The Realms Rose | Aemond Targaryen / Daemon Targaryen

XXV

Cherry - Lana Del Rey

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Aemond arrived back at Kings Landing only mere hours after Auroras encounter with Daemon. An encounter that left her heart thumping in her chest and her head a mess.

She laid on her daybed, curled up on her side, watching the fireplace with bleary eyes. Her mind felt muddled and the sounds of the fire cracking filled her head.

A loud knock on the chamber door made her jump and sit up with a soft gasp, her heart leaping into her throat and her mind racing. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes, collecting herself for a moment. She could do this, it was just a conversation.

"Come in..."

When the door opened and Aemond stepped into the room, she felt her breath catch in her throat.

The cold air followed him into the room, and it brushed against her bared skin, making her shiver softly. She was wearing a silk nightgown, a dark plum color, that did little to hide her body.

His eyes met hers and she could see the way his gaze traced the exposed skin of her shoulders and her collarbones, her chest, her legs.

She swallowed hard once more and sat up on the bed, clutching her knees and clearing her throat, looking at him silently.

Gods, this was painful...

She waited, and held her breath, waiting for him to speak. She felt like she was drowning, choking on her anxiety and drowning in the silence and tension that filled the air.

The moment stretched to a breaking point, and she couldn't take it anymore. She took a shuddering breath and met his eye, her heart thudding in her chest and her head feeling light.

"Say something..." She whispered, her voice shaking slightly. "I can't stand the silence..."

He stiffened at the plea in her voice and his throat tightened. He swallowed hard and slowly nodded, stepping toward the bed and approaching her slowly. His feet moved of their own accord as he approached her. He kneeled at the foot of the bed between her ankles, bringing his hands up and placing them on her exposed knees.

"Look at me..." He said lowly, his voice rasping softly. "Aurora..." Her eyes remained downcast, her hands fidgeting with the fabric of her nightgown.

His hands gently squeezed her knees and he looked at her with tender intensity. It made her feel vulnerable, his gaze, and she felt naked even with her silk nightdress on.

He swallowed hard and tightened his grip on her knees slightly, his thumb grazing over the exposed skin.

"Please, look at me..." He repeated in the same, soft tone. "Let me see your face..."

Slowly, she gave in and raised her head. Her cheeks felt hot and she was sure they were pink with the effort of keeping her tears at bay.

Little purple and green bruises still littered the flesh of her jaw and cheeks. Aemond could barely bring himself to look at what he had done to her.

The guilt that gnawed at his heart was almost overwhelming. She looked so fragile under his gaze, her cheeks flushed pink and the bruises on her skin standing out in dark contrast to the soft, ivory color of her skin.

Gods, he was a monster. What he had done to her was unforgivable.

He leaned up, his knees creaking in protest from the hours he had spent on dragon back, and he leaned in to brush his lips against the injured skin softly.

Aurora flinched at the contact, shuffling away from his touch in fear.

He felt sick.

The way she pulled away from him made his chest ache and his stomach knot. He couldn't blame her though, he deserved everything coming his way and he would accept whatever she said to him willingly. He reached for her when she pulled away and gently grasped her wrist to stop her movement.