Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 304: The Last Shot

Electra’s POV

I was pacing again.

Back and forth across the training ground like a damn lunatic while my team, no, my friends, watched me in awkward silence. I knew I looked unhinged, but I didn’t care.

The tournament was closing in fast, and every second that passed felt like a slap across the face, while every step I took reminded me time and time again that contrary to what I thought at first, I wasn’t prepared, and it wasn’t just me, we weren’t prepared, not with the team we had. And the solution Irina had just offered?

I hated it.

I turned and looked at her, trying to keep my voice calm. "Are you seriously telling me bringing Deena back is the only way?"

Irina sighed like she’d been holding that breath in for days. "I don’t like it either, Electra. You know I don’t. I hate that two-faced backstabbing bitch more than I hate long essays and group assignments combined, but... she was part of our enchanted archery team. She trained with us, she knows the routine, and more importantly, she can shoot. We don’t have time to train someone else from scratch."

I groaned, dragging my hand down my face.

Gods, this was a nightmare.

I turned away from her and stomped a few more steps across the field, trying to let the anger shake off with my movement, but it didn’t. It just sat heavier in my chest.

"She betrayed me," I muttered. "She was more than willing to sell me out to my mother and was even willing to kill me. How do we know she won’t do it again?"

Irina didn’t respond to that, probably because she didn’t have an answer.

From the sidelines, Roxana cleared her throat.

"I don’t want to make this worse," she said carefully, "but there’s something else."

I turned to face her, already knowing it wouldn’t be good.

She looked toward Seraphina for a quick second, just enough to make me feel uneasy, before she said it.

"We also need to talk about Seraphina."

My stomach dropped. "Roxana," I warned.

"No offense to her, really," Roxana said quickly, hands raised like she was bracing for impact. "But she doesn’t know anything about enchanted archery, not even the basics. She only joined because you practically dragged her into the team for... let’s just say, non-sporting reasons."

My jaw tensed. Seraphina, who was standing off to the side, looked down at her feet. I didn’t like the way her shoulders tensed up or how quiet she got.

"This isn’t just some fun practice anymore," Roxana went on. "This is the Revernyn tournament. If we’re going to face teams from other kingdoms, and Hunter’s team, no less, we need people who can hold their own. Deena, for all her flaws, can. Seraphina..."

"She’s trying," I cut in sharply. "She’s going to learn."

"And we respect that," Penelope finally spoke up, arms crossed and voice soft. "But we also need to be honest. Seraphina is sweet, but she’s not a fighter, Electra. At least not like the rest of us. She lacks the ability to get dirty and violent. We don’t."

Seraphina flinched at that. It was subtle, but I caught it.

"Great," I said bitterly. "So your big plan is to bring the traitor back and kick out one of the few people who’s actually stood by me?"

"Electra," Irina said slowly, "we’re not kicking her out. We just need someone stronger on the field. That’s all. If you think logically, this is for your own good, Electra. We can’t let Hunter win."

I let out a long, slow sigh, my eyes sweeping across the field and landing on Seraphina again. She still hadn’t said a word and just stood there with her arms folded tightly across her chest, looking like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

"Seraphina," I said gently, "what do you think?"

She blinked, clearly surprised I’d asked. Then, suddenly, she smiled.

"Oh, thank the stars," she said, letting out a breath that sounded like she’d been holding it forever. "I’m so glad you finally asked."

That caught me off guard.

She stepped forward slightly. "First of all, do you remember that insane stunt you pulled when you made me join this team? The one where you had me stand still with a freaking apple, or whatever the hell it was, on my head, and then shot an arrow at it like we were in some kind of circus act?"

I winced. "I didn’t actually hit you."

"Yeah, I know," she said, shaking her head, "but Electra, do you know how many nights I woke up thinking about that moment? I’m not mad, really. Not anymore, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t traumatized."

I let out a tiny laugh, even though I felt terrible. "Okay, yeah... I probably should’ve thought that through a bit more."

"You think?" she said with a dramatic eye roll, then giggled. "Anyway, you know I didn’t join the team because I loved archery. I joined because you wanted me there, but the truth is, I want nothing to do with Enchanted Archery. Not on a field, not with magical arrows flying around, and certainly not with people aiming at flying targets or, God forbid, each other."

"So you’re okay with stepping down?" I asked, still unsure.

"Okay with it?" She smiled again. "I’m relieved. I’ll even help you find someone who actually enjoys it. Someone who’s not going to flinch every time a bowstring snaps."

That made something in my chest relax. I hadn’t even realized how tightly wound I’d been about the whole thing. I had built up this idea in my head that Seraphina would be hurt, that she’d think I was replacing her for someone better, but all along, she’d just been waiting for me to ask.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

She reached over and squeezed my arm. "Just win, that’s all I care about."

I nodded, then turned back to Roxana and Penelope. "Okay. Go bring Deena to the training grounds. I don’t care how you do it, drag her here if you have to."

Penelope smirked. "With pleasure."

They both turned and took off in the direction of the dorms. I watched them go, then felt a shift beside me.

Irina had crossed her arms, tapping her finger against her chin like she was debating whether or not to speak.

"What is it now?" I asked, already bracing myself.

"I might know someone," she said slowly. "Someone who could be our sixth member."

My brow lifted. "Okay, so who are sharing e talking about here?"

She hesitated, then muttered, "Yura Ashwyn."

I stared at her. "Yura... Ashwyn?"

Irina gave me a long, guilty look. "Yeah, I know, Yuna’s twin."

The air between us went still.

"You mean," I said slowly, "the girl we nearly drowned?"

Irina gave me a wince. "The one and only."

I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. "That girl hates me. Hell, she hates all of us."

"Yeah, I figured that’s what you’d say."

"And you think she’d join us? Why would she want to help me?" I retorted.

"I didn’t say it’d be easy," Irina replied with a shrug. "It would take a god to convince her to help us out, but she’s good, Electra, really good. So we have to try at the very least."