Chapter 22

~~~~NYX~~~~~

Nyx had endured training with Azriel. He had endured training with the Valkeries. He had survived the fucking Blood Rite.

But never. 

EVER.

Has Nyx endured such torment as he felt when Loki Brekker walked down the stairs in the Sangrava dancer uniform. 

The air was knocked out of his lungs with such force he nearly fell out of his chair. 

He felt the splintering wood of his chair crack under his strong grip. His fingers craved to touch every inch of the silky smooth ivory skin she displayed. 

She usually hid her form beneath layers of dark clothing, he had never seen so much of her at once and he wasn't sure he could endure it long. The curve of her slender waist, the toned muscle in her arms and abs, the swell of her breasts held up by red and gold fabric that he was ready to tear off with his teeth.

He used every ounce of his will to hold himself back from claiming her in front of everyone. She had not explained the plan before so the surprise of her outfit sent him into a lust-filled haze. 

He barely heard what anyone else said, his attention solely on her. 

He couldn't stand it at the moment. For many reasons, one being that part of Nyx was standing at full attention, another being he was sure his knees wouldn't support his weight at the moment. 

Eventually, he suppressed his raging desire long enough to actually partake in the conversation. Only for Loki, his beautiful, precious mate, to tell him he was going to have to stand by and watch as other males would lust after her, degrade her...TOUCH her. 

Fuck it. Leave Prythian to burn. No one is touching her. 

He knew better. He knew that it was part of her master plan. Part of her strategy to get them safely across the border without being caught... but he barely had control seeing her now, seeing other people look at her like this would send him into a fury. 

But she was Loki Brekker. 

And he knew she wouldn't let anyone too close to her or her crows. Still, the thought was unsettling. 

He tried to prepare himself. Tried to steady his breathing as they winnowed to the line at the Entertainment gate. 

Loki handed him the papers, she had dropped her mental shields so she could tell him exactly what to say before slamming them back into place. She had handed him her leather gloves with shaky hands and he was surprised to find them completely normal. 

"Don't lose them." She had said as he placed them in his pocket.

He had found out everything he could about Loki after their bargain. He had heard a thousand different rumors about why Dirty Hands Brekker always wore gloves. He had assumed they probably resembled his uncle Azriel's, he was surprised to find them completely normal, slender hands. 

Why did she wear the gloves then? 

Other women in the same outfits were standing next to their 'owners' waiting in the line to enter. 

They finally made it to the front where a large guard stood, "Papers of entrance and claims of ownership." The man said in a bored tone, not looking up from his clipboards."

Mastering the bored, arrogant look on his face, Nyx handed the man the papers and slid his hands into his pockets.

The man looked through the papers before looking up at them. The man's posture changed as he looked at the girls, a tangible hunger filling his gaze. 

It took everything in him to maintain his mask, to not growl and rip the man's throat out. "This gonna take long?" Finch added, wielding his Nesta Archeron sneer to its maximum power. 

"Cauldron boil me, you have some pretty whores in Hybern huh?" The man said smirking at the girls. 

The girls forced themselves to giggle, trying to take the attention off the raging males with them. 

The sound of Loki's giggle, even if forced and totally fake, sounded like bells in his ears calming him slightly. 

"Well, we only make the best investments. Join the party later and you can see them perform tonight." Nyx said casually as if the words didn't make him want to vomit up his lunch. 

"Maybe I will. Your papers are all in order, head on in." The man said handing the papers back to Nyx and watching them as they entered Xesha's borders. 

The path led them straight to the dressing rooms, Loki informed them that they had to stay at the party until after the headcount was done, so no one would be alerted of their escape. 

Nyx was wrong.

Apparently, there was a worse agony than seeing his mate in the most sexual outfit ever and not being able to touch her. 

No the new title for worst agony went to watching his mate be lusted after as she danced on a small stage and not being able to react at all. 

Her movements were sensual and sexy. She seduced everyone with her fluid movements and grace. No one could touch her on the stage but the pungent odor of desire pissed him off. 

Nina and Inej were doing the same things but he couldn't find it in himself to care or even look at them. His focus was solely on Loki Brekker as her movements began to work on him as well, adding a sexual charge to his fuming rage. 

If he felt like this now, he wondered what he would be like if Loki actually solidified the bond. If they were fully mated he didn't think he'd be able to hold himself back from carving out the eyes of every male in here who looked at her. 

He never understood the constant PDA his parents had. They always said he'd understand when he met his mate. AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE CORRECT. 

If this is how his parents feel, he wondered how they ever had the self-control to take their hands off of each other. Nyx craved to be near Loki at all times, he desired to touch her. 

He had other lovers before but never had he experienced desire quite as intense as this. Images of just how he would please her in that outfit came to mind and refused to leave him. 

He didn't know how Finch was holding up, refusing to let his eyes wander away from Loki. He scratched at Finches mental shield. 

"What...?" Finch growled into his mind. 

"I was gonna ask how you're holding up, but it sounds like you keeping it together about as much as I am," Nyx said back, his eyes still trained on Loki.

"This is hell. This is actual hell." Finch was edging on psychotic at the moment and if it wasn't also happening to Nyx he would have found it hilarious.

"Hell would be a mercy."

So they continued to watch, waiting for Loki's signal for them to leave. Praying to the Mother that their self-control held, just a bit longer. 

Apparently, the mother wasn't home.

A man walked right up to Inej and ran his hand up her leg from her ankle to her inner thigh. Finch was on him in a second. The loud music blocked out the sound of his ground-shaking animalistic growl as he punched the man straight in the face. 

The random guy dropped to the floor with blood gushing from his broken nose. Finch stepped over his unconscious body, grabbing Inej and throwing her over his shoulder. 

He looked at Loki as Inej beat his back with her tiny fists. 

They could not have more perfect timing as Loki saw the men turn in their count forms, the headcount having been completed. Loki nodded at them all, moving to follow as they all began to make their way to the exit. 

Nyx walked straight up behind Loki. Wrapping his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. He dug his nose into her hair, taking in her scent and trying to calm himself.

At first, she stiffened completely, with such extreme discomfort that Nyx almost pulled away and began apologizing. 

But then her muscles loosened and she relaxed into his arms. He held her closer, basking in the feeling of his arms around her, or his hands grazing her bare skin. He never wanted to let her go again. 

When he finally pulled back, he looked to see Nina and Inej staring at him in horror. 

He took a quick peek into their minds, their walls having shattered at the shock they were experiencing. 

Their thoughts were identical. 

"SHE LET HIM TOUCH HER!!!" 

.