Page 12 of Take My Throne

“Yeah.” I smile at him. “It’s just weird being out with my father, you know? I don’t feel like I can really relax until I know what he’s got planned.”

“Why would he have anything planned? Why can’t your father be here for some fun?”

“Because my father’s idea of fun means someone always gets hurt,” I say grimly.

“Don’t be so negative. You never know-–maybe he’s turned over a new leaf.”

“Ha! I wish.”

“Come on. Let’s go dance.” Lucas holds out his hand to me and we head back into our room. Isabella has arrived and her and my father are deep in discussion already. There is no doubt in my mind that they are plotting something. I just wish I knew what.

Lucas caught my father’s attention and made a gesture to let him know we were going downstairs to dance. My father nods and we leave the room to go down to the dance floor.

We walk into the hall, just as the DJ puts on a slow dance.

“Perfect timing.” Lucas grins as he pulls me onto the dance floor and into his arms.

I close my eyes and rest my head against Lucas’s shoulder as we sway together, knowing there is no way I can escape. This is the first time we’ve danced as a married couple, and it feels weird. We don’t have the same kind of connection I do with Archer, Romy, or Declan, and I don’t know if we ever would. There is no way I could even think of trying with him. I’m not a fool, I see how Lucas looks my way, but he doesn’t know me. He never could.

“Mind if I cut in?”

As if he is able to read my mind, Romy appears next to us, tapping Lucas on the shoulder and my eyes lock onto his.

“Not at all.” Lucas steps away with a tight jaw and Romy takes his place. Lucas walks off in the direction of the bar as Romy pulls me to him.

That’s better.

“Won’t your date mind you dancing with me?” I ask as we move in perfect synchronicity.

“Who says I have a date?”

I laugh. “Come on, Romeo. It’s you we’re talking about here. You’ve always got a woman on your arm.”

“Not tonight.” He shakes his head. “How could I be here with someone else when I’d be thinking about you.”

“For real?” I laugh again, nervously this time.

“For real.” Romy gazes at me intently. “Ivy, ever since I met you, you’ve changed me. I haven’t wanted to be with anyone else. I haven’t even kissed another girl, let alone anything more. If I can’t be with you, I don’t want to be with anyone.”

For a moment I think he is going to kiss me, but the DJ puts on a more up-tempo song, killing the mood.

“Is this a private party or can anyone join?”

“Archer!” I give him a huge hug as Romy steps back to make way for Archer Knight. “It’s so good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Ivy,” he replies. “I’ve been worried about you all week.”

We start dancing together, Archer surprising me with how well he moves. There is a natural grace to his dancing, and he has an innate sense of rhythm that makes me see him in a new light.

“Where’s your date?” I ask.

“Haven’t got one,” he replies. “There wasn’t anyone who I wanted to bring, and it seemed pointless dragging a girl along just to keep up appearances. The one person I wanted to ask was already taken.”

I blush, knowing exactly who he meant.

“I came with Milly instead,” Archer went on. “By the looks of it, we’ve swapped partners.” He nods over to one side of the dance floor and I look over to see Lucas and Milly dancing together. Milly looks pissed off, a rare sight on her, while Lucas seems amused.

“It’s nice to see Lucas finally settling in,” I say. “It’s not been easy for him coming to the Academy with everyone so hostile towards him.”