Chapter 16

~~~~LOKI~~~~

Jesper, Inej, Nina, and Loki entered Velaris together. For the next three days, they were to be guests of the Night Court. 

Loki had endured endless teasing about her High Lord mate since her crows found out and she was beginning to regret ever bringing them with her. 

But as anxiety swam beneath her cold exterior she couldn't help but be glad for the familiar company in enemy territory. 

Nyx appeared in front of the group, Finch behind him. "Welcome, Loki darling and Company. Hope you're hungry, because we're having dinner with my family tonight" Nyx's lazy arrogant smile both pissed Loki off and warmed her heart. 

If it were anyone else he would have been long dead by now, but he had pretty privilege so Loki let him be. 

"Hope you don't mind flying. There's no winnowing into the House of Wind so we'll have to take the fun way." Finch said looking at the group. 

"...DIBS ON INEJ!!!" Nina and Jesper roared at the same time, looking at the shadow singer. 

"Boss, tell Nina that since she flirts with everything that moves, she should ride with the pretty bat boy and I should go with Inej," Jesper said pulling Inej toward him.

"No way! I'm not trusting some stranger to take my gorgeous ass into the sky, WHAT IF HE DROPS ME! I WANT INEJ! TELL HIM, BOSS!" Nina cried appealing to Loki.

After a moment of silence and a cold look that made the two crows stiffen Loki spoke, "Nina go with princey, Jesper you're with the other one, Inej you're with me, now stop whining and get on your damn Illyrian before I start dockin' pay." 

Nina and Jesper grumbled to themselves but obeyed as they walked over to the two amused Illyrians. 

Loki walked over to Inej, ignoring the longing look from Nyx as they took off towards the house they broke into so long ago. 

They reached the landing quickly, fixing up their appearance before entering inside. Loki wore a fine-tailored black suit, her long black coat his the weapons at her waist and thighs, she still wore her iconic black leather gloves. 

Inej decided to wear the usual Illyrian leathers she bought from a trader a few years back. Six golden siphons gleamed even in the darkness. 

Jesper wore his usual laid-back attire, a loose brightly colored silk shirt with black slacks, over top of which was his stained trenchcoat. 

Nina, as usual, went all out, wearing a tightly fitted maroon dress with golden designs sewn into the fabric. She also wore a diamond choker we had stolen during a job a few years back and some large gold and diamond earrings to match. 

"If they make you uncomfortable, say the word and we'll leave immediately," Nyx whispered softly to Loki, giving her a kind, reassuring smile. 

Loki's cold mask didn't crack as she nodded to acknowledge that she heard him. He nodded back, he reached for her but stopped himself, flexing his hand as he pulled back. 

He and Finch lead the crows to the dining room. There sat The High Lord and Lady, the Morrigan, the Shadow singer, General Cassian, General Nesta, and the ancient one Amren.

"Welcome to Velaris." High Lady Feyre spoke kindly. 

Ever the diplomat Nina spoke for the group, "Thank you for having us." 

After a moment of awkward silence, Jesper spoke up, "Well skivs! I was told I would be fed rich people food-ouch!!!" Jesper hissed as Nina clapped the back of his head for his rudeness. 

General Cassian roared with laughter as the others seemed to relax a bit. 

"Sit, we wouldn't want to disappoint our guests." Rhysand Jested as the crows moved to take their seats. 

Nyx sat to the right of his father, then Loki, then Inej, Then Jesper, and Nina.

They all introduced themselves formally, none yet too relaxed. Almost as if they were waiting for a fight to break out. 

"I am Loki Brekker." Loki finished up the introductions looking around the table. 

"I can see what you mean Rhysand... You have a very imposing air about you girl." Amren said looking at Loki. 

The crows stiffened, ready to defend their boss. 

"Forgive me ancient one... I didn't mean to make you nervous." The slight teasing in Loki's voice earned an approving look from both Nesta and Amren. 

"Nothing makes me nervous girl."

"And yet you look as if you are waiting for me to jump across this table and devour your soul." Loki leaned back casually, not intimidated by the Night Court in the slightest. In fact, she loved commanding the room with a few words. 

"How is it we had never heard of you before now? Did you and your crows not fight in the war?" Mor asked with curiosity. 

"I don't see how we could, it was over fifty years ago so none of us were born yet," Nina said. 

Cassian choked on his drink, the rest merely looked at them in shock. 

"WHAT?!?! How old are you?" Cassian asked them, eyes bulging in surprise.

