NOVPUBElectra's Pov
I let out a frustrated curse under my breath, still shocked by Uria's retort. I couldn't believe I'd done that—said Seraphina's name at the worst possible moment.
As soon as Uria had pointed it out, I knew I'd screwed up, and the expression on Uria's face only confirmed it. Her eyes, already sharp with annoyance, now burned with fury, and her mouth was pressed into a thin line.
Uria wasn't someone who handled perceived slights gracefully, and right now, I could tell she was one wrong word away from completely losing it.
Normally, I'd have a smooth excuse ready, some clever spin to deny or deflect the situation entirely, but this time? My mind was blank. Seraphina's name had slipped out so easily, so naturally, that I couldn't even think of a plausible way to deny it, and worse, I wasn't entirely sure why it had slipped out in the first place.
Uria crossed her arms, her body tense as she waited for me to speak. "Are you seriously not going to say anything, Electra?" she demanded, her voice laced with impatience. "And before you even try to deny it, just let me tell you that I heard you loud and clear, sweetheart. You said her name."
I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair, my frustration mounting—not just at her but at myself. "What do you want me to say, Uria?" I snapped. "Yes, I said her name. It was a slip of the tongue. I got carried away, that's all."
Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the disbelief etched into her features. "Carried away?" she repeated, her tone mocking. "So, what, am I here as just some substitute for whatever little fantasy you have about that... that girl?"
Her words stung more than I cared to admit, and I clenched my fists at my sides to keep my temper in check. Uria had a way of pushing my buttons, and right now she was doing it expertly, but deep down, I couldn't blame her for being furious. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Hell, if the roles were reversed, I'd probably feel the same way. Not that I'd ever be in such a situation. It was impossible.
"Don't flatter yourself, Uria," I shot back, my voice sharp. "You showed up at my door on your own accord. I didn't exactly invite you in for this."
Her expression faltered just for a moment before she quickly masked it with a glare. "And you kissed me first, Electra. You initiated it," she pointed out. "But clearly, I wasn't the one you had on your mind."
I wanted to deny it, to throw her off and deny having anyone else on my mind, but the truth was, she wasn't wrong. Seraphina had been on my mind far more than I cared to admit.
I let out a long, tired sigh, hoping it would calm the situation. "Uria," I began, my voice laced with a forced calm, "can you just let it go? It was a mistake, a slip of the tongue. You're making a big deal out of nothing. Instead of wasting time arguing about this, we could be doing something much more enjoyable."
Uria's narrowed eyes told me she wasn't ready to drop it. "A mistake?" she repeated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're calling it a mistake? Electra, you don't just say another girl's name—especially that girl's name—unless she's on your mind. Tell me the truth, Electra, do you like her? Do you like that little bitch?"
Her words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I was silent. My frown deepened as I sat up in bed, staring at her. "What the hell are you talking about?" I snapped. "Why would you even ask me something like that? Do you honestly think I like Seraphina? Is that what this is about?"
Uria shrugged, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement, which only made me angrier. "You tell me, Electra," she said, her voice smooth yet cutting. "For you to have mentioned someone else's name while I was literally going down on you—" She gestured toward me, her voice rising slightly, "—it means something. You're clearly thinking about that little bitch. That much is clear."
I rolled my eyes, feeling my irritation flare into something closer to anger. "You're talking nonsense, Uria. Absolute nonsense." I leaned closer to her, my tone growing sharper. "I don't like Seraphina, not in that way, and you're ridiculous for even suggesting it."
"Really?" Uria tilted her head, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. "Then why the hell was her name the first thing out of your mouth when you should've been focused on me?"
I rolled my eyes so hard it felt like they might get stuck. "Oh, for crying out loud. It was a mistake, Uria. You're being ridiculous."
"Am I?" she shot back, leaning forward so her face was inches from mine. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you're the one lying to yourself."
The audacity of her words ignited a spark of anger in me. "Uria, stop talking," I said, my voice low and edged with warning, "you're pushing it."
Her smirk didn't falter. "You can get mad all you want, Electra, but we both know I'm right. If you don't like her, then why are you so defensive?"
I clenched my jaw, willing myself to stay calm. "I'm defensive because you're accusing me of something so ridiculous it's almost laughable. I don't like Seraphina. She's not even on my radar."
"Good," Uria replied sharply, leaning back and tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Because if I ever find out you do, that little bitch is going to regret ever crossing paths with you. Do you understand me?"
I stared at her, the intensity of her gaze meeting my own. "Is that a threat, Uria?" I asked, my tone cold.
"Call it whatever you want," she said nonchalantly. "Just don't like her or anyone else in this school. Especially her."
I continued staring down at Uria, watching her frown deepen with each passing second. "And what, exactly, are you planning to do if I ever decide to like someone, Uria?" I questioned.
Her response came in a low voice, her words laced with a kind of dark certainty that sent a jolt through me. "I'd kill whoever it was."
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer audacity of her response. A flicker of genuine surprise flared in me, though I quickly masked it with a smirk. Her boldness wasn't entirely new, but this level of possessiveness was.
She had just openly admitted that the mere idea of me falling for someone—a laughable concept in itself—would be enough for her to commit murder, and that was the last thing I had expected to hear.
Did she truly believe she had the power to dictate anything about me? The thought alone was infuriating.
My smirk darkened, and before she could say another word, I moved. Wrapping my hand around her throat, I caught her completely off guard, forcing her back as I pressed forward, now kneeling on the bed and towering over her.
Her breath hitched, and though her body tensed, her sly smile didn't waver.
"Don't you dare," I hissed, my grip tightening ever so slightly. "Don't you dare think that you're someone special because you're not, Uria. You're just another bedwarmer and plaything, and you're here because I let you be here. So don't get ahead of yourself."
Despite the pressure around her throat, she let out a low, raspy laugh, and her audacity, even in this moment, sent a ripple of irritation through me. "I don't mind being just a bed warmer, Electra," she managed, her voice strained.
Her sly smile grew darker, her eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "But the moment you try to limit yourself to just one girl, Electra..." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "I won't let it work out. All hell will break loose, and I'll kill whoever it is."
Her laugh, low and almost unhinged, filled the room, and I couldn't believe that she had the audacity to find this amusing.
I stared at her, my grip tightening reflexively before I loosened it just enough for her to breathe more easily. My lips curled into a short, dark laugh of my own. Her words lingered in my mind, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing they'd surprised me.
"Keep laughing, Uria," I murmured, my tone dangerously calm. I released her neck, letting my hand drop as I straightened up slightly, still hovering over her.
Her breathing was heavier now, but her smirk hadn't faded.
My eyes bore into hers, and I allowed the tension to stretch for a moment longer before stepping back, a smirk playing on my lips. "Get out of the bed," I ordered, my voice cold.
Uria raised an eyebrow, clearly curious but not daring to push her luck further—yet.
"And get on your knees, Uria," I added, my tone sharp. "It seems to me like you need to be reminded of your place, and it's certainly not sitting here thinking you can dictate anything to me. Now, let's get you tied up, shall we?"
