Page 126 of Conquered (Highgate Preparatory Academ:y Compendium)

L ike the Halloween party, there are doormen waiting to let us into the ballroom. Unlike the Halloween party, they are dressed in tuxedos with no scary makeup. They open the double wooden doors with a flourish, and I can’t help the gasp of breath and my widening eyes.

The room has once again been transformed.

Huge bouquets of red roses sit atop white covered tables, red petals strewn across the surface of them, and golden chairs tied with red organza bows seated around them.

One wall looks to be entirely covered in red roses, real not fake, and all above the huge buffet table are hanging branches dripping with pink and red flowers and glass globes with flickering candles inside.

“They really do not scrimp on this shit, huh?” I say aloud as we walk down the small set of steps and head towards a table in the front.

“You’re only just realising this, Princess?” Ash scoffs, and I scowl at him, earning another chuckle. Dickbucket!

He pulls out my chair, pushing it in as I sit down, then calls over one of the waiters waiting staff who’s holding a tray of rose champagne. Jax sits down next to me, a huge plate of food in front of him.

“I see your appetite has returned,” I tease, a small tilt of his lips causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach.

“Here,” Kai says softly, placing a plate in front of me, with a selection of some yummy looking foods.

“Thanks,” I say, looking up and catching his gaze.

He looks uncomfortable, which isn’t unusual for him in these kinds of social situations.

I can still see the darkness lurking in the depth of his amber orbs, the tight lines around his eyes giving away the strain that he’s currently under.

I just wish he was able to share his burden, knowing that it’s what he needs.

To exorcise his demons. Otherwise, they just fester, eating away at your soul until nothing is left but desperation and the pitch black of loneliness.

A hyena’s laugh jerks me from my thoughts, and I clench my jaw when I see Amber the Cuntmuffin leading Loki to the dance floor. I’m staring so intently at them that I don’t even know what song is playing, and if looks could kill, she’d be a pile of ashes and fake lashes on the floor.

Loki’s whole body is tight when she starts grinding up on him, her skinny arse almost falling out of her dress, it’s that short. I’m all for people wearing what they want, freedom of expression and all that, but what she wears is barely more than underwear and just reeks of desperation.

“Princess,” Ash warns under his breath, and I take a steadying inhale, trying to relax my tense shoulders.

“Lilly!” I hear Willow call, and turning my head, I see her striding towards me, pulling a guy by his hand.

She looks stunning in a dress the same colour as her eyes, the shape a simple, elegant fitted bodice with a flared skirt that ends just past her knee.

“Hey, Willow. You look beautiful,” I tell her, getting up to give her a hug. We’ve become close over the past few weeks, and it made me realise how much I was missing having a girlfriend.

“So do you!” she exclaims, giving me an appreciative once over as we pull apart. “Oh, this is Ben.” She indicates the guy standing behind her.

He’s cute, in a kinda All-American way, all thick brown hair and sparkling white teeth.

“Hey,” he says, flashing a smile, which dims a little as Ash stands next to me, no doubt scowling. “Ah, h-hi man.”

Ash remains silent—fucking rude twatwaffle that he is—until I elbow him in the ribs.

“Hello, Ben,” he drawls in that low voice of his, and whilst it makes me shiver, poor Ben visibly swallows. I roll my eyes.

“Don’t mind him, Ben. He was hit with the arsehole stick on the way up from Hell,” I tell him, watching as his eyes widen, flicker to Ash, then look back at Willow, who’s positively shaking with repressed laughter.

“You’ll pay for that later, Princess,” Ash whispers in my ear, his tone dark.

Oh, I fucking hope so .

“Uh, I-I’ll go get some drinks,” Ben squeaks out, practically tripping in his haste to get away. Willow sighs.

“Did you have to scare him off?” she asks Ash, hands on her hips as she scowls at him.

“If he was any good, he wouldn’t have been scared off,” Jax says behind us, and Willow gapes at him.

“Hang on a fuck, you speak?” she exclaims, her hand on her chest and her big eyes even wider with her fake sarcasm.

I hear a bark of Jax’s laughter, which really does shock Willow if her ‘what the fuck’ look is anything to go by. I turn, planning on taking my seat again when I catch sight of Amber pawing at Loki like he’s a fucking dog toy.

Oh, I’m gonna cut a bitch .

“Excuse me,” I mumble, and without pausing to think through what I am doing, I march over to the DJ and demand the next song. There must be something crazed in my gaze because he nods, his eyes wide and palms held up in a placating gesture.

I set my sights on Amber, still fawning over a stockstill Loki. He catches my gaze as the opening beats of The Boy is Mine by Liv Lovelle come over the speakers, and his eyes go wide as I walk right up to them, invading their personal space.

Amber turns round, presumably to see what Loki is staring at, a smug as fuck grin coming over her lips when she sees me standing there.

Unfortunately for her, Liv begins to sing, and I mouth along, holding her increasingly narrow gaze as the lyrics start to sink in.

I start to dance, gyrating up against her, touching her with dismissive gestures as I successfully manoeuvre myself so that I’m standing in between her and Loki.

I keep her gaze and keep singing along as I start to grind my arse into Loki, his hands coming up instinctively to my waist, even as he leans down to whisper in my ear.

“What are you doing, Pretty Girl?” It ends on a groan as I move my body so that I’m rubbing up against the bulge in his trousers that is now very prominent. “Fuck, you are going to get us in a shit load of trouble, baby,” he rasps, pulling me closer, his hands tightening their grip on me.

Amber’s face is as red as the roses that surround us as she notes the move, standing there watching as her fiancé basically dry humps me on the dance floor.

“Get your dirty whore hands off of him!” she screeches, taking a menacing step towards me, fake nails ready to claw my eyes out.

