CHAPTER ELEVEN

DAEMERYS laid on her bed, brown hair draped down her shoulders as she stared at the ceiling — debating whether to venture to the library like Aemond had requested. The thought had been nagging her for hours.

She couldn't get Aemond out of her mind. How close her lips were to his. His hand trailing her face. His constant smirk. She hated him for it.

After seeing Helaena and the children, after everything she had to say about her brother, it became clearer to Daemerys that perhaps she didn't really know Aemond.

It was dark now, the day had drifted by quickly. The woman had requested she ate her supper within the comforts of her chambers as she did not feel like glaring at the greens all night.

To her surprise, Ser Criston had been the one to give her supper. He didn't stare at her with disgust, instead he gave her a genuine small smile before placing the tray of food down and leaving without a word — leaving the woman wide eyed and confused.

Aemond had been waiting patiently in the library, flicking through a book but ever so often he would look back towards the door in hopes the woman would appear.

He knew he wouldn't be able to control himself around the young woman any longer, she was like a magnet, constantly being drawn to him — he hated it for the most part but he couldn't seem to let the thought go of what her lips would feel like, what they would taste like. Daemerys was driving him mad.

Daemerys grumbled under her breath, she had sworn that she'd never fall for Aemond, she couldn't — she was supposed to hate him, wasn't she? But it was like every fibre in her body couldn't stop thinking about him. She wanted to deny him, only wed him for the alliance, not for love.

Not many women were able to say they married for love, but when she thought of marrying Aemond, that was all she could think it was — love. But she brushed it off simply because she was young, what did she know of love?

She couldn't take the anticipation of not knowing what he wanted from her any longer, shifting off the bed — her long hair falling down her back before leaving her chambers. It was late, Ser Criston stood outside her chamber via Alicent's request and looked at her questionably.

"I need some air", she stated and he nodded before following her but stopped when she held out her hand, "Alone".

"My lady, it would be improper of me to leave you unattended", the man spoke, she dared say he looked worried leaving her alone.

Daemerys smiled shortly, "I will be just fine, Ser Criston. I know how to protect myself", he smiled himself at that, nodding as he remembered how she took down the prince on the day of her arrival.

"Yes, my lady, I suppose you do", he stood back in place of her door, "If you take longer than necessary, I will come looking for you".

"I don't expect anything less", they departed at that, Criston watching her leave with an uncertain gaze. He wanted to hate her, but he knew he placed his hate toward the wrong person — she wasn't Rhaenyras daughter, she was just a girl and he could no longer fault her for something she could not control.

Aemond turned in his seat when the door opened, his face contorting into surprise before going neutral, "You came", the woman looked at him once she closed the door.

Aemond rested in a soft chair by the fire, a chunky book resting on his lap as one hand fiddled with the corner of the page and the other on the arm of the chair — fingers rubbing in self comfort.

A sigh left her lips, "You practically begged me to. It was insufferable", Daemerys rolled her eyes. She laced her fingers in front of her and looked to him then to the book in front of him.

She knew he was smart, the knowledge he had was passed her despite all the training and reading she did. Aemond happened to just be one step ahead of her unless it came to a fight — that she would always win.

Her eyes roamed him before his bitter voice cut to her attention. "I do not beg, bastard". The words tasted dirty in his mouth, he despised the words unless it was toward his sisters born children, it was different with Daemerys, she wasn't Rhaenyra's and Daemons actual child so as the word left his mouth, he held the urge to cringe.

"You have to stop", she growled at him for that, suddenly remembering why she was here. She was slowly regretting in coming, he was nasty by nature it seemed. The man looked at her confused, standing up to face her properly, placing the book on the table beside him — she looked pleading like she was fighting herself over something.

"Stop what, bastard?", he drawled and she glared at him knowing he was taunting her. This was their game and nobody played it better than them. The hints and the harsh name calling — they hurt each other but despite all of that, something deeper buried itself between them.

