A Court of Thrones and Thieves (ACOTAR FANFIC)

Chapter 12

~~~~~~NYX~~~~~~

"Come on! Come with me!" Nyx pleaded with his stubborn cousin.

"No way am I going to Ketterdam so you can pick up a chick who literally jumped off a building to get away from you." Finch was a kind and strong man, but damn did he have his mother's sharp tongue. 

"She's my mate, Fin. I have to meet her... I'm going! So unless you want your favorite cousin and future high lord to die alone..." 

A sigh of resignation escaped Finch as he looked at his cousin's desperate face. "Fine. But WHEN we are caught, you have to take all the blame and face my mother."

A cocky smile took over Nyx's face as he grabbed finch and began winnowing to Hybern. 

The trip was a lot less smooth than when they went with the rest of the Inner Circle. They stumbled onto the streets of Ketterdam.

Two women dressed in practically nothing came sauntering up to them as they walked. 

"Hello valued master, would you like to join us in the Emerald Palace. We'd love to have you there." One of the girls leaned into Finch giving a sultry smile. 

They very awkwardly dodged the girls continuing down the road. 

"Hey there! Do you want to know your future? Stop by Madam Mazel and she will look into the great beyond for-"

"We're good thanks." Finch gave the man a cold sneer to send him running.

"Why are they all looking at us? They didn't pay much attention to us before." Nyx said as they continued to dodge salesmen and women inviting them to their brothels. 

"Before we were dressed like them and escorted by a local. We stand out in our Illyrian leathers and probably look like we have money." Finch said as he brushed off another dancer. 

It took a lot longer than expected to get to the crows club than it did the first time they were there. 

They walked up to the man at the front door of the club. "We need to see Loki Brekker," Finch said giving a famous Valkeri sneer. 

"What do you want with Loki?" The man asked, looking up and down at the possible threats to his boss. 

"She's my ma-"

Finch cut him off pinching his side harshly, "We have a job for her. We're willing to pay a lot. Think she'll be interested?"

The man nodded, "If you got cash... She'll be interested. Head on in, look for Jesper."

The man moved aside allowing them into the club. 

"What the hell, Fin?"

"Are you stupid? You can't just go around announcing she's your mate! One she jumped off a cauldron damned building to escape you and two our parents think she's dangerous! Dangerous people have enemies! You can't go around saying 'Hey look at me! I'm very possibly your enemy's greatest weakness! Come get me!' You'll be killed!" 

Nyx understood his point, but it was annoying. He wanted to tell everyone about his mate, He wanted to know her, wanted everyone to know she was his. 

"Hey, you know someone named, Jesper?" Finch asked a random man.

"Why you lookin' for him." The man asked, visibly tense. 

"We have a job for Loki Brekker and we were told to find him," Nyx added. 

"Oh thank the saints! I thought you were dept collectors! I'm Jesper, come on back to the office." They followed the stumbling man into the office. 

The smell hit Nyx, it was Loki Brekker's office, and Nyx was basking in the scent... the scent of his mate. 

She smelled like lavender, new books, and smoke, a scent that one would not think blended so well but Nyx loved it. 

"So, what do you need from the boss?" Jesper reclined looking at the two men with flirty eyes. 

"We need to find her... Now." Nyx responded, trying not to let his inspiration through his cold high lord mask.

"See that's not possible. She's out on a solo mission now in inland hybern." 

"Where?" Finch responded sharply.

"That's not how this works." Jesper started to get on edge. What did they want with Loki?

"I need to find her!" Nyx's resolve started to crumble as he watched Jesper pour himself a drink.

"Why?" Jesper maintained his playful facade but the worry that these men were here to kill Loki swam beneath the surface. 

Jesper leaned back, slightly tipping the chair, and took a long sip of whiskey maintaining eye contact with Nyx.

"She's my mate." 

Jesper choked harshly on his drink, tipping the chair too far and falling onto the ground. 

"WHAT?!?!?"

Nyx almost smiled at his reaction, Finch was trying to hide his laughter behind a closed fist. 

"I-INEJ!!!!!!!!!" Jesper called out.

Nyx's spine straightened, remembering the shadow singer who helped his mate escape from the ball. 

A swirl of shadows appeared in the corner and a small Illyrian girl walk through them into the office. 

She was lean, with two powerful Illyrian wings curled up behind her. She had black hair that matched the shadows dancing around her, and tan skin very common amongst Illyrians. 

Nyx felt Finch stiffen beside him, he turned to look at his cousin and saw his face completely pale. He scratched a metal claw down Fin's shields. Finch dropped his shields allowing his cousin in. 

'Mate! The shadow singer is my mate!' 

Nyx flinched at the roaring thoughts in Finch's head. His eyes blew wide as he turned to look at the shadow singer, Inej. 

Her eyes blew wide as her shadows whispered to her. But she was not looking at Finch, she was looking at Nyx. 

"L-Loki's .... mate?" Inej said looking frazzled at the news. 

'Do you want to tell Inej, you are mates?'

"NO! The bond hasn't clicked for her yet. Let it happen naturally."

"Yes. I need to find her... Please."

Inej weighed her options. A mate would be good for Loki, but Loki would also definitely kick her ass for throwing some guy on her in the middle of a mission. 

But then she looked up at Nyx. His eyes were wide with pleading, he was desperate for his mate and it was very dangerous to come between a male and his mate. 

"I'll take you to her. Your brute can stay here until you return." Inej responded, glaring at Finch. 

Finch nearly stepped back at the distrust in his mate's eyes but stayed standing. 

"Deal! Just take me to her."

And so... Knowing that she was gonna get the ass beating of the century, Inej shadow traveled the young prince of the night to inland Hybern.