“Touch her, and I’ll fucking kill you,” Loki growls out, continuing to dance with me, his words and the venom of his tone halting Amber in her tracks.

“B-but, you're mine!” she wails, angry tears filling her eyes. “We’re engaged!”

“Oh, honey,” I reply, my voice sickly sweet as my hand comes up into Loki’s hair, pulling his face down into my neck. He places a kiss there, a small moan leaving my smirking lips as the spot tingles. “He will never be yours.”

She stamps her foot—legit stamps it like a three year old—then spins on her shiny Louboutins, storming from the room.

“Are you quite finished fucking my fiancée on the dancefloor?” Ash’s voice drawls from the side of us, and I turn my head to take in his affected posture of boredom. I’d believe it, too, if it weren’t for the way his grey eyes spit with anger.

Whoops .

“Told you, baby,” Loki sighs, placing one final kiss on my shoulder before straightening up, but not stepping back.

My eyes narrow, my body flushing hot.

“Fuck Black Knight Corp.,” I hiss, loud enough for him to hear but no one else. Both Ash’s brows raise at my ire. “And fuck Julian cuntish Vanderbilt.”

I spin, slamming my lips on Loki’s as my hands tangle in his silky hair.

He remains still for a millisecond, clearly in shock, then with a deep, panty melting groan, he kisses me back, pulling me closer with a firm grip on my arse.

I vaguely hear gasps from those that surround us, but I’ve no more fucks to give. Unless, of course, it’s with my guys.

Although I long to give into Loki’s demanding kiss, I break away, panting and trembling with a heady mix of lust and anger. Turning back, I find Ash still standing there. He looks less angry, a softness to his gaze, even though there’s a tightness about his shoulders that tells me he’s worried.

Stepping away from Loki, I step into Ash, cupping his face with my palm and bringing him down to my lips.

He comes readily, his lips meeting mine in a kiss full of tenderness and understanding.

There’s definitely another gasp from our audience— what, are we in some kind of teen movie?

— but like before, it’s hardly on my radar as he destroys me with his soul aching kiss.

It’s sweet and beautiful, like the sun on your face after a long cold winter, and I bask in it.

Reluctantly pulling back, I look past him to see that Kai and Jax have joined us, encircling us in their protection, gazing on with heat in their eyes. I step away from Ash, Jax stepping towards me.

“Fuck Black Knight,” he says, his voice fierce, his blue eyes wild and piercing. He grabs me around the waist, pulling me roughly towards him so that I fall into his huge chest.

His lips smash onto mine, his tongue demanding entry like this is a declaration of war.

And it is. I will no longer be under Julian’s rule.

I’ll marry Ash because aside from the fact that a part of me really fucking wants to, it makes sense just in case anything does happen to me.

I want to make sure that my control over the company goes to them so that they can continue to work towards overthrowing the current regime.

But I will no longer let anyone tell me what I can and can’t do.

Jax breaks the kiss as abruptly as he started it, proud approval shining in his eyes, and as I turn to face Kai, who has come up behind me, a loud crack lands on my arse, the pain making me gasp alongside the rest of the students who are staring at us with eyes hungry for scandal.

“Lilly, darling,” Kai murmurs, holding me captive in his honey gaze as he steps into me, his hands coming up to cup my face tenderly.

My own rest on his chest, relishing in the fact that I can feel his thundering heart through the silk of his suit jacket.

“You are a Queen, and we are your loyal Knights, ready to go into battle on your behalf, and bathe in the blood of our enemies,” he tells me, his eyes boring into mine as he speaks of war like a love declaration.

His full lips lower, pressing onto mine as he holds my face, and my world rocks and tips under his caress.

He worships me with his kiss, his tongue tasting like champagne and victory, or a war already won.

The rest of the room fades away as we embrace, the music, the decorations, and other students becoming nothing more than a memory as our lips move together.

We part, taking a final breath of each other before separating.

I look around at them—my Knights in tarnished armour—and my soul cries with joy at having found our mates.

They look fierce, dressed to the nines in their black suits and bow ties, with matching expressions of determination on their breathtakingly handsome faces.

My gaze moves out into the room, seeing many have their phones out, no doubt recording this latest scandal to upload as soon as we leave. I stare into one device, my jaw set and shoulders back.

“The Black Knights are mine,” I declare, my war cry carrying out across the suddenly quiet room as one song finishes. “Try to take them away from me at your peril.”

My message isn't for the viewers of TikTok, or Instagram, but for Julian Vanderbilt himself. I know that he has eyes everywhere and is watching our every move. I want him to know that he’s no longer calling all the shots.

“Let’s go,” I say to the guys, who continue to surround me as we start to make our way out of the ballroom.

“Lilly!” I hear just as we reach the top of the steps.

Willow rushes towards me. “Aside from the fact that that was fucking awesome, even if I’m not sure why it was necessary,” she says, and I flush, knowing that there is so much that I can’t tell her yet, if ever.

“You left your purse at mine yesterday.”

I frown, not recalling having even been at hers yesterday, as she hands me a small green silk purse, long and thin.

She gives me a look, and like a camera zooming in, it comes back to me.

The pregnancy test. Clutching the small bag, feeling the hard edges of the box inside, I throw my arms around her in a tight hug.

“Thank you,” I murmur in her ear. She hugs me back just as tight.

“What are BFFs for, huh? Good luck, babe.”

My heart pounds as I let her go, turning to resume walking out of the doors which open as we approach. Dread swirls in my stomach, alongside fluttering butterflies, my thoughts swirling like a vortex.

Did I just fuck up declaring war on Julian? Will he retaliate? What happens next?

But a single burning question rises above all the others, repeating in my head until it’s all that I can think about.

What if I’m pregnant?