𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓭 𝓢𝓸𝓷

Chapter 14

Rhaenyra's Pov

Rhaenyra tried to run as a man's hand grabbed her from behind, dragging her into a darkened alley. Panic surged through her veins as she tried to scream, but a calloused hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled fiercely, her heart pounding with terror as she was forced into a nearby house, the door slamming shut behind her.

The room was dimly lit, and Rhaenyra's eyes darted around, taking in the sinister figures that surrounded her. There were three of them, bandits with cruel, leering faces. Her captor, a man with a scar running down his cheek, released his grip, and she stumbled, her fear giving way to a desperate determination to escape.

"Looks like we've caught ourselves a pretty prize," one of the men sneered, his voice dripping with malice. The others laughed, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

Rhaenyra's heart raced, her mind frantically searching for a way out. She backed away, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "Let me go or my uncle will have your head," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

The scar-faced man stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with a cruel glint. "Oh, we'll let you go, sweetheart. But not until we've had our fun."

Terror seized her as the men advanced, their intentions clear. Rhaenyra screamed, her voice echoing through the room, but the walls seemed to swallow the sound. The men closed in, their hands reaching out to grab her. She struggled, her heart pounding with a frantic rhythm, but she was no match for their strength.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, the door burst open with a thunderous crash. A figure stood silhouetted against the dim light, a sword gleaming in his hand. For a moment, Rhaenyra's heart leapt with hope, and then she recognized him—her uncle, Aegon.

Aegon's eyes blazed with fury as he took in the scene before him. Without a word, he launched himself at the bandits, his sword flashing in a deadly arc. The first man fell with a scream, clutching his chest as blood gushed from a fatal wound. The others turned, their faces contorted with shock and fear.

"Get away from her," Aegon growled, his voice a menacing snarl. The second bandit lunged at him, but Aegon parried the blow with ease, his sword slicing through the air with lethal precision. The man crumpled to the floor, his lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling.

The scar-faced man, now the only one left, backed away, his eyes wide with terror. "Please, don't kill me," he begged, his voice trembling.

Aegon's expression was cold and unforgiving. "You should have thought of that before you laid hands on my niece."

With a swift, final stroke, Aegon ended the man's life, his body collapsing in a heap on the floor. Silence fell over the room, broken only by Rhaenyra's ragged breaths. She stared at the fallen men, her mind struggling to process the horror of what had just happened.

Aegon turned to her, his expression softening with concern. "Are you all right, Rhaenyra?"

Rhaenyra nodded, but her body betrayed her fear, trembling uncontrollably. She felt a rush of relief and gratitude, but also a lingering sense of terror that clung to her like a shadow. "I... I think so. Thank you, Uncle. I thought I was..."

Aegon sheathed his sword and took a step towards her, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and anger. "You're safe now. They won't hurt you again."

Rhaenyra's legs felt weak, and she stumbled forward, clutching Aegon's arm for support. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear. "I don't want to be alone. Please, don't leave me."

Aegon's gaze softened, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, offering her a comforting embrace. "I won't leave you, Rhaenyra. I'll make sure you're safe."