Page 5 of Take My Throne

Chapter Two

Iride to the hospital with Archer; Romy and Lucas both in their own ambulances. I wanted to go with Romy, but he needed urgent medical care and they told me to stay out of the way. I know I should have gone with Lucas. As his wife, I am his next of kin so I should have stayed with him, but I just didn’t want to be around him. If he’d hurt Romy, I don’t care if we are married. I’ll kill him myself.

When we arrive at the hospital, we are ushered into separate rooms to wait for a doctor to come and check the boys out. Archer and I are alone for the first time in over a week and I want to make the most of it.

“So…” I say.

“So…” Archer can’t even look me in the eye.

“I am so sorry.” I can’t think of what else to say.

“Why? It’s not your fault your father is an overbearing, controlling megalomaniac.” Archer shrugs, but I still feel like I was to blame. “As long as you don’t actually love him, we can fix this.”

“You have no idea how bad I feel about all of this,” I tell him. “I was being forced into marrying Romy, but at least I liked him and his parents didn’t have to threaten anyone to get me to agree.”

“No, they just threatened you,” Archer points out. “Be honest, Ivy. You wouldn’t be marrying anyone right now if we didn’t have parents who like to control every aspect of our lives.”

“I guess not.” I sigh.

“Have you slept with him?” The question caught me off guard.

“Who? Lucas?”

Archer nods.

“No.”

Archer visibly relaxes with relief.

“I know you all hate Lucas,” I say. “But he’s not too bad when you get to know him. He’s been a perfect gentleman. He hasn’t even laid a finger on me, even though we’re sleeping in the same bed. We have to,” I add quickly, seeing Archer’s face darken. “My father told us that this is to be a real marriage, and he’s forced us to share a room. I wouldn’t put it past him to do something really messed up and spy on us to make sure we’re sharing a bed. It’s not something worth making a big deal about when Lucas is willing to keep his hands to himself.”

“But for how long?” Archer clenches his fist, clearly still filled with anger. “Ivy, no man could sleep beside you and be happy with just sleeping. You need to watch yourself with Lucas. He’s not like the rest of us. He’s not one of the Houses. He’s got his own agenda and none of us know what that is. My father’s spies have been trying to find out information on him, but the man’s like a ghost. Nobody has a clue where he’s come from or what his motivation for being here might be. He’s going to find a way to get whatever it is he wants from you, and you won’t know you’ve been played until it’s too late. If he takes you from me, really takes you, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

There is no way of reassuring him with words, so I did the only thing I could think of. I kissed him, slow and deep.

“Lucas can’t take me away from you,” I whisper, as we pull apart. “My father’s the one you need to be wary of.”

Archer shakes his head. “You’re wrong. I know all about your father and the kind of games he plays. We all do. He’s a known quantity and my family has measures in place to make sure he doesn’t overstep his bounds. But Lucas? None of us know anything about him, what he’s capable of, the kinds of resources he has to hand.”

“But Lucas is still at school,” I protest. “How much of a threat can he really be?”

“Never judge by appearances,” Archer says. “I’d have thought you’d have learnt that by now. Someone needs to put Lucas in his place, and I’m more than happy to be the one to do it.”

“Are you sure that’s such a good idea?” I gently run my hand over the bruising surrounding Archer’s eye and he winces. “Maybe the two of you should talk. I know, I know. That’s a very strange thing to do in this place. Talk instead of fight. But perhaps it’s time to try a new way.”

Archer reaches up and takes my hand in his. He is about to say something, but the door opens and Lucas strides in. I move to pull away from Archer, but he grips my hand tightly, sending a message to Lucas.

Lucas narrows his eyes. “Come on, Ivy. It’s time to go home.”

“She’s staying with me,” Archer replies. “Try and take her from me. See what happens.”

“Is that right?” Lucas smirks, tilting his head to one side. “Ivy, while I appreciate you may have fooled around before we met, it’s time to put those attachments aside. You made a commitment to me, to our marriage. Do you really want me to tell your father what you’ve been doing with him? Are you willing to see how far your dad would go to make sure you had no one but me left in your life? Stop playing princess, Ivy. We have a kingdom to rule and you belong at my side.”

“This isn’t your kingdom, Lucas,” Archer growls out.

“Let me go, Archer.” I have to leave with Lucas. I don’t know what my father would do if Lucas told him I’d chosen Archer over my husband, but I know it won’t be good. I am going to have to tread carefully around the boys if I want to keep Lucas-–and my father-–happy.

Archer squeezes my hand one last time, his eyes on mine, and I know he understands. This isn’t the time or the place to stand our ground. The fight isn’t over…it’s just beginning. He slowly lets me go and my heart hurts the moment we aren’t touching anymore. Lucas grabs my arm and roughly pulls me out of the room.

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