Cursed

Chapter Twenty Four

"I feel so useless." Elora confessed.

"I'm tired. I am so, so tired Lex. I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to worry, or leap around the map for a safe place. I miss my brother. I miss my best friend. Heck, I even miss Arrow and I hardly know the man. I just want to go home." She reached into her bag, wanting the journal, wanting to fill her head with the happy thoughts and the possibilities of true love, of soul mates but she quickly found herself frowning the moment she remembered she had forgotten it back at the cabin.

It was likely for the best. It wasn't hers to take and if Matilda had returned to find it missing, she probably wouldn't be too happy about it if it had been something gifted down in her family.

"You are not useless. You can't go marching now can you? Elora, beautiful, you're doing the right thing. I've talked to Leif about this–"

"You talked to Leif." She cut him off.

Lex bowed his pretty blond head. "I did. I know everything, all of it. Leif and I have known each other for a long time and I think–"

"He had no right. Don't get me wrong, I am glad, I am glad to have somebody besides the moody brute to talk to but the more people we let in, the more people we endanger. I don't want you risking your life for my stupid mistake." Her mistake. Her mistake that had not been a mistake at first, he will to protect her own life, the very thing that now had her and those she cared for fighting to protect their lives.

"I am not stupid. I am stronger than you think. Beautiful, beautiful Elora, don't you worry your wholesome heart for me. I will help you. Besides, isn't that the dream huh? Having two strong, deliciously handsome men protecting you, fighting in your corner, no?" Elora gaped. Was he serious?

"Are you– you're joking, right?"

"Yes. I am. Well, mostly. We all know that I am the only devilishly handsome one in this house," Lex ran his fingers through his hair, as if showing off fine silk, the emotion in the very action had been done to serve one purpose and one purpose only.

To draw attention to his good looks, his hands, his beautiful hair and sharp jawline.

"Are you flirting with me Lexie?" Elora teased.

Lex scowled. If looks could kill, she would be dead right there.

"If you call me that again I shall never speak to you again. My name is Lex. I am a strong, sexy man and calling me Lexie is just insulting."

"What's going on here?" Leif entered the kitchen. He looked exhausted enough for the three of them. Elora noticed the big black bags beneath his eyes. The redness around them.

"Man, I haven't seen you this wrecked since Giselle–"

"Shut your gods damned mouth Lex before I fucking shut it for you." His tiredness brought out the worst of his anger.

The last thing Leif wanted was to have to explain. He didn't plan on telling Elora a thing about Giselle or his identity. About the life he lived before he met Elora or the reason he held so much anger and pain for his deceased brother.

Giselle was never talked about.

"Calm yourself man, seriously. I wasn't about to confess your biggest secrets to lovely Elora here." Lex rose to his feet, he yanked the black hood over his head and brought his matching mask over his mouth to the bridge of his nose.

"I'm going out. Try not to break anything." Was all Lex said before vanishing into thin air. Literally.

***

Lex had cornered Leif later that night.

He would get to the bottom of his new suspicion.

He would get answers from his old friend then and there.