28. Twenty-Eight
28
TWENTY-EIGHT
MILA
A s we drove toward the city, someone started pouring champagne, and I gratefully accepted the glass Archer handed me.
"You look incredible, Mila. You have no idea how much I want to rip this dress off of you and fuck the shit out of you."
I choked on my champagne and looked around the limousine to see if anyone else heard what he said. Everyone was drinking and immersed in their conversations. I turned my head to look back at him, and he stared at me hungrily, drinking me in.
"After all the work Laurent put in, it'd be a shame to ruin it before I get to introduce you to my father," I said, swallowing my laughter when I saw his face become serious. "Wait, don't tell me the fearless devil Archer King is afraid of meeting my father?"
He raised his eyebrow, taking a sip of his champagne. "Of course, I'm not afraid." He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against mine. "But I'll do you one better. Not only will you get to meet my father, but you'll get to meet my mother too. And she is very protective of her baby boy."
"Baby boy?" I questioned.
"Yep. I have an older brother and sister. "
"Things are starting to make a lot of sense now," I teased.
"How so?"
"Oh, nothing. You have baby sibling syndrome."
"What the fuck is baby sibling syndrome?"
"You know, the whole 'baby of the family' thing where you get spoiled and doted upon and get away with murder ? And in your case, literal murder."
Archer chuckled, shaking his head. "You're right, I do," he said, sipping his champagne. "But I promise, I'm not the only murderer in the family. Killing people tends to be our curse."
"Apparently, it's mine too," I muttered.
"You're in good company," he nodded toward Kai and Theo. "You're one of us now," Archer reassured me. "You're drawn to those who share the same darkness, or maybe it's the other way around."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe we are all drawn to you." He reached out and placed his hand on my cheek. "My queen."
With those words, his hand slowly moved down my neck, and his lips found their way to mine. I felt his hands move around my neck, and when he pulled away, I followed his gaze to my chest. A ruby heart pendant rested heavily around my neck.
"Wh-What is this?" I asked, tracing my fingers over the smooth heart.
He smiled, a secretive look in his eyes. "I had this made for you. It's a blood ruby. A reminder that I belong to you."
"Oh," I breathed, running my fingers over the delicate chain. "This is...beautiful. You didn't have to get me anything. I have no doubts about the two of us."
"If you ever do…" His voice trailed off, and he got a distant look in his eyes.
I cupped his cheek with my hand. "Don't disappear on me."
He blinked and looked at me, confused. "What?"
"When you disappear into your mind like just now. Please don't leave me behind. Take me with you. "
Archer's eyes softened, and he leaned in closer, brushing his lips against mine. "I'll never leave you behind, Mila. You're my anchor."
I nodded, accepting his promise as his words sank into my heart. It was then that I realized how much faith I had in us.
"Tell me about your mother."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "She's... intimidating ."
"Kind of like you, then?"
He chuckled, a small smile lifting the corners of his lips. "I guess so."
"What's she like?" I asked curiously, leaning closer to him.
Archer's eyes flickered with a distant memory, his gaze lost momentarily before he spoke. "She's strong, like you. A force to be reckoned with. She raised us to be the best, to never back down, and to always fight for what we believed in."
"Sounds like she's proud of her children."
"She is. But when it comes to me, she's always been more cautious. I'm the baby, you know? The wild one. But I promise you, Mila, she'll love you as much as she loves the rest of us."
"I'm sure she's lovely," I said, but my words were filled with doubt.
Archer smiled, his green eyes twinkling. "Once she meets you, I have no doubt she will be thrilled that I've finally found the woman I've been searching for."
"I hope so," I murmured, finishing my drink and pouring another glass.
"And honestly," he whispered, his breath warm on my skin as his lips brushed against the sensitive spot below my ear, "It's not every day your baby boy brings home a queen to present to his family."
"And what about your father?" I asked, trying to ignore the buzz of the champagne flowing through my veins and the goosebumps he had caused as he touched the spots he knew drove me wild.
"Fuck my father," he growled, his grip on me tightening. "Just smile and try to avoid him as much as possible," he grumbled, his mood suddenly soured. He shifted and rested his back against the seat, and it felt like there were miles between us .
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," I apologized, reaching out to touch him.
