Two Burning Flames

Part 4

Her heart raced, hammering against her chest at Aegon's sudden confession. "Aegon, you shouldn't play like that!" she exclaimed, snapping out of her shock and pushing against him more forcefully—only to feel his bruising grip tighten.

"Who said I was playing?" he replied, low and serious. He leaned in too quickly, and Aellys barely managed to turn her head as his lips brushed her cheek.

In an instant, he flicked his tongue out, tracing down to her neck, licking up the spilled wine, then quickly sucking at the spot. A strange, dizzying sensation surged through her, leaving her breathless. His mouth swept across the wine-stained skin of her chest, and Aellys gasped, disoriented by the sudden intimacy.

But reality struck hard.

"AEGON, GET OFF OF ME!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.

Just then, Cole and Erryk burst into the room. Cole moved with swift precision, separating Aegon from her and pulling Aellys safely behind him. His expression was tight with anger, every muscle taut with protective instinct.

Aegon froze, stunned, before bolting toward the bath chamber and slamming the door behind him.

Cole immediately turned to Aellys, scanning her for injuries. His gaze fell on the red mark forming on her neck and the tears glistening in her eyes. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a careful but firm embrace, releasing her quickly when he noticed Erryk observing.

"He didn't mean to—he's drunk," Aellys murmured, voice trembling as she struggled to process the encounter.

Cole nodded silently, keeping a protective arm around her shoulders as he led her down the dimly lit corridor. The warmth of his presence grounded her, offering a fragile sense of safety amid the lingering shock.

Why would he do something like that?

The question echoed relentlessly in her mind. Leaning slightly into Cole's side, she drew quiet reassurance from his steady presence.

"Princess, are you sure you're okay?" Cole asked gently, concern etched into every line of his face, reluctant to leave her side for even a moment.

Aellys swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. "I... I think so," she murmured, though the tremor in her voice betrayed the fear and confusion still coursing through her.

Cole's hand tightened ever so slightly on her shoulder—a silent, steadfast promise that she would not face this alone.

Once they reached a quiet hallway, Cole gently guided her to a nearby window seat, letting her sit while he remained close by, his presence steady and reassuring. The soft morning light spilled across the stone floor, but Aellys barely noticed. Her mind was a whirlpool of conflicting thoughts, looping endlessly around what had just happened.

Aegon. Her twin. Her brother. The one who had always teased her, sometimes playfully, sometimes recklessly—but never like this. Never with such invasive proximity. Never with such... intent. The memory of his mouth on her neck and chest pressed against her mind, and a shiver ran through her. She hated that she even remembered the sensation. More than that, she hated that the strange, dizzying warmth it had caused in her chest and stomach had... felt good.

Why did it feel good? She had no right to think it could, and yet she couldn't deny the rush that had surged through her body when his lips had brushed her skin, when his tongue had tasted the spilled wine. It left her both disgusted and oddly... longing for something she couldn't name.

Her hands clutched at her knees, gripping tightly as if holding herself together would help make sense of the confusion inside her. Every time she tried to push the memory away, it returned with vivid clarity, taunting her. She had always felt a protective, familial bond with Aegon—but now that line had blurred, leaving her rattled in ways she didn't yet understand.