need to,” Declan says quietly. “I already know. She’s not my girlfriend anymore.”

“Not your-? Why? What happened?”

“I stopped being an idiot. You are right. I shouldn’t even have thought of kissing you while I was seeing Ally, but ever since that moment, our kiss is the only thing on my mind. I can’t stay with Ally when the only girl on my mind is you and I told her so.”

“Youtoldher that?” I shook my head. “Jeez, Declan. Nobody can accuse you of having Romy’s charm.”

“I figured honesty is the best policy,” Declan says. “I’ve had enough of all the lies. There’s so many secrets in this town and there’s just no need. If the Houses are upfront with each other, we can work together and we’d all benefit.”

Gazing into his eyes, I can see he meant every word.

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