Page 56 of Take My Throne

Three months later

Apeculiar mix of emotions washes over me as I watch the bulldozers flattening the site where my father’s house once stood. After everything that happened there, all the tears and blood that had been shed, I can’t live there anymore, and I can’t stand the idea of anyone else living there, either.

Besides, it isn’t like I don’t have more than enough money to build my dream home in its stead.

“Hey, Ivy. Ed’s made the changes to the plans you requested. Want to take a look?”

I turn to see Declan walking towards me, a large blueprint in his hands. He kisses me lightly as he passes it to me, and I roll it out to check it.

The new Archaic mansion is laid out around a square garden which is in the centre of the building and is going to be planted up with thousands of sweet-smelling wildflowers to attract butterflies and bees. There are four wings, one for each of my boys so they can have their own space. They’ve each been allowed to consult with the architect to have it designed to their specifications. The remaining wing is set aside for me including a recording studio filled with state-of-the-art equipment so I can start recording my own material. Declan and I are planning on launching our own record label, and I needed the architect to make a few changes to our studio. It is the only room in my wing I really care about, and now it is larger with more space for us to work with other musicians.

“Happy?”

“Happy.” I roll up the blueprint as Declan stands behind me, putting his arms around my waist to hold me as we watch the wrecking team do their job. I lean into him, loving how well we fit together. Declan is my safe place, the one who makes me feel that I could do anything, as long as we were together.

“Have your parents come round to the idea of you being an Archaic?” I ask.

“They’re about as okay with it as Archer and Romy’s parents are,” Declan replies. “Which is to say, they’re not really okay with it at all. But it’s not like they have any choice in the matter. I want to be with you and the only way to make sure House politics don’t interfere in our relationship anymore is for me to be an Archaic with you. They’ve finally accepted I’m not going to change my mind, so they’ve named Nicola as the new heir. I think they’ve made the right choice. She’s always been ambitious and loyal to House Navarre. Even with your little girl gang, if she had to throw you under the bus for the sake of the House, she’d do it without even blinking. But you’ve been a good influence on her, Ivy. She’s realised that we can achieve more when we work together, and I think she’s going to take House Navarre to even greater heights.”

“No regrets then?”

“Never.” Declan squeezes me tightly. “I’d walk through fire for you. Walking away from my family is nothing in comparison. Anyway, I was always a musician at heart. I don’t have the ruthless streak needed to be the head of House. I’m much better suited as the chief of a record label.”

“I agree.”

There is a loud bang as one of the main walls from my father’s house comes crashing down. I hear a few whoops and cheers as Romy joins me and Declan.

“Sorry I’m late to the party,” Archer says. “My parents had to make a last-ditch attempt to persuade me to change my mind. When they heard we were all going to be living in a caravan in the Archaic grounds while the new house is being built, they were shocked. They begged me to change my mind, even offered to set me up with a supermodel, but I told them no supermodel was half as beautiful as my Ivy.”

He kisses me deeply, and I love the feel of being sandwiched between him and Declan, all safe and warm.

When we break apart, the boys move so that they are standing on either side of me, their arms around my waist while I put my arms around them. I put my head on Romy’s shoulder as another part of the mansion collapses into rubble.

“How are you feeling?” Romy asks. “It must be weird seeing your father’s legacy destroyed.”

“Not really.” I shrug. “It’s not like I grew up here, so I don’t have any positive associations with the place. A fresh start is what we all need. We’re going to create brand new memories here, build something new and beautiful. Besides, I always thought my father’s taste was tacky. Our home is going to be amazing. I can’t wait for them to dig out our pool in the basement. We’re going to have so much fun there.”

“Oh yes.” Declan and Romy exchange a grin as we imagine going skinny dipping together like promised.

“Special delivery!”

Milly walks up to join us. “I bumped into the postman, so I said I’d bring your post to you. Save him the walk.” Milly passes me a large envelope. I tear it open and smile when I see what’s in it.

I turn the paper round so everyone can see. “My marriage to Lucas has been annulled,” I announce. “As far as the law’s concerned, we were never married in the first place.”

“Oh yay!” Milly squeals and throws her arms around my neck. We jump around together, hugging each other. “You’re free! You can marry whoever you like!”

“Hmmm.” We break apart and I look at my three lovers. “Something tells me I’m not going to be getting married any time soon, at least, not until the law changes and I can have more than one husband. There’s no way I could choose one of my guys over the others.” None of the men hide the look of relief that crosses their faces, but it is true. It would be impossible for me to pick one of them for the sake of having a ring on my finger. “Maybe we can do some kind of commitment ceremony for the four of us, combine it with everyone changing their name to Archaic.”

“So you’re really going ahead with it?” Milly asks Archer. “You won’t be a Knight anymore?”

“House Archaic all the way,” Archer replies. “Besides, you’re a much better heir than I could ever be. You’ve got the heart and compassion needed to lead the Knights to success. I know you’re going to be amazing.”

“You really think so?” Milly asks. “I don’t know. Everyone always told me I was stupid at school.”

“Because they were jealous of you,” I tell her. “You shouldn’t pay any attention to them. Archer’s right. You’re the perfect person to take over House Knight one day, and between the two of us, we’ll make sure our Houses form an unbeatable alliance that keeps the peace in this town. This is the dawn of a new era. Things are going to be very different from now on.”

“And it’s all thanks to you, Ivy,” Romy says. “You’re the one who made all this possible.”

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