“Ahhh.” I nod slowly. “So that’s why you kissed me. You wanted to get back at your ex.”
Archer shrugs expansively. “Can you blame a guy, especially now I’ve got the honour of being the first one to taste you? I figured you’d enjoy seeing Ally and Taylor being put in their place. You’re swimming with sharks at the Academy. It’s eat or be eaten here and I aim to be a top predator. Tell me you don’t love seeing how pissed off they look.”
“It is fun,” I grin.
“Something tells me you and I are going to have a lot more fun together.” Archer looks at me as if he is hungry for more than the food being served up. A desire bounces between us as we stare at each other. I will admit it might be fun and dangerous to start something with Archer.
But right now? I need to focus on surviving King Academy and not letting my hormones take Archer for a ride.
“See?” Milly claps her hands, breaking the mood. “I said you’d make a cute couple! So how did you two meet? You didn’t actually say.”
“No, I didn’t.” I take a sip of my lemonade, side eying Archer. “Why don’t you tell your sister the story? I think you’d tell it better than me.”
“If you’re sure…”
“Of course,” I smile. “I think Milly should hear it from you.”
“Okay, well, I was out on my bike when I saw Ivy. I didn’t know who she was at the time, but there was something about her, so I pulled over to talk to her and things moved quickly from there. I suppose you can say I swept her off her feet.”
“That’s certainly one way of describing it,” I agreed, impressed by Archer’s audacity. The way he tells it is almost exactly what had really happened but spun to make him look like a charismatic charmer instead of the kidnapping sleaze he really is.
“That’s so romantic,” Milly sighed, tilting her head to one side. “I wish someone would sweep me off my feet.”
“They will one day, little sister. You wait–once you get out of this place, you’ll have men falling over themselves to date you.”
“You really think so?” The sad hope in Milly’s eyes almost breaks my heart.
“Absolutely. Don’t you agree, Ivy?”
“Sure,” I nod. “I mean, look at you, Milly. You’ve got those gorgeous big blue eyes and a figure most girls would kill for. Once you’re out of that crappy uniform and in something more flattering, I reckon you'll have boys throwing themselves at you. I will help you however I can.”
Glancing at her brother I think, boy problems are something I know a little about.
“You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”
And just like that, Milly became my first true friend at King Academy.
Chapter Six
Ivy Archaic
Somehow, I survive my first day of school. When the final bell rings to signal our release from confinement, hundreds of pupils stream out of classrooms and out to the front of the building where drivers are waiting to ferry all the rich kids home to their mansions.
It is a very different world to what I am used to. What would my life have been like if my father hadn’t faked his death? Would I be as jaded and spiteful as girls like Ally and Taylor? Or would I somehow have managed to stay as innocent as Milly seems to be?
Standing in front of the entrance to the Academy, I’m not sure how to tell which one is my car and driver. They all look exactly the same. All black, shiny, and expensive.
I bite my lip, scanning the line of cars to see if I can pick out which one of the identically uniformed drivers is mine.
A car pulls up in front of me and the rear window rolls down to reveal a boy with floppy blond hair and a smattering of freckles over his nose. The boy from earlier with the girls.
“Hey, Ivy,” he smiles, running a hand through his hair to push it out of his face. “You seem a little lost. Need a ride?”
“I’m sorry,” I say with a frown. “Do I know you? You certainly seem to know me.”
“Everyone knows who you are, Ivy,” he tells me with a smirk on his pretty bowed lips. “You’re Ivy Archaic, Slayer of Bullies, Champion of the Weak. Even if being the new girl isn’t enough to make you the centre of attention right now, everyone’s talking about how you stood up to Ally. Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you.”
“Maybe I would if I had a clue who you are,” I reply coldly. I have about reached my fill of being nice to people, even attractive boys with enchanting green eyes.
“Sorry. It’s terribly rude of me not to have introduced myself. I’m Romeo Navarre, but everyone calls me Romy. I’m the Head Boy of House Navarre, so we’ll be working closely together on speeches and presentations.”
“Sounds like fun.” I roll my eyes. I’m sure he plays this game with every girl. I’m not stupid enough to fall for a guy that looks like a damn Greek god and clearly has the charm to match.
I hope.
“Can I give you a lift home?” he offers, undeterred by my attitude. “You look like you’ve had about enough of this place for one day. I can get my driver to take the long route back, show you all the sights of Kings Town, not that there’s all that much to see.”
“Tempting as that is, I suspect my father would kill me if I disappeared off with some boy I’ve only just met,” I say, just as my driver pulls up behind Romy’s car with his head stuck out the window, glaring at me for not magically finding him. “And my ride’s here, so thanks anyway, but I’ll pass this time.”
“Not a problem. Maybe next time, then, Ivy. Something tells me you and I are going to be friends. Good friends.”
He pushes the button to close his window, the mirrored glass sliding up to hide him again. His car drives off, clearing the way for my driver to come and pick me up. The driver gets out of the car and comes to open my door for me, a gesture which is always going to weird me out. Can’t rich people open their own doors?
Climbing in, I jump when I realise there is someone already sitting in the car waiting for me.
“Dad!” I gasp as our driver started the engine to take us home. Sitting in a crisp grey suit, a whiskey glass in his hand, he smiles at me.
“Hello, Ivy,” he says. “How was your first day at school? No major incidents I need to know about?”
“No. Not that I can think of.” I shake my head slowly, sticking out my bottom lip as if I have considered his question seriously.
“So you didn’t bitch slap another Archaic then? Your very distant, bastard cousin who would be happy to rival the house for the place of heir if you disappeared?”
My eyes widen. How did he know about my fight with Ally? And I’m related to that bitch? Fucking great.
My father laughs. “I have spies everywhere so you better get used to it. This is your life now. You represent House Archaic at all times and everything you do sends out a signal about who and what we are. Given that, I have to commend you for tackling a potential threat so quickly. I always knew you’d have the Archaic instincts, and this confirms it. A girl like Ally needs to be shown who’s boss right from the start or she’ll only take advantage of you. I don’t think you’ll have any problems with her now that she knows you’re not afraid to exercise your authority. However, I’m not convinced that your alliance with Millicent Knight is wise. She is of little value to us. I would rather you focus your attention on Archer. A union between our two houses would be of immense strategic value and Archer has other brothers who can lead his house when he becomes your consort.”