He shrugged off my hand and turned away, his jaw clenched in anger. I took it as a sign to leave him be and joined the others in conversation. But every so often, I caught glimpses of him staring at me.
I could tell he was on edge, and I instantly regretted mentioning his father. I could see there was some tension between them, and I felt guilty for ruining the good time we were having. I let it be, turned toward the boys and Maddie, and integrated myself into their conversation. When Kai and Maddie started making out, Theo moved closer to me, and Archer moved up to talk to the driver through the window, giving him instructions.
"Don't let it get to you. It's not personal." Theo gave me an apologetic smile and nodded toward Archer when he saw the confusion on my face. "I overheard him telling you about his father. The weight of our legacies can be suffocating. That's why The Hunt is so important. It's our chance to escape from it all, to live in a world that isn't all bad. And to find someone who shares our sentiments in this life, someone who could potentially be our wives, helping us carry this burden. That's worth it all."
"I'm sorry neither of your Chosens survived The Hunt," I lamented, squeezing his hand gently.
He placed his hand over mine. "Thank you, Mila. But after seeing how Archer looks at you, I won't settle for anything less. But you'll let me know if you decide Archer isn't the one, eh?" he winked, giving my shoulder a nudge.
"You'd be my first call," I grinned, feeling a blush creep up my neck.
Theo was gorgeous in his own right, and I'd be lying if I didn't say there was a part of me drawn to him. Even though I loved Archer, and he was the one I wanted, I wondered what it would be like to be with them both. Theo had this natural charm, one that he didn't have to try to have. He was quieter than the other two, but so observant. He was always in the background assessing the scene. Undoubtedly, he saw a lot more than he let on. Theo always had a way of making me feel at ease, even when things were complicated.
When we arrived at the venue, crowds of people were already arriving in their designer gowns and tuxedos.
Archer moved back over to me, and we waited for the others to leave the car before following them out. Archer stepped out first and then held his hand out. I accepted his hand and carefully stood up, letting my dress fall gently around me. We walked hand in hand up the stairs while cameras flashed around us. Archer could sense my discomfort, and he gently wrapped his arm around my waist and held me to his side. I gave him an appreciative smile, and together, we stopped at checkpoints to smile for the cameras.
Inside, the venue had been turned into a real-life carnival, complete with belly dancers writhing on stage, their half-naked bodies adorned with glitter and jewels. Trapeze artists in tiny bodysuits flew above us, their acrobatic feats made even more dangerous by the fire breathers performing below them. Bright lights and flashy displays assaulted my eyes while loud music and the smell of alcohol filled the air.
The tables were arranged in a perfect circle, surrounding the stage where my father and the other candidates would soon deliver their speeches. Waiters weaved through the crowd, offering trays stacked high with crystal flutes of bubbling champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres. As I mingled with the other guests, Archer's eyes constantly scanned the room, his body tense and ready for any sign of his father's presence.
There was no shortage of scantily clad women pushing their tits up while talking to him, and I rolled my eyes as the current blonde with big fake lips was touching his arm and laughing at something he said. Maddie came up, seeing how annoyed I was, and gave the blonde a disgusted look.
"I brought you a drink. I thought you might need it."
"Oh, you're a saint." I grabbed it from her and downed it.
"Don't let those vultures get to you," Maddie said, reading my thoughts. "They feed off powerful men like Archer and your dad. "
I grabbed another glass from the tray of a passing waitress and chugged it, feeling the warmth of the liquid give me a little pep in my step. "You know what, Maddie? You're right. I'll be right back."
Maddie slapped my butt. "Go get her, tiger."
I practically threw the empty glass at the waiter and stalked over to Archer. I crashed my body against him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and crushed our lips together in a fierce kiss. He responded immediately, pulling me even closer as his hands roamed down my exposed back and gripped my ass possessively. Our tongues battled for dominance, and I moaned wantonly as he explored every inch of my mouth. The blonde woman sneered in frustration, but I was too consumed by desire to care about her judgmental gaze. What started as a simple power play left me breathless and wanting to sneak off into a dark corner with him.
When we finally broke our kiss, the blonde was gone, and Archer only had eyes for me.
Mission accomplished.
"Careful, little rabbit. We wouldn't want Daddy seeing me defile his precious daughter in front of all his campaign donors," he breathed against my lips.
"Maybe I want them to watch." I gave him a sweet, teasing smile.
