Page 11 of Take My Throne

Chapter Five

“Can you do me up, please?”

Lucas comes over to help do up the ballgown Isabella had picked out for me. I wanted to go dress shopping myself, but my father wouldn’t let me. Yet another way he insisted on controlling every little aspect of my life.

Still, Isabella has beautiful taste even if I hate the bitch. The black dress she picked out for me is tight at the waist and flows out into a full skirt, enhancing my figure in an hourglass shape. The corset top pushes my breasts up, giving me impressive cleavage. A delicate lace overlaid on the black silk gives the dress an intriguing look from all sides. It is easily one of the most beautiful dresses I’d ever seen, let alone worn.

She also booked a professional makeup artist and a hairdresser to come and make me look my best for the ball. I prided myself on my makeup skills, but I had to admit that Nola really knew her stuff. Once she is done with me, I look like something out of Vogue. Once Becky finishes teasing my hair into an intricate updo, I can barely recognise myself.

Lucas wolf whistles as I do a little turn for him, showing off my complete look.

“You are stunning,” he tells me. “I’m going to be the envy of every man there. I’m so proud to call you my wife.”

“Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

And he doesn’t. Lucas is wearing the traditional James Bond tuxedo, and it really suits him. Some men are uncomfortable in formalwear, but not Lucas. The suit had been tailored for him and it makes him look sharp. But he isn’t them.

“Are you ready, m’lady?” Lucas does a little bow, offering me his arm with a cheeky smile. I take it and let him lead me out of our suite and downstairs to my father’s study, where Isabella is helping him with his cufflinks.

He smiles when he sees us. “Lucas. Ivy. Don’t you look elegant? You are truly doing House Archaic justice.”

“You look pretty good yourself, Solomon,” Lucas answers.

“How many times do I have to tell you, Lucas? Call me Dad.”

“…Dad.” Lucas tightly replies and nods to hide his expression, but I see it.

Isabella finishes with my father’s cufflinks and steps away from him. “There you go, Solomon. I’ll see you at the ball.”

She smiles at us and leaves the study to go get ready for the ball. As my father’s aide, she is entitled to a ticket to one of the most exclusive events of the year and she’d be following us there. Tickets cost upwards of a thousand each, meaning only the wealthiest families in town could afford to go. It is an opportunity to show off your wealth and vie for dominance as you network. While on the surface it is meant to be a purely fun event, a chance to let off some steam and party as a united town, just like everything else that went on here, there was more going on beneath the surface than you’d think.

“Are you two ready?” My father beams, looking between us. The urge to smack him in the face is strong.

“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Lucas replies for me.

“Then let’s hit the road. I have a feeling tonight is going to be wild.”

He claps his hands and rubs them together before leading the way out to a massive stretch limo waiting outside for us. The driver opens the door and my father gestures for me to go in before him.

I step inside to be greeted by a bottle of champagne cooling in an ice bucket. There are seats lining three sides of the limo, across the back and down both sides. I sit down on the opposite side of the door. Lucas enters and sits next to me, while my father takes the rear seat, stretching out to take up as much space as possible. I knew he’d do it, which is why I left the space empty for him.

“Who’s for a drink?” My father doesn’t wait for our replies as he picks up the bottle of champagne. The cork pops and a little alcohol fizzes over the lip of the bottle before my father fills three flutes with champagne. He hands them out to us and holds his up in a toast.

“To House Archaic,” he says.

“House Archaic,” Lucas and I echo.

The limo driver starts the engine and pulls out smoothly as we all sip champagne, that smug smile of my father’s never leaving his face.

I sit in silence during the drive across town to the hall where the ball is being held. This is one of the rare occasions where an event is held on neutral territory, in this instance a large club which has been commandeered for the night. It is one of the few places which is large enough to hold everyone, with a big dance floor and private rooms for the more expensive ticket holders. Naturally, my father has paid for one of these and when we arrive, we head straight up to our room for the night.

A number of my father’s bodyguards are already there waiting for us. This night might be one of the most hotly anticipated of the year, but it’s also one of the most dangerous.

My father booked the best room available, which has a balcony overlooking the dance floor as well as a more private area which no one can access without going through a number of guards first. As well as the main entrance, which we’d come through, there is a small door at the back which Lucas tells me leads to an escape route out back in case of any trouble.

Lucas and I go out on the balcony. Music is pounding and there are already a number of people dancing. I think I can make out Archer in the crowd, but I can’t be sure from this distance.

“You okay?” Lucas squeezes my hand.

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