Fire burned within her every time he was around, a pit in between her legs that left her unsatisfied but she didn't know what it meant. He made her feel things that nobody else had made her feel. He was with her even when he wasn't, haunting her dreams and her time.

"Whatever you're trying to get from me", she told him, "I am to be your wife, yes, but I cannot love you", a hand rested on her lower stomach and the other tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

The confession was brutal and forced, she knew that but she needed to set the boundaries of their relationship before she got hurt — Aemond was a man without question, men in her life apart from her family took what they wanted and gave nothing in return.

Aemond watched her carefully as he grew frustrated, "Why not?", he just wanted her to give herself over to him. Mind, body and soul just like he had for her. He was growing rather impatient, since they were children he had been pining over her like a lost dragon and he had enough, he craved her.

Daemerys looked back at him, her face held displeasure, "Because I hate you", lie. She watched as he shook his head, stepping toward her but she stepped back — leaving space between them that neither wanted but obligation left it that way.

"I don't think you do", he said. Her eyes looked up to him and she tilted her head with a scoff. Why was he doing this to her? She was nothing short of a bastard and he reminded her of much, she wasn't worthy of his love, that is why she pushed him away every chance she got.

She hated him because she knew she could not fully have him. She hated him because he loathed her family.

She hated him because despite everything she had learned to love him but with love came sacrifice, and Daemerys wasn't ready for the sacrifices she knew she would have to make.

"No, actually I do", he raised his eyebrows to let her continue. "You take what you want, when you want. You have no regard for other peoples feelings and most of all you vex me!".

"And what is it that you think you do to me?", he yelled back, jaw tight. "You have made it perfectly clear that you do not want this marriage but it is an obligation! You put us in this situation, you gave yourself to me".

"I did this to protect our family! Because funny enough, Aemond, I do not want to die", her raised voice made him scoff.

His eyes narrowed, "And we are just supposed to listen to the crazy voices in that head of yours?".

That had stung a bit. Her face contorted to a deep scowl. "Yes", she looked right at him and he looked back. He didn't break the eye contact, not for one second.

"You're mine", he stated, feeling smug of himself.

Daemerys clicked her tongue, annoyance was vibrating through her, "I am no one's", she spat, inching closer to him without realising. Her knuckled turned white from clenching them too hard and hair fell down her shoulders from her movements but he merely watched her before smirking.

"That is where you're wrong. You've been mine since you took my eye, you owe me this". He reached forward quick and gripped her throat — not tight but it left her shocked, she could get out of his touch, he knew that and so did she but she stayed.

"I took your first eye, dear betrothed, I'll happily take the other", the woman snarled. Her breath hitched and her body betrayed her when he got closer — his grip on her throat kept her in place.

"I don't think you will, Daemerys. I think you want to hate me so that it is easier for you to push me away. There need not be duty or sacrifice, only love and honour but you have to be willing to give it".

His eyes were so soft. Soft for her. And she knew she was on the brink of giving up. She had been fighting him since they returned. She has made it this far.

"It is exhausting trying to hate you. Pretending to hate you".

His words left her short, the breath in her lungs long forgotten as she stared at him. "I'm incapable of loving", she finally said. Her own truth surprised the both of them and his hand left her throat, gently resting on her waist instead as she looked at his leathered chest instead of his face. "I am a bastard".

"You're my bastard", Aemond spoke softly and his free hand cupped her face making her look up at him with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to fight him anymore. She couldn't. Screw her vows, screw her mind.

And that's exactly what she did, her body lurched forward, hands gripping his face making their lips enclose. You're my bastard. That was enough for her to give in. The words shouldn't have been appealing to her, she should have slapped him, pushed him away from her but she couldn't. Instead she was opening her heart to him and only him.

A part of her still loathed him for treating her family the way he did but her like for him overtook her in this moment, Aemond kissing her back with urgency yet softly. He had been waiting so long, too long for this moment and now that he had it, he didn't know what to do with himself. His fingers griped her