Archer's eyes darkened, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd and up the stairs. He didn't slow down until we reached a hallway cordoned off with a black velvet rope. He lifted me over it, yanked me behind a pillar, and sat me on a window ledge.
"I have a present for you."
"Another one?" I asked, curious to see if it was another piece of jewelry.
"I wanted to give it to you earlier, but I ruined the moment, and I'm sorry. My father is a difficult man, and I'm afraid once you meet him, you'll decide you don't want to be with me."
"I don't care who your father is. I care about you, Archer King."
"Where did you come from?" He asked, biting his lip and staring at me like he was going to eat me alive. "Spread your legs."
"What?" I gasped .
"Spread your fucking legs."
My eyes widened, but I obliged, parting my legs as far as my dress would allow. I gripped the edge of the window sill and slowly lifted my skirt to reveal my black lace underwear. Archer's breath hitched as he examined me, his eyes dark with desire. He pulled out a small velvet bag from his pocket, and when he opened it, he pulled out a curved, pink, silicone vibrator. He slid his hand in the front of my underwear and ran his fingers through my soaked slit. I leaned my head back against the window and moaned as he pressed his thumb against my clit.
"Not yet, baby," he murmured against my neck.
His other hand pushed the vibrator against my clit, nestled between my lips, and then he removed his hands and pulled my underwear up, leaving the vibrator snugly against my skin. He gave me a devilish smile when he turned the remote on. I bit my lip and bucked my hips, feeling the vibrations pulse against me. His eyes were fixed on me, desire and possessiveness reflected in their depths.
"Good girls get rewarded," he murmured, his voice deep and husky. "And you've been such a good girl, Mila. I want you to feel how much I appreciate you every time you cum tonight."
I moaned as the vibrations intensified, my body reacting to the sudden jolt of pleasure. My fingers clutched at the ledge as I fought to keep myself from falling onto the ground.
Archer leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear, "You're going to come for me over and over tonight, until I decide you're done. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," I managed to choke out, my mind hazy with lust.
He turned the dial, increasing the vibrations until they were full blast. My hips bucked involuntarily, and I moaned loudly as I fell into his arms, crying out his name.
"There's nothing in this world that I want to hear more than my name on your lips as you come," he growled, his eyes dark with hunger.
"You’re going to make me keep this in my underwear all night?" I asked, my breath coming in shallow gasps .
Archer chuckled, his eyes never leaving mine. "I want you to feel it every moment of this night."
I groaned softly as he reached under my dress and adjusted my underwear, keeping the vibrator securely in place. His fingers trailed along my inner thigh, sending shivers down my spine. "You are going to be so wet tonight, baby," he whispered, nipping at my earlobe.
"Do you think anyone will hear it?" I asked, my voice shaking with desire.
Archer smirked. "Hear it? Probably not. But see that beautiful come face you have? Definitely."
I looked at him, my eyes filled with lust and need. "Archer, my father is here. Your father is here, and your mother?—"
"And my brother. And my sister. And all these people we know," he interrupted me. "I don't care. You belong to me, and I want everyone to know it."
I gulped, feeling a sudden surge of heat rush through me. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but Archer caressed my cheek gently, his eyes soft and full of love.
"Let's get back to the party."
Archer took my hand and led me back through the hallway and into the crowd. His fingers remained interlaced with mine as he led me through the crowd and headed toward the stage.
"Mila, come here!" My father waved, gesturing for me to come to him.
"Here goes nothing," I muttered to Archer and planted a smile on my face.
"You look beautiful, daughter," he hugged me and gave me a once-over assessment before pulling back and then looking at Archer.
"Daddy, I want you to meet my boyfriend. This is Archer King. We both go to St. Mary's together." I thought I saw a frown pass across his face when he saw Archer, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "Archer, this is my father, Winston Grey."
"Archer King, you say? You wouldn't happen to be Cassian King's son, would you? "
"That's correct. His youngest, actually." Archer reached out his hand to shake my father's, but my father hesitated to accept it.
"Daddy," I nudged him with my shoulder, breaking the weird staring contest he was having with Archer. Not that I had ever introduced a boy to my father, but surely that was odd behavior, right?
"Very nice to meet you, Archer. Is your father around here somewhere?"
