Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 96 96: Open Invitation

Third-person POV

Seraphina paced back and forth in her room, her nerves threatening to consume her entirely.

'Why did I even invite her?' she thought for the hundredth time, groaning under her breath. Her impulsive decision to ask Electra to come over during dinner now felt like a boulder pressing down on her chest, and she couldn't help but replay the smirk on Electra's face when she'd casually agreed, making the whole ordeal feel like a game she'd already lost.

She threw herself on her bed, staring up at the ceiling as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. 'What if she tries something? What if she doesn't? What if she mocks me? What if I make an idiot of myself?'

She let out a frustrated sigh, burying her face in her hands. She glanced nervously at the door, half-hoping Electra wouldn't show up, but deep down, she knew better.

Electra Hook was as audacious as she had been when she was still Electra Vale. There was no way she'd back out of a challenge or an invitation, no matter how awkward it might be.

And Seraphina hated how that made her feel. She hated the inexplicable pull Electra still had over her. Despite everything, despite knowing she shouldn't, she couldn't deny the electric thrill that surged through her every time she thought of Electra being near.

She sat up and caught her reflection in the mirror. The robe she was wearing clung to her petite frame, exposing just enough of her collarbone to make her feel both self-conscious and confident at the same time.

'Why did I pick this?' she wondered, fiddling with the edges of the fabric.

It reminded her too much of Electra—how she had carried herself with unapologetic confidence, often wearing robes like these without a care in the world.

But Seraphina wasn't Electra. Not really. Sure, everyone in Elysium seemed to fear her now, just as they had feared Electra, but she didn't feel like the menacing figure they seemed to see.

She was still Seraphina inside—awkward, unsure, and entirely too vulnerable. Her new appearance and Electra's reputation had somehow fused into a version of herself she didn't entirely recognize, and it unsettled her.

A sharp knock on the door made her freeze. Her heart leapt into her throat, and for a moment, she debated pretending she wasn't there, but she knew better.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to her feet. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the doorknob. Calm down. You've got this.

She pulled the door open, and there she was—Electra Hook, leaning casually against the doorframe, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

"Evening, Seraphina," Electra drawled, her voice smooth and self-assured. Her piercing eyes raked over Seraphina's figure, lingering just a second too long. "Nice robe."

Seraphina's cheeks flushed, but she forced herself to stand taller, meeting Electra's gaze. "You're here," she said simply, her voice steadier than she felt.

"Of course, I'm here. Did you think I wouldn't come?" Electra stepped forward, walking into the room without waiting for an invitation. "I was curious, you know. Not every day someone like you invites someone like me to their room."

Seraphina shrugged, her nonchalant demeanor hiding the storm brewing inside her. "Well," she said, her voice light, "you wanted to know if I was into girls, so I figured I'd give the new girl a proper introduction to just how much I'm into them."

Electra chuckled lightly, the sound low and amused, but before she could respond, Seraphina added smoothly, "I was just about to get into the bath." She paused, letting the words sink in before tilting her head ever so slightly. "Would you like to join me?"

She watched as recognition flickered in Electra's sharp eyes, just for a moment. The same line—the very one Electra had used on her before their lives had shifted so drastically—delivered back to her, but Seraphina kept her expression perfectly neutral, giving nothing away, though her heart hammered in her chest.

Would Electra remember? And more importantly, would she realize it wasn't a coincidence?

Electra stared at her, her eyes narrowing slightly. Was this some odd coincidence, or had Seraphina said it intentionally? Her gaze lingered, trying to read her, but Seraphina's face gave away nothing.

The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of Seraphina's lips, but her overall expression remained neutral, nonchalant, as if she hadn't just turned the tables on Electra in her own unique way.

When Electra didn't respond immediately, Seraphina tilted her head again, her voice soft but teasing, "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're not interested."

The challenge was clear, but it was laced with enough subtlety to make her appear unfazed.

Electra snapped out of her thoughts, her lips curling into a smirk that spoke of her amusement and confidence. "It would be my pleasure," she replied smoothly, her tone dripping with ease as if she were fully in control of the moment. But deep down, she couldn't help the nagging feeling that Seraphina was playing her own game now.

The tension in the room grew heavy with anticipation as Seraphina made her way toward the bathroom. She had never been so bold before, never so willingly stepped into the unknown, but something about Electra always made her want to push boundaries, to test her own limits.

As she reached for the tie of her robe, her hands trembled, but slowly, she slid the robe from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

Electra, never one to back down from a challenge—or an invitation, for that matter—met her gaze with a raised brow and an unreadable smile.

Without a word, she reached for the hem of her tank top and pulled it over her head, discarding it carelessly on the floor, and her shorts followed, leaving her standing completely naked.

By the time they reached the bathroom, both girls were already naked, and Seraphina stepped into the water first, the heat licking up her legs and sending a shiver through her body.

She lowered herself slowly, the warmth enveloping her as she settled in. For a moment, she let herself relax, her head tilting back and her eyes fluttering closed, but the feeling of being watched tugged her back to the present.

Opening her eyes, she turned her head to find Electra still standing at the edge of the tub, her arms crossed and an amused smirk playing on her lips.

"Are you planning to join me, or do you prefer to watch?" Seraphina asked, her voice soft but laced with challenge.

The corners of her mouth lifted in a smile.

Electra chuckled. "I can't believe this is really happening," she muttered, almost to herself, but her amusement didn't stop her. She stepped into the bath, the water rippling around her as she slid into the opposite end.

For a moment, they sat in silence until Seraphina reached for the bar of soap resting on a nearby dish. She turned it over in her hands, her gaze flicking up to meet Electra's. That same sly smile returned as she extended the soap toward her.

"Here," she said, her tone light yet commanding. "Wash me."

Electra raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. A sly smile played on her lips as her fingers closed around the soap. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" she said, her voice a mix of amusement and intrigue.

Seraphina didn't respond. She couldn't. Her confidence was already teetering, but she was determined not to show it. Instead, she remained still as Electra stepped closer, their proximity making Seraphina acutely aware of every inch of her body.

The water rippled gently around Electra as she knelt slightly, her fingers brushing Seraphina's shoulder as she began to lather the soap.

The first touch sent a shiver down Seraphina's spine. Electra's movements were slow, almost teasing, as her hands slid the soap across Seraphina's arms. The warmth of Electra's hands mixed with the slickness of the soap, creating a sensation Seraphina couldn't quite describe.

It was intimate—too intimate—and yet she didn't want it to stop.

"Relax," Electra murmured, her voice low and velvety, an amused smirk still tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're so tense."

Seraphina took a deep breath, trying to will her body to cooperate. She felt Electra's hands glide over her shoulders, the soap leaving trails of tiny bubbles in its wake.

The touch was confident but not rough, as though Electra knew exactly what she was doing, which, knowing Electra, she probably did.

As Electra's hands moved lower, over the curve of her collarbone and down her arms, Seraphina closed her eyes. It was easier not to look at Electra's face, not to see the look of mischief and satisfaction in her eyes.

"You're quiet," Electra said, her voice breaking the silence. "What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

Seraphina's eyes snapped open, and she immediately regretted it. Electra's gaze was locked on hers, sharp and assessing, as though she could read every single thought Seraphina was trying so hard to suppress.

Determined not to seem like an idiot, she would quickly blurt out the first thing she could think of to regain control of the situation. "Kiss me."