Endeverafter: The Series Presents The Cursed One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Against his own judgment, Virek agreed to stay at Drue's loft instead of going back to his own apartment. Not that he had much of a choice. The twins were convinced that it wasn't safe, fearing that the Dark Fae would stop at nothing to seek their revenge for the Deviant club massacre. Axel and Sven helped him into Drue's apartment and into her bed. She stood there with a scowl on her face, wondering when anyone was going to ask her if she was okay with any of this. Just so there wasn't any confusion, she wasn't. She didn't want Virek to stay there as much as he didn't want to be there. But neither of them had the energy to argue.

She took her jacket off and sat down on the couch, running her hands through her hair. Was her life ever going to be normal again?

Axel and Sven walked out of her bedroom and joined her in the livingroom. "Well, he's not gonna be happy with us for a while," Axel said.

"Yeah, but he'll thank us later," Sven said. "Speaking of. Listen, Drue... about what Virek said back at the club--"

"If you're about to tell me that he didn't mean it, save it," she said. "His feelings were clear."

"They were also clouded," Axel said, resting his elbows on top of his knees. "What you did was ballsy but it took guts. Regardless of what Virek thinks, you're the reason all of us made it out of there alive. You saved my brother and for that, I am eternally in your debt. Thank you."

She looked up at Sven, who dropped his head. He had a conflicted expression on his face. "You're welcome," she said. "So, what's our next move?"

"Well, the Unseelie Court is dead, which means that the Dark Fae are free to cause havoc without the fear of consequences," Axel replied, rubbing the top of his head. "At least until someone attempts to rebuild the Court."

"How would that even happen? Is there some kind of ceremony or something?" She was halfway joking and halfway serious.

"No, the next oldest Dark Fae would take up a position and so forth," Axel said. "And if that happens, we may be even more fucked than before."

"Why? Who's the next oldest Dark Fae?"

Axel looked at his brother and hesitated. They shared an uneasy look between each other before he dropped his head. "Arvo Strickland."

Drue felt a chill go up her spine. How could a name instill so much fear? "Why do I feel like there's more?"

"There is," Sven said. "Arvo Strickland isn't just the oldest Dark Fae. He's also a Guardian."

She really needed to stop asking questions. "Are we ever going to get a break?" she asked. "First, it's Witches, then it's Dark Fae and now, this. Please tell me you think we have a chance at coming out of this alive?"

"As long as Winsome Egret Avery is breathing, no one is safe." Drue, Axel and Sven all turned to see Virek standing there, leaning on the doorframe for support.

"Boss, you should be resting," Axel said, standing up.

"I'll be fine, Axel. Once I get my strength back, I can heal myself."

Drue couldn't help but stare at Virek. It was weird to see him in such a vulnerable state. It reminded her that underneath all of that tough guy bullshit, he was still just one person. He may have been incredibly strong but he wasn't indestructible. Still an asshole, though.

Axel helped Virek back into Drue's bedroom and she could overhear him telling Virek to stop trying to be so brave all of the time. He said that one night of rest wouldn't kill him and that he and Sven would be back the next morning.

Before the twins left, Axel asked Drue to watch over Virek closely. "He has the tendency to be hard-headed," he said.

"No shit."