"I imagine he is. He is your opponent in the gubernatorial race, after all," Archer challenged.
What the fuck was I witnessing? Some weird dick-measuring contest? Jesus Christ. This was not a good way to win over my father, Archer.
"Ah, I suppose that would make sense," my father scoffed, planting a fake smile on his face. "Well, it's nice to finally meet my opponent's son and my daughter's boyfriend."
As my father looked at Archer, his eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. He was already strategizing, planning how to use this opportunity to his advantage. I could sense the tension building, and I knew I had to get us out of there before things got out of hand.
"Daddy, I need to use the restroom. Can you excuse us for a moment?" I pleaded, feeling Archer's grip on my hand tighten.
"Of course, Mila. Take your time," my father agreed, and with a nod, he walked off to continue his mingling.
Archer led me away. I looked up at him, feeling vulnerable and exposed, knowing that my father had just sized him up as an opponent and a threat.
I waited until we were out of earshot of my father before turning toward Archer and giving him an exasperated look. "What the hell was that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean. That weird, tension-filled conversation with my father. Your father is running against my father? That would have been nice to know before we got here."
"You're right. I'm sorry. I meant to talk to you about it on the way here. "
"I shouldn't have brought you. Things just got more complicated."
"What do you mean you shouldn't have brought me?" he asked angrily.
"I am fucking the son of my dad's opponent, and you are fucking your father's opponent's daughter. It's like some fucked-up teen movie." I threw my hands up in frustration, tears pricking my eyes.
Archer grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me toward him. "I don't give a fuck about some stupid election. I don't care if your father likes me, and you shouldn't either. What has your father ever done for you except dampen your light and parade you around in front of all his perverted colleagues, forcing you to smile and flirt with them on his behalf?"
"That's not fair," I whispered, feeling the sting of his words, even though I knew they were true. "You don't know my father."
"I know I don't like how he treats you. He doesn't care about you," Archer growled, his eyes burning with anger. "But I do, Mila. I care about you more than anything in this world. I would never hurt you, no matter what my father or your father say or do."
I stared into his eyes, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling. Part of me wanted to run away, to escape the intensity of the situation. But another part of me just wanted to be in his arms, to feel safe and protected.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I could feel his need for me as we poured all of our emotions into each other.
"You're mine, Mila," he whispered, his voice full of possession and love.
I smiled against his lips. "I love hearing you say that."
"I'll say it as often as you need."
"Should we head back and try to avoid your father?" I teased, admittedly hoping to avoid him.
"Too late," Archer mumbled, his gaze looking behind me.
I turned around. My eyes were met with an older version of Archer. His once-dark hair was now dotted with strands of gray, and his eyes were blue, not green. He walked toward us with confident strides, the woman on his arm a mirror image of Archer. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her intense green eyes locked onto mine like Archer's always did. They pierced through my skin, embedding themselves into the fibers of my soul, just like her son's did. The two of them exuded an aura of strength and power, making it impossible for me to look away.
"Archer," I breathed nervously, my heart thudding in my chest.
"Mila, this is my father, Cassian King, and my mother, Eleanor.”
Archer's father stopped in front of us. His expression hardened as he locked eyes with me. "Mila, I presume?" he asked, his voice cold and calculated.
I hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to respond. Archer pulled me closer, his hand tightening on my waist. "Yes, sir. It's nice to meet you," I said, offering a polite smile to Cassian.
Cassian pulled Archer aside while Eleanor led me toward their table and gestured for me to sit.
Eleanor leaned closer to me, her eyes gentle as she took in my features. "You look just like your mother, Mila."
"You knew my mother?" I couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt at the thought of my mother. She died when I was seven, but the pain of losing your mother never really left.
"I would like to think so. We used to be close friends before she passed. You and Archer used to play together when you were little."
I looked at her, shocked, and then at Archer, who seemed to be in a heated exchange with his father. "We did?" I asked, turning my attention back to Eleanor.
"Yes, darling," she sighed, her eyes glossing over with nostalgia. "You and Archer were inseparable when you were younger. You two used to spend hours playing hide and seek in the gardens. Your mother was dead set on arranging a marriage between the two of you."
"I had no idea. Why hasn't Archer mentioned any of this to me?"
