Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 65: Impromptu

Electra's Pov

Irina's glare was sharp enough to cut glass as she leaned against the wall of my room, arms crossed, her entire demeanor radiating annoyance.

Her tone dripped with irritation as she said, "I cannot believe you had Uria in your bed last night. Have you completely lost your mind, Electra?"

I leaned back in my chair, feigning innocence, because nothing irked Irina more than pretending I didn't understand why she was upset.

"What did I do that was so wrong?" I asked, adding a shrug for good measure. "I needed a distraction. Uria showed up, and I decided to have my... needs met."

My smirk was deliberate, meant to ruffle her feathers even more.

Roxana, who had been lounging on my bed, shot up abruptly, her face twisted in disgust. "You could have called literally anyone else," she snapped, running a hand through her hair. "But no, you went for her. That girl is a ticking time bomb, Electra. If you keep this up, you're going to reignite her obsession, and we all know how that ended last time."

I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. "You're both acting like I've committed a crime. Relax. I have everything under control."

Irina scoffed, pushing off the wall to stand directly in front of me. "Control?" she repeated incredulously. "The same kind of 'control' you had last time when Uria lost her damn mind and started following you everywhere? Sending you creepy letters? Showing up unannounced? Is that the control you're talking about?"

Roxana chimed in, her voice rising with frustration. "You dumped her for a reason, Electra. Twice! And now you're just letting her crawl back into your bed like nothing happened?"

I sighed, leaning forward in my chair and rubbing my temples. "First of all, it's not like this is an everyday thing. It's happened twice since I broke things off with her."

Irina and Roxana exchanged a look; their synchronized eyerolls practically choreographed at this point. Irina let out a sharp laugh, completely devoid of humor. "Oh, well, twice! That makes it so much better," she said sarcastically. "Why don't you just invite her to move into your room while you're at it?"

I raised a hand, cutting off her next rant before it could begin. "Look, I appreciate the concern, but I can handle Uria. I controlled her once, and I can do it again. She's not a threat."

Irina's jaw tightened as she shook her head. "You don't get it. Uria isn't just crazy—she's dangerous. Her obsession with you isn't something you can manage forever. I can bet on anything that she's already showing signs of spiraling, and if you don't stop this now, she's going to drag you down her pithole of madness all over again."

Roxana crossed her arms, her voice lower but no less firm. "This isn't about us being dramatic, Electra. This is about you not seeing the bigger picture. Uria doesn't just want you; she wants to own you and have you as obsessed with her as she is with you; if she feels like she can't have you, she'll do something drastic. You know that."

Their words stirred an uncomfortable feeling in my chest, one I refused to acknowledge as doubt. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me falter. "I appreciate your unsolicited therapy session, but I'm fine. Uria's fine. Everything is fine."

Irina narrowed her eyes at me, clearly unconvinced. "Electra, you're playing with fire. Don't say we didn't warn you when this blows up in your face."

Roxana shook her head, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like "hopeless," before flopping back onto the bed. "Do what you want, but don't come crying to us when Uria goes full psycho again."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair with a confidence I didn't entirely feel. "Noted. Anything else you'd like to add, or can we move on from this riveting intervention?"

Irina shot me one last glare before turning on her heel and heading for the door. "I'm done wasting my breath," she muttered, slamming the door behind her as she left.

Roxana remained on the bed, staring at me with an exasperated expression. "You're impossible, you know that?"

I shrugged, picking at the edge of the chair arm. "And yet, you still stick around."

"Because I'm waiting for the day you finally learn your lesson," she retorted. "It'll be a front-row seat to the disaster."

After Irina and Roxana left my room, I found myself staring at the ceiling, tapping my nails against the wooden arm of my chair.

The thought of wasting another day inside this room was grating on my nerves. I hated the idea that I was slowly becoming a homebody. It wasn't like me. Clubs, parties, and sneaking out had been my lifeblood.

Lately, though, I had been staying indoors more than I liked, and I was starting to resent it.

I stood up abruptly, deciding right then and there that I wouldn't let another weekend slip by in boredom. I needed a distraction—something—or rather someone—to spice things up. My mind instantly wandered to my little dove, Seraphina, and a wicked smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

She was the perfect choice.

But calling Deena or one of the others to fetch her would be far too predictable. If I wanted Seraphina to understand the kind of control I had over her, it had to come from me directly. I had to pluck her from her little corner of safety myself.

I crossed the room to my walk-in closet, thumbing through the rows of casual clothes I kept hidden away for moments like these. I despised the attention that came with being recognized as the princess.

Being recognized as the princess was something I avoided at all costs whenever I went out because people expected me to be approachable and polite—basically, someone I wasn't.

The idea of being stopped by fawning peasants desperate to tell me how much they adored me made me want to vomit. If they really knew me, they'd stay far away, but they didn't know me, and that was the problem.

Shoving that unpleasant thought aside, I grabbed a plain, oversized hoodie and paired it with some ripped jeans. Nothing that screamed royalty—just enough to blend in.

I added a black hat, pulling it low enough to cover most of my face. One last glance in the mirror confirmed I looked like an average nobody, and I couldn't help but smirk at the irony. I preferred it this way.

With everything in place, I grabbed my phone, slipped it into my pocket, and made my way out of my room. My destination? Seraphina's dorm. Whether she liked it or not, she was coming with me.

The halls were relatively quiet as I made my way across halls, and I appreciated the calm. It gave me time to think about how I'd approach her.

Would I be gentle, coaxing her with my so-called charm? Or should I lean into the power I had over her, reminding her that saying no wasn't an option?

Both had their merits.

When I reached her door, I hesitated for only a second before knocking, hoping that she'd be the one to get the door and not one of her roommates.

The sound of movement inside was immediate, followed by her soft, unsure voice. "Who is it?"

"Open up, little dove," I said, keeping my tone light. "It's me."

The silence on the other side of the door was almost comical. I imagined her standing there, wide-eyed and panicked, debating whether to let me in. The thought made me grin.

After a long pause, the door creaked open just a fraction, and Seraphina's face appeared in the gap. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and her expression was a mix of confusion and fear.

"Electra? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

I leaned against the doorframe, tilting my head. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

She hesitated, and I could practically see the internal struggle playing out in her mind. Finally, she stepped back, opening the door fully to let me in, and I walked past her without waiting for an invitation.

"You haven't answered my question," she said, closing the door behind me.

I turned to face her, noting how she fidgeted nervously with the hem of her oversized sweater. It was endearing, in a way, how completely out of her depth she looked.

"I'm bored," I said simply, as if that explained everything. "And I've decided we're going out."

Her eyes widened even more, and she took a step back. "Out? Where?"

"Does it matter?" I shrugged, crossing my arms. "The point is, you're coming with me. Now grab your shoes and whatever else you need. We're leaving."

Seraphina blinked at me, clearly caught off guard. "I-I can't just leave. I have—"

I raised an eyebrow, cutting her off. "You don't have anything more important to do, sweetheart. Am I wrong?"

"I... I don't know if I should," she mumbled.

I stepped closer, closing the distance between us until she had to tilt her head up to meet my gaze. "Seraphina," I said, my tone low, "I wasn't asking."