Luring the Dragon • Aemond Targaryen

The Cost of Alliance

An alliance with an enemy is a dance on a blade's edge, where every step could draw blood.

The night was restless, and sleep evaded me. My last conversation with Jace lingered in my mind, filling me with regrets. I shouldn't have pushed him so far. There are things we are never ready to admit. So many things could've been done differently. I should've told him about my agreement with Aemond, sparing him the shock of that reckless announcement. Thoughts of Aemond's unexpected revelation gnawed at my mind, leaving me tangled in a web of uncertainty and frustration. The flickering candlelight cast shadows on the walls of my chamber as I paced, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and apprehension. I couldn't let this stand. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

It wasn't the first time I had stormed into Aemond's chambers in the middle of the night. However, now that we are betrothed, my dignity is less at risk, and no one will question my presence. Still, it's unsettling how easily I've come to accept this arrangement. The man who is to be my husband remains a living enigma, and I refuse to live in constant uncertainty because he keeps his thoughts to himself. I wish he had warned me about his decision to reveal our marriage so soon. Jace was right—Aemond is dangerous and unpredictable, and I cannot afford to find myself in this position again. I need him to understand that we are equals and that he cannot make such significant decisions without consulting me first.

As I approached Aemond's chambers, my mind raced with the confrontation I planned to have. But just as I neared the door, a figure emerged from within—a woman with long, black hair cascading down her back and a tall, imposing stature. There was something unsettling about her, a dark aura that seemed to cling to her. Recognition struck me; she was the same woman I had seen at the tower, a memory that sparked a surge of anger within me. My heart pounded with a mix of fury and betrayal. The sight of her leaving his chambers only fueled my determination. I couldn't ignore the fact that Aemond's private affairs were as shrouded in secrecy as he himself. The thought of him involved with another woman, while I was expected to accept our arrangement, stoked the fire of my indignation.

I barely registered the woman's departure as I stormed into Aemond's chambers, my anger propelling me forward. The heavy door swung open with a forceful shove, revealing Aemond seated at a desk, a look of surprise flickering across his face. Without hesitation, I marched up to him, my voice sharp and unyielding.

'What was that about?' I demanded, glaring at him with a mixture of outrage and disbelief. 

Aemond's calm demeanor only fueled my ire further. He met my gaze with a steady, inscrutable look, but I could see the faintest hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. 

Aemond's night attire was strikingly simple yet evocative. He wore a white shirt, nearly unbuttoned and falling open to reveal the pale, angular lines of his chest. The shirt was made of fine, soft linen, its fabric billowing slightly with his movements and catching the light in a way that made it almost glow. His loose, black trousers completed the ensemble, their deep color providing a striking contrast to the white of his shirt. The pants were made of a soft, flowing material that moved easily with him, giving off an air of casual disarray.  The casual nature of his attire only heightened my frustration, underscoring the disregard he seemed to have for the gravity of the situation.

'My dear niece, I have no intention of staining your precious reputation. I cannot touch you before our wedding, but surely you understand - a man has needs.' 

'If you must entertain other women, at least have the decency not to bring them to our home. I will not tolerate such open disrespect.'

'Oh, love, you wound me. Are you trying to forbid me from enjoying myself? I had no idea you had such power over me.' His smirk and the sarcasm in his tone were unmistakable. He seemed intent on provoking me, pushing my buttons with calculated precision.