A Deceptive Invitation

Elara slouched back in her gaming chair and stretched, her slender arms exposed. She took off her noise-canceling headphones and spun her chair around, frozen when she met Julian's gaze.

Julian sat where the light and shadows met. His strikingly handsome face was so pale and sickly, yet impossible to look away from. He was half in darkness, as if he belonged there.

His eyes were like bottomless po