Led By Fiery Passion (currently being revised)

Part 45

Lying on the ground, wrapped in his arms and nestled between his legs, Aenyra let her eyes drift closed. For a fleeting moment, peace settled over her, and a soft smile touched her lips. This—this feeling, this man— he was everything.

But the world beyond their embrace was waiting, and it was far less kind. They couldn't ignore it, not for long.

"Aemond... what are we going to do?" she asked quietly, hesitation in every word. "My mother's rejected the marriage alliance. War is practically at our doorstep."

"You're right," Aemond said, his mind already racing. He wanted to believe there was a way out of this, a way to mend the rift before it tore everything apart but deep down, he knew better. Aegon had taken the throne. Whether he'd wanted it or not, the damage was done. War was no longer a threat, it was practically a promise.

"We should just leave." he said, almost too calmly.

Aenyra's eyes widened. "Leave? Aemond, you can't be serious?"Her voice cracked with disbelief. "The throne belongs to my mother and to me after her. I won't sit by and watch it be stolen. And by your brother, no less!"

"He didn't want it," Aemond murmured into her ear.

She stiffened slightly. "And how can you be so sure of that?"

"Because he begged me," Aemond said, his voice low, his gaze distant. "He asked me to help him disappear. Said he wanted to go somewhere no one could ever find him. I was going to help him... until Cole found us first."

The pair sat in silence for a moment, the only sound between them the soft rhythm of their breathing. Aemond's fingers moved slowly, tracing idle patterns beneath her breast, gliding down to the dip of her stomach.

He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the place where her shoulder met her neck. Aenyra melted into the touch, her head tipping back to rest against his chest.

"Let's just get married." Aemond said suddenly.

Aenyra turned her head sharply, eyes locking with his. He wasn't teasing. He meant it.

"Just hear me out," he continued, voice low and steady. "If we marry—even without their approval—they'll have no choice but to accept it. Aegon wouldn't dare move against us, not if he wants to keep his head. And with him on the throne... no one else would have the power to stop it."

"You really think it would be that easy?" Aenyra asked, her voice edged with disbelief. "Nothing ever seems to go our way—if you haven't noticed. I mean... sure, Aegon would probably support us. He has no reason to stand in our way."

Her thoughts began to race, connecting pieces together. "And since he doesn't even want the crown, we might actually convince him and my mother to negotiate terms. She could reclaim her throne. This... it could work."

Aemond nodded silently, his gaze distant as he turned over the possibilities in his mind.

After a long, quiet moment in his arms, Aenyra finally pulled away and stood. She began brushing sand from her skin, her fingers moving absently across her hips and thighs—then she froze, her body wavering.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. Her vision began to blur.

Aemond reacted instantly. He was at her side in a heartbeat, one arm locking firmly around her waist while the other caught her arm to steady her. "Aenyra?" he asked sharply, his voice laced with worry. "What's wrong?"

"You okay?" Aemond asked, concern etched deep into every line of his face.

"Yeah... I think I just stood up too fast," she replied, blinking as she gave her head a gentle shake, trying to clear the lingering blur from her vision.