They looked to Loki to see if this was information they should be sharing. Loki smirked, "Let's make a game out of it... For each of our ages, you guess correctly I'll take off a mil from this trip, for each wrong I add one. You must all agree on one guess per crow." 

Amusement filled the Night Courts' eyes as they started debating. 

For Nina, they guessed 34.

For Jesper, 42.

For Inej, 50.

For Loki they guessed she was much older as Nina had only said the crows weren't alive during the war, they guessed 1000.

"Okay, what's the answer?" Nyx asked smiling. 

A playful smirk escaped Loki's cold mask as she answered," Jesper is 25, Nina is 22, Inej... She's 17." 

Their jaws dropped.

"THEY ARE BABIES!!!! H-HOW WHY!?!" Cassian roared.

"How does a 17-year-old block my shadows?" Azriel grumbled to himself.

"What about you, Miss Brekker? You never told us how old you were. Were we close?" Feyre asked looking at the pale girl. 

"Not even close, the boss just turned 20!" Jesper laughed.

If the Inner circle was surprised by how young the crows were, they were earth-shatteringly astounded by how young Loki Brekker was. 

 She had the reputation of a feared ruler and yet she wasn't even an adult by fae standards. Nyx was surprised the most, he thought her much older than him but in fact, he was nearly thirty years her senior.

"No fucking way." Finch made the same expression as his father. They all looked at the god-like girl in a new light. Less terrifying monster, more kitten with a temper.

They eased and continued the meaningless conversation until they got to one that made the crows stiffen. Feyre asked, "So how did you all meet?" 

Jesper answered first, "Ummm... well, I ran away from home when I was young and got into the gambling scene in the Barrel. Then I lost some money, A LOT of money. Anyways I was being hunted by debtors so I ran to Loki for a bailout... She saw it as an investment and so she paid off my debt if I agreed to work for her till my debt was paid. I agreed, paid off my debt in a few years, and stuck around for the free booze." Jesper shot a cheeky grin and winked at Loki. 

Loki not so subtly rolled her eyes, "Worst mistake I ever made, now I gotta put up with your dumb ass forever." 

"Oh, you LOVE me, Boss." 

Nina laughed continuing next, "My stories not so indentured. Brekker, needed my... skills, for a job so she came to me and then came to me again and again. Till eventually I was part of the family and got the tattoo... But hey Loki says I'm a good investment." 

"What are your skills?" The spymaster asked.

Nina, not really wanting to share the extent of her abilities deflected the question.

"... well if you'd like me to show you, pretty boy...I can do this thing with my tongue-"

"OKAY!" Inej cut it, shooting Nina a look. 

"Fine... Your next Inej dear." Nina said leaning back. 

"I um... I grew up in Ravka, the Illyrian war camp," the Illyrians in the room flinched, knowing just how terribly Ravka treated their women.

"When my father tried to cut off my wings, I escaped and killed a few of the men. Anyway, he found me but didn't want the disgrace of having a disobedient daughter around so he sold me off to one of the Hybern traffickers... Eventually, I was sold off to a whore house when I was twelve."

 Inej dropped her sleeve, revealing the brand burned into her shoulder from the emerald palace menagerie. Loki's sharp ears heard a low growl from Finch as she saw him glare at Inej's scar. 

"I spent two years under the ownership of the menagerie. Then Loki came along and found me covered in blood and shadows, crying from my latest lashing. She went to my owner, said she had taken a liking to me, and bought me. She took me back to the crows and I have been her wraith ever since." 

The three crows raised their glasses smiling at Loki, "Good investments." They chorused all together. 

The inside joke that they all knew. 

Loki may act cold and careless, but her heart of gold was shown through her actions. She always wrote them off as 'just business' but her crows knew better.

To be called an investment in Loki language was to be called a cherished one.

Loki rolled her eyes fondly at her family. Her investments. Ignoring the lovesick look that Nyx was throwing at her. Ignoring the understanding and kindness that seemed to show in the inner circle's eyes. 

"Don't let their stories fool you all. There was no kindness, just business. It's unwise to look for the good in me... there is none." Loki warned allowing some of her power to fill the room and making eye contact with each of them. 

She was a monster and she needed them to remember that.

Just because she is different with some of her family by her side did not make her any less so. 

She was the Queen of thieves, Lady of Lies, Bastard of the Barrel. 

She was a cauldron damned daughter of the Death god Bryaxis. 

Nothing more. 

.