The Mouth of the Dragon, The Eyes of the Lamb

Chapter 13

Aemond led Lucela to the dance floor silently. Whispers and glances met them the entire way down, and the pair ignored them all. Lucela was so focused on how to prepare for this battle of wits with Aemond that she completely missed when they passed her parents. Rhaenyra put her hand on Daemon's chest to stop him from attacking Aemond, and she looked around in a panic for Ser Greyson.

His blond hair caught her eye, and she sighed in relief when she saw he was moving closer to Lucela. She wasn't even sure if she knew that Ser Greyson was in here. Rhaenyra frowned as she watched the dance floor clearing a space for the two of them and tugged Daemon back to the table.

Aemond took Lucela in his arms and began to spin her around the dancefloor as the music played. Neither of them wanted to admit that the other was a good dancer, and danced for a moment in complete silence.

"What's your angle, Uncle?" Lucela finally asked. She couldn't hide the malice in her voice, and Aemond smirked.

"Now what makes you think I have an angle, dear niece?"

"Stop calling me that." Aemond smirked but kept his mouth shut. "I know you have an angle because you can't stand me anymore. I've known that for years because of Helaena." Aemond's smirk fell, but he still didn't say anything else. "You would want to get revenge the only time you could, which would be tonight and tomorrow." Lucela smiled again. "Is it the masks, Aemond? Did you think matching masks would affect me in some way?"

Aemond glared as the dance continued. Lucela laughed and tossed her head back. Daemon and Alicent both leaned forward at the sound, but neither noticed what they had done.
"You're right. I do hate you, and I don't think that is a secret." Lucela wanted to flinch and fought with herself to stay straight faced. "I had hoped you were dead, but yet here you stand. Then I hoped you were deformed in some way, but Helaena assured me that you were perfectly fine."

"So you wanted what? To humiliate me by matching our masks and dancing?" Aemond shrugged. He knew that he couldn't do what he truly wanted to without his mother disowning him, and Daemon killing him. "You obviously want me to be some kind of monster, Aemond. Is it because I helped Luke take your eye? Or is it because you can't face the monster that you have become and need someone to be as ugly as you?"

Aemond gripped Lucela's jaw in his hand and leered over her. She could hear a chair scraping, and her mother yelling, but Aemond's grip didn't relent. She had struck a nerve. Good. Lucela felt him behind her before he even spoke a word.

"Unhand the Princess, Prince Aemond, before things get ugly." Ser Greyson's voice and presence was welcome. "You're causing a scene."

Aemond didn't take his eye off of Lucela, but he did let her go with a shove. Lucela stumbled into Ser Greyson's chest, and he gripped her arms to steady her before she hit the ground. She watched as Aemond stalked off and left the dining hall.

"Are you okay?" Ser Greyson asked once Lucela stood straight. She didn't take her eyes off of the doors that Aemond had fled through, and she smirked softly.

"I ruined his plans apparently."

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Aemond stumbled to a stop when he saw Alys standing in his chambers. He frowned as he took in her nude form as she stood next to his bed. She was giving him a strange look, and he jerked his tunic over his head.

"Why are you here?" Aemond muttered bitterly before he walked over to her. He tangled his fingers in her hair by her scalp and tugged. Alys' head fell back easily, and he pressed his lips to hers without getting an answer. She gripped his forearms in her hands as he lifted her and laid her back on the bed.