Ride or Die | VI
... JEALOUS HEARTS

As the first rays of dawn crept through the curtains, I lay in bed, my body throbbing with a bittersweet ache. The moments shared with Aemond still lingered in my thoughts, fragile and fleeting like the remnants of a dream slipping away with the waking light. A heavy sigh escaped my lips, betraying the tumult of emotions swirling within me.

You foolish girl! Tairn's voice pierced the tranquility of the morning, sharp and accusing. It felt like a physical blow, as if his words had struck me with the force of a dagger to the heart. Sooner than expected, he continued, his tone thick with resentment, your fiancé, that damned rider with his reckless desires! How could you let that happen?!

I closed my eyes, trying to shield myself from the onslaught of his anger, but it engulfed me like a consuming flame. With a jolt, I sat up in bed, as if the act could physically distance me from the intensity of his fury.

  His accusations echoed in my mind, stirring a whirlwind of self-doubt and regret. How had I allowed myself to be so reckless, to jeopardize everything I held dear? The truth in his words cut deeper than I dared to acknowledge, laying bare the consequences of my impulsive actions.

   Outside, the world continued its steady march into daylight, casting long shadows across the room. Inside, I wrestled with the aftermath of my choices, grappling with the weight of my mistakes and the fragile threads of trust that now threatened to unravel between us.

   Tairn, please, I implored, my voice soft yet urgent, attempting to soothe the storm brewing within him. How about we take a flight around Dragonstone Castle?

    Tairn's response was a disdainful snort, the sound reverberating through the confines of my mind like a tempest. In that fleeting moment, I sensed the powerful beat of dragon wings, knowing instinctively that I had piqued his interest. He had always harbored a fondness for aerial excursions.

    "Just this once, White One," I cajoled lightly, a small smile tugging at my lips as I began to dress. I opted for a black, intricately patterned short-sleeved shirt paired with supple black leather pants. They were hardly ideal for riding, but for this brief jaunt, comfort would suffice, especially with Tairn, who despite his gargantuan size, possessed a surprising grace in flight.

    As I fastened the last button and prepared myself, the anticipation of the impending flight wove a thread of excitement through the lingering tension. The prospect of soaring through the skies with Tairn, even in the midst of our discord, offered a rare moment of respite and connection amidst turbulent emotions.

     I made my way to the flight field outside my chamber door, anticipation building as I waited for Tairn to arrive. His descent was as powerful as ever, shaking the ground beneath me. As he lowered his massive head, bringing his snout close to me, I gently caressed his head and greeted him with a smile.

    "Hello to you too," I murmured, feeling the rumble of his deep voice reverberate through his chest.

    "You'd better hurry and get onto my back, or I might just eat your fiancé," he warned playfully, his tone possessive and teasing. "I don't care that you have to marry him. You're mine, and always will be."

   I chuckled at his playful threat, knowing it came from a place of affection and protectiveness. Patting his snout once more, I moved around his massive head and up his foreleg, settling into the saddle.

   As we took to the skies, the sun's dying light bathed the landscape in a crimson hue. We soared effortlessly, the wind whipping past us as our destination came into view. The imposing silhouette of Dragonstone Castle stood stark against the blood-red sky, its stone walls jutting out of the sea like the jagged spine of some ancient beast.

  My breath caught in my throat at the sight of Caraxes, his massive form a vision of power and majesty. His crimson scales glittered like a thousand rubies as the sunlight danced across them, casting a warm glow over the scene. Suddenly, Prince Daemon Targaryen swooped into view, his dragon flying in perfect harmony beside ours.

    "What are you doing, y/n?" he called, his voice a strange mix of softness and strength. In that moment, I couldn't help but wonder how two men as similar as Prince Daemon and Aemond could be such bitter enemies. Their passion, their ambition—it seemed to burn with the same intensity, like two sides of the same coin.

   "I just wanted to take Tarin out for a bit," I said, my voice barely audible over the wind. As if on cue, Tarin let out a low growl, emphasizing our bond. "You don't have anything to worry about, Black One," I continued, my tone reassuring. "She won't die."

   Daemon sighed, his hand gently stroking Caraxes' neck. The great dragon let out a growl of his own, his massive wings beating the air as he descended below Tarin.

    "Just be careful," Daemon called over his shoulder. "Your fiancé will personally have my head if you end up dead." With a final nod, Caraxes banked right, and they disappeared from view, leaving Tarin and me alone once more in the vast sky above Dragonstone.

   "It's annoying how many of those white-haired princes seem to be after you," Tarin grumbled as she adjusted her flight path, angling upward to gain more altitude. I sighed in agreement, the wind whipping past us as we climbed higher. "I know, but that's the Targaryen family for you."

   The Targaryen clan was known for their beauty, their dragons, and their tempestuous relationships. It seemed like every one of the silver-haired princes had their eyes on me, each vying for my attention in their own unique way. Daemon, Aemond—even Prince Aegon had made his feelings known on more than one occasion.

   I suppose it was a testament to the power I held as a dragon rider and the sway I commanded within the royal court. But as Tarin and I soared ever higher, leaving Dragonstone far behind, I couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be an end to the drama that surrounded me.