Chapter 8

~~~~~NYX~~~~~

Nyx tossed and turned trying his damnedest to quiet his racing mind. 

The name Loki Brekker had been haunting Nyx Archeron's every moment since his parents returned with the book of breathings.

The terrifying monster, he had never actually seen, was the main topic of every conversation. 

How she had a shadow singer at her disposal. How she found the book in mere days. How she sent a chill down even The High Lord of Night's spine. 

And most importantly, how the Suriel had said Nyx would need Loki in the coming days. 

What was so special about Loki Brekker?

It irked him to no end that this girl made the Night Court look like fools, with how easily she accomplished the mission. 

Though he couldn't help the spike in his attention everytime her name was mentioned. It was as if his ears were programed to listen for any mention of her name. 

He wanted to see the bastard of the barrel, with his own eyes. 

He wanted to understand what set the bravest people in prythian so on edge. 

As Nyx's eyes closed and he succumbed to the embrace of sleep, images flashed in his mind.

Images of  ash blonde hair and cold grey eyes. He saw glimses of her, but never the full picture. Glimses of gloved hands gingerly playing the piano or spinning a pen gracefully in between nimble fingers. 

He knew she was important. 

Important to him. 

But he couldn't place why. 

He couldn't even see her face, only silk like ash blond hair and cold steel eyes. 

He jumped from his sleep, nearly falling off the bed in the process. A sharp pull in his chest made him hiss in discomfort. 

His instincts were on high alert but he didn't know why. Ice cold shot through his veins, like he had been plunged into one of the icey rivers in the Illyrian Mountains. 

He felt every battle instinct sharpen and he had no idea why. 

There was no danger. 

No magic. 

Nothing. 

What was wrong with him? 

~~~~~LOKI~~~~~~~

"FUCK!" Jesper screamed as he and Loki took off onto the cracking ice with as much speed as they could without slipping. 

An easy run to the Winter Court went south real quick when Jesper accidently set off an alarm attached to a trip wire. 

They grabbed some fancy sword and took off without looking back. 

Now that stelth was out of the equation they just had to rely on speed to get away. 

If they could just get past the barrier they could winnow back to Ketterdam. 

But luck was not on their side today. 

"I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU JESPER!!!" Loki growled in between huffing cold breaths. 

It was a simple run, a simple damn run!

The ice splintered beneath their wait, but they didn't stop. They couldn't stop.

The winter court guards raced after them shouting orders. 

They had to get a little more down stream and they'd be home free. 

"OKAY BOSS! NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR ONE OF THOSE GENIUS PLANS OF YOURS!" Jesper yelled over the howling wind. 

"...Yeah I got one. But there's about 50% chance we die." 

What she didn't say is that if they didn't there would be a 100% chance of their capture. 

She didn't give Jesper time to respond as she grabbed his arm and pulled him to a halt. 

"JUMP!" She ordered. 

Jesper didn't even think before doing as he was told. In perfect unison they through all their weight into the ice. 

They plunged beneath the ice into the flowing water. Loki allowed the current to carry her and Jesper faster down stream. 

The freezing water dulled her senses, it felt as if the blood in her veins was freezing over. Her lungs screamed for air, but she knew there was no going up. 

There was only the hope that the current was faster then their lack of oxygen. 

The hope that they'd make it past the barrier and Winnow home before their brains shut down. 

Loki's gloved fingers held tight to Jespers forearm while holding tight to their prize in the other.

She'd be damned if she lost their target now.

Seconds turned to a minute and the fast paced flow of the frigid water didn't seem fast enough. 

Finally she felt it. 

The barrier.

Without hesitation she dragged Jesper and herself through space and time and landed back on the floor of her office. 

They were soaked to the bone, shaking violently from the cold, coughing up what water had made it's way into their lungs. 

Loki nearly laughed in relief as she leaned her head back onto the now wet floor boards. 

"What happened to you?" Inej asked appearing beside the soping wet mess. 

"Jesper happened... NOW, Deliver this to the client, collect the money, then come back for an update." Loki was out of breathe as she talked to inej, her heart beat finally calming as she handed the stolen sword to her wraith.

"Well that was fun!" Jesper said leading back onto his elbows.

"Get the fuck out of my office." 

"Yes ma'am."

Jesper staggered to his feet before leaving out the door. 

A sharp pull in Loki's chest caused her to sit up, groaning in discomfort. 

After a few seconds, the sensation disappeared. 

What the hell was happening to her?