"Oh, honey, once your mother died, your father wouldn't let you come over and play anymore. I am not sure if Archer even remembered you at that point. I mean, he was only ten when your mother passed. He had a rough go of it when he no longer saw you, sulking in his room, writing you letters he begged for us to send to you. He missed you." She gave me a sad smile and looked over at her son.
She reached for my hands and held them tightly in hers. "Not a day went by that I did not think about you. I would search the newspaper to see a picture of you with your father or a few of your accomplishments. You've always been such a smart girl. Occasionally, someone in our friend group would mention you, and I always felt sad that you had disappeared from our lives. You were like a daughter to me. And your mother would have turned in her grave if she knew that your father had kept you from us."
I grabbed the closest glass of champagne and downed the whole thing, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.
"Are you okay, love?"
I cleared my throat. "Why didn't my father tell me about you, about Archer?" I asked her.
"I don't know. I tried calling many times, but he never returned my calls. Your mother made me promise to take care of you when she passed, and I feel like I failed her." Her green eyes welled up with tears. "Seeing you tonight brings back so many memories. I am so thankful that you and Archer found a way back to each other. I want to think your mother played a role in this. God rest her soul."
I stared at her, my eyes searching hers to see if she was lying. But I didn’t think she was. As if she could sense my hesitation to believe her, she pulled her phone out of her clutch and started scrolling.
"I recently had all of our printed photos scanned and put into an online album to preserve them," she said as she concentrated on her phone screen. "Let me see... oh, here we go."
She turned her phone to face me, and on the screen was a photo of my mother as I last remembered her, healthy and full of life, me as a little girl, and what I could see was a young Archer with his unruly dark hair, and his green eyes. She continued to swipe, and I was filled with memories of tea parties, chasing ladybugs, and playing hide and seek, him chasing me through the gardens. Memories flooded my mind, and I saw his face, the sweet smile and mischievous grin he still gave me. The way he protected me and the way he made me laugh until my stomach hurt. I saw my mother sitting at the patio table, reading a book and drinking coffee as she watched us run around. Then, Eleanor was there, her wrinkles gone, but with the same warm smile she offered me now.
My stomach dropped as the memory of my mother's funeral appeared, the rain pouring down on us. I felt the pain of losing her all over again, and the pit in my stomach grew. Then, I remembered overhearing a fight between my parents before my mother died. My father was throwing things, yelling at my mother, telling her that I was no longer to have anything to do with the King boy or their family. He wanted my mother to cease contact with Eleanor. Something about a business deal and how the Kings were controlling and didn't want anyone else to do better than them. My mother argued with him, told him how wrong he was, and that his greed would be the death of him. That she wouldn't let him drag me through it. She would take me far away from him. He was not the man she married. My father told her he'd kill her in front of me if she left.
"Mila? Mila?" Archer's voice ripped me out of my flashbacks, and I turned to look at him, tears in my eyes. He touched my cheek and looked accusingly at his mother. "What the hell did you say to her?"
"I told her about her mother and how the two of you played together as children until her mother passed away." Eleanor looked distraught and gave me an apologetic look.
"What are you talking about?" he asked her.
"She's telling the truth." I handed him her phone, the picture of us together still on the screen.
Archer studied the screen, swiping his finger to look through the album, and a look of shock flashed across his face. I could hear a video playing in the background, a child's voice counting to ten and then announcing, "Ready or not, here I come!" There was heavy breathing and then giggles that I knew belonged to me. "I found you," he said. "I'll always find you."
He looked up from the screen, smiling as the realization hit him too. "I didn't remember, Mila. I do now, but I forgot. I'm sorry. "
I pulled him to me, wrapping my arms around him, burying my face into his neck, and letting my emotions flow into him.
"Fate decided you were mine a long time ago," he whispered in my ear, careful to keep this moment private between us.
I let him hold me for a few moments before I sat back and waved a waitress to our table. "Leave it all," I instructed her, and I grabbed a glass and took a big sip.
"Mila, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," Eleanor apologized again.
"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Mrs. King. Now, my father, on the other hand…" I trailed off as I searched the room and found my father sitting only a few tables away, laughing and entertaining a carnival dancer on his lap.
"I need to go find Cassian, but I'll be back. Please don't leave without saying goodbye," she almost pleaded, her green eyes full of turmoil.
"I'm not going anywhere," I assured her, sipping my champagne and staring daggers at my father.