The Mouth of the Dragon, The Eyes of the Lamb

Chapter 16

Greyson and Margery sat on Lucela's bed in stunned silence. Greyson's blue eyes were comically wide, and Margery's mouth was slightly agape. Lucela narrowed her eyes and flopped down in the chair she had dragged over from the table.

"An apple?" Greyson managed to ask. "The same apple that you were chomping on when you gathered us?"

"The very same."

"Why an apple?" Margery asked next. Lucela shrugged and sighed loudly. It could be a number of things. He was hoping she would choke on it. It was the first thing he saw and grabbed. "Does he know it's your favorite fruit?"

"If that was the reason, then that is almost......kind," Lucela muttered as she frowned. Surely Aemond wasn't being kind to her. "One of my brothers or Helaena probably handed him the apple to give to me."

"But no one knew where you were, Luce," Greyson grumbled as he frowned. He was still upset that she ran off without him. "Why would they hand him an apple to give to you? Unless he was seeking you out intentionally?"

"According to the Septon, he was the one that found Aemond and took him into the sept."

"Greyson is right, Luce. I know your brothers and Princess Helaena are fond of you, but they would have been busy looking for you as well. I think Aemond took the apple himself to give to you in case he found you."

Lucela glared at her best friend. She was supposed to be on her side regarding this. Aemond wasn't nice to her anymore; if anything, he was simply cruel. But he wasn't cruel in the sept. Lucela was beyond confused.

"He hates apples," she whispered helplessly as she began to freefall into her thoughts.

"So?" Greyson asked with a shrug of his shoulders.

"He took a bite of the apple because I wouldn't take it. I thought he had poisoned it."

Margery and Greyson shared a look before looking back at Lucela. She was chewing her bottom lip furiously and began to fiddle with her hair. She knew Aemond was up to something; she just didn't know what. She didn't hear Margery say goodbye, and she didn't notice Greyson standing in front of her until she felt his fingers on her chin.

Greyson bent down in front of her, his intentions clear. Lucela didn't move to stop him, and his lips brushed her own in a whisper of a kiss. "I don't like this, Luce."

"Like what?"

"This entire thing with Aemond. I don't trust him or his mother at all. You need to be safe here; I l....well, you know how I feel."

"Don't," Lucela whispered against his lips. Greyson smiled sadly against her lips and pulled back slightly so he could look at her.

"I know... your motto. Love creates bastards. But you know sex in general does that too, right?" Greyson couldn't resist teasing her to cover his own hurt.

"Loving Harwin was my mother's downfall, Greyson. You stop drinking tea when you get feelings, and that leads to bastards." She couldn't have bastards of her own. She just couldn't.

Greyson wanted to reply, but what could he say? She had held this belief as long as he knew her, and she made it plain that she couldn't develop feelings for him before anything ever happened. He pressed his lips to her forehead instead and stood straight.

"I know, Luce. But anyone that spends any time with you would fall for you."

Lucela scowled and stood. A knock sounded from the door, and she ran over to beat Greyson from opening it. Aegon stood on the other side leaning against the door frame.

"Aegon?" Lucela couldn't help the confusion in her voice as she looked at her eldest uncle. He smiled at her and twirled the goblet in his hand.

"Hi, Luce. Helaena sent me to fetch you." Aegon seemed proud of this fact, and it took everything in Lucela to not roll her eyes at him.