Come Back To Me

Chapter 16

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sun was high up in the sky the next day as someone banged on Daena's door. She was still fast asleep, having been out all night with her dragons on her secret adventure.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

She groaned slightly at the now loud banging coming from her door. But she just nuzzled her face into her pillow and continued her slumber. She was so tired she didn't even hear the sound of her door swinging wide open with heavy footsteps rushing in. The furs were snatched from her bed, making her curl her knees to her chest and groan.

"Please yell at me later, mother. I've barely slept." She grumbled into her pillow. Her eyes flew open when she was grabbed by her ankles and yanked to the edge of the bed, revealing Aemond fuming at the end. "Get out!"

"Forget our lessons today, niece?" He arched a brow, still holding onto her ankles.

"No, I just chose not to show." She said as she rubbed her eyes. She looked at his hands still holding onto her ankles and returned the eyebrow arch. "Do you mind?"

"That you didn't show? Yes, thank you for asking." He smirked. She scowled and jerked her feet away from him. "Get dressed. You're still dancing today regardless."

"Can you leave then?" She signaled towards the door. He nodded and promptly left, but instead she ran over to her door and locked it. She returned to her bed, tucking herself comfortably back under the furs as she laughed to herself.

Just as she was snoring once more, her face was met with a harsh smack from a pillow. She snapped right up and once again was face to face with Aemond. Before she could say a word, he grabbed her by the wrist and practically dragged her out of bed.

"Would you let me go?!" She snapped, but he just continued to pull her along. Finally, she reached for the dagger at his hip and held it to his throat. Both of them stood frozen in their standoff. "I said let me go."

He released her wrist reluctantly, but clenched his jaw. "Get dressed or I can keep this little routine going."

"Then get out." She pressed the blade a little more against his throat, but it didn't even seem to bother him. If anything, his eye began to wander to her unkempt hair. She normally kept it in a single tight braid, but if she ever flew or slept her curls were set free. He cleared his throat, returning his focus back to her.

"No, now get dressed." He ordered.

"You expect me to trust you but you can't even trust me?" She raised her eyebrow, but he just laughed.

"Because the first time I asked, you cooperated, right?" To his surprise, she chuckled as well.

"Fair enough." She flipped the hilt of his dagger in her hand for him to take back. He cautiously took the blade back from her and put it back at his hip, eyeing her curiously. She pointed at the other side of her chambers, signaling for him to give her some privacy. He nodded and took a seat on her couch while she went behind the dressing screen. "Don't you have anything else better to do than these lessons, uncle?"

"Yes, which is why I get irritated when you're hours late." He sighed.

She chuckled to herself as she began to lace her corset over her off shoulder white tunic. "I mean in general. Surely you could fill your time with better things to do than to spend any of it with me."

"Ideally, but I refuse to have you embarrass our family by stumbling over some lord's feet all night. You and your brothers bring enough scandal to our name." He huffed.

"How generous." She rolled her eyes, tightening the laces of her skirts after she'd tucked her shirt in them. With an annoyed sigh, she stepped out from the divider and saw him eyeing something on the table. "Just make yourself at home, why don't you?"