Page 39 of Take My Throne

Chapter Fourteen

“Iveeeeeeee!” Milly squeals and throws her arms around me when she sees me standing on her doorstep. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you. Something interesting happened.”

“Sounds serious,” Milly says. “Anything I need to worry about?”

“I don’t think so,” I reply. “But that’s why I wanted to talk to you. I figure you’d know better than I would what’s really going on.”

“You better come in then.”

I follow Milly into her quirkily decorated lounge. “Coffee?” she offers.

“No, thanks. I’ve just had some at Archer’s.”

“Oh, you went to see my brother before you came to see me?” She fixes me with a glare.

“I’m sorry, Mills.”

“It’s okay.” She laughs. “I’m just kidding. If I were you, I’d take any opportunity to visit my boyfriend too.”

“Archer’s not my-” I break off. Who am I kidding? “Okay, but maybe he’s not my boyfriend, so much as my lover, what with my being married. But I didn’t come here to talk about my stupidly complicated love life.”

“Oh yes. What’s this interesting thing that’s happened?”

“Ally came to me last night and suggested we come together to make a girls’ House group.”

“I see.” Milly’s face falls. “Well, I suppose you and Ally will make a powerful team.”

“No, you don’t understand. When she said we, she was talking about her, Taylor, Nicola maybe, me… and you.”

“Me? Ally wants to be in an alliance with me?”

“Yeah. She says that the time has come to change how things are done in King Town and I agree with her. This place is archaic-–and I should know. It’s time the women stepped into their power. If we come together, we can stop the men running the show by themselves. We can compete in the Bomber Derby. I think anyone should be able to compete, regardless of gender or status. We can stop all the stupid secret squirrel stuff everyone’s got going on and bring the Houses together. We can put an end to the mind games my dad’s a master of, and get people to talk. I mean, can you imagine that? People actually communicating with each other?”

“That’s pretty out there,” Milly agrees.

“But it means working with Ally and Taylor, and I know they’ve made your life hell for years,” I remind her. “I’m not going to do it without you, but I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to. If you think Ally and Taylor are up to something and this is just another scheme to get at us, then I’ll tell Ally no, and that’ll be the end of it.”

“I think we should do it.” Milly’s reply surprises me.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Very,” Milly says.

“You’re a better person than I am,” I admit. “I don’t think I could ever forgive Ally for treating me the way she treated you.”

“It’s not about forgiveness,” Milly tells me. “It’s about what we can achieve together. Ally doesn’t have your status, but she does know how to play the social game of King Town better than anyone I know. It’s why she made Head Girl. Pilkington knew that she was the best person to look after House Archaic’s interests and she’d made sure that the Archaics were top of the House table because she’s so ruthless.”

“But aren’t you worried she’ll turn that ruthlessness on us?”

“It’s always a possibility,” Milly says. “But I don’t think that’s what’s going on here. Ever since you came to King Town, you’ve changed things. I don’t think you realise how much influence you have on the people around you. I’m not surprised you’ve got my brother tailing after you like a little puppy dog. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. And it’s not just him. Romy has suddenly stopped playing the field. He won’t even look at another woman. Declan is clearly head over heels in love with you. Anyone with any sense would want to be on your team, and Ally’s not stupid.”

“But I stole Declan from her,” I point out.

“No, you didn’t.” Milly shakes her head. “Ally’s been cheating on him their entire relationship. It was only a matter of time before he found out and left her. I don’t even think she really liked him. She was only with him because he was an heir and it helped boost her social standing. Everyone can see that Declan’s head over heels in love with you. You’re a much better match for him.” Milly looks me straight in the eye. “If she’s proposed a truce, she means it. And she’s right. Us girls could start a revolution, make things better for everyone. It’s not just the women who’ll benefit from a more equal community. Don’t you think the boys are just as tired of all the petty little games? I say we give her a chance. If she turns out to be playing us, we’ll find a way to get back at her, but I don’t think she is. Your victory last night did a lot to shake things up. Anyone with any sense would be on your side.”

“All right.” I never thought I’d say these words, but that was how weird my life is. “I guess we’re going to work with Ally and Taylor. It’s about time people saw what girl power can do.”

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