Page 2 of Take My Throne

“I guess it’s time for us to head off to the Academy.” Lucas takes my hand and squeezes it, smiling at me. “Excited?”

“Yeah. I can’t wait to show everyone my new bling.” I fight hard to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

“Have fun, you two!” My father waves as Lucas and I leave the dining room and go out to the car, our school bags already packed, sitting on the back seat ready for us.

Perfect for a trip to hell. Or in other words, King Academy.

* * *

Lucasand I stood at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the Academy. He reached out and took my hand, and for once I didn’t pull away.

“It’s going to be all right, you know,” he tells me. “Once the excitement over our wedding dies down, nobody will care about us. Today’s news is tomorrow’s chip wrappings, as they say. I know you’re nervous, but it’s going to be all right. Romy will understand. He knows how the politics of this place works. Love doesn’t enter into the equation when you’re heir to a House. He’ll be happy for you. You wait and see.”

I smile weakly, wishing I could share his optimism. I knew what things had been like between Romy and me. He isn’t going to take this lying down.

“Come on.” Lucas nods in the direction of the school. “The bell for first period is going to go in a minute. We might as well go up and hit the common room first. That way we can make sure as many people know as possible. After that, the rumour mill will spread the word way faster than we’ll be able to.”

“Okay.”

I keep holding Lucas’s hand as we walk up the stairs and into the entrance hall of the Academy.

“There they are.”

I look over to the stairs leading up to the first floor. Romy, Archer, and Declan are standing by the bottom step, waiting for us. The three kings of the academy and each one of them look ready to kill.

And for some reason, it makes my heart pound that much more.

“Ivy!” Romy walks to me, but Lucas moves in front, stopping him from getting closer.

“Stay away from my wife if you know what’s good for you,” Lucas coldly warns.

“So it’s true?” Romy looks at me, his face twisted with hurt and pain but mostly anger. So much anger. And it hurts me to see any of it. I never wanted to hurt him, I just pushed him away because I thought it was the best thing to do, but the truth of it is, I am in love with him. So in love with him. I just wish this wasn’t the moment I realised my heart belongs to the kings of the academy.

I can’t speak. I can’t say a word as I move to Lucas’ side and Lucas grabs my hand, showing off my ring.

Archer swears, his gaze flickering between me and Lucas. “I don’t know how you managed it, but I know you don’t love him.”

Archer moves right into Lucas’ face, basically spitting his words out. “How can you sleep at night?”

“Very well, thanks, with my beautiful wife to keep me warm.” Lucas puts his arm around my waist and pulls me to him. I stand there limply, not knowing what to say, and I hate that this has made me so weak.

How can I fight my dad? How can I have the men I love in my life?

Either way, this all ends in heartbreak and I can’t have my heart broken anymore.

“Can’t you see she’s not happy?” Declan asks, his hands shaking with anger.

“Who, Ivy?” Lucas kisses me on the top of the hand he is still tightly holding. “She’s head over heels in love, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I bite out.

“All right. That’s enough,” Archer says. “Ivy, you need to apply for an annulment. There’s no way this sham of a marriage can be allowed to continue. Milly will sign an affidavit to say you got married under duress and this can be undone in no time. I’ll give you the money for court fees. You’ll be free to marry whoever you want. Romy. Me… it doesn’t matter. You’re our girl.”

My heart feels like it is shattering into a million pieces at the intense look in his eyes. I’d love nothing more than to take him up on his offer, but I know my father would never let me get away with something like that. He’d threatened to kill Milly, and I hadn’t doubted he would have carried through with it if I hadn’t done what he wanted. I don’t like to think what he’d do if I divorced Lucas to go off with someone else. Probably burn the whole town down.

“Back off. Ivy’s married to me, so you’re going to have to get used to it, because we’re in it for life.” Lucas pushes Archer in the middle of his chest to emphasise his point. Big mistake.

Archer doesn’t budge an inch, so Lucas shoves him again with both hands this time. Archer doesn’t even stumble as he pulls back his fist and punches Lucas in the face. I fall to the side as they start fighting and I crawl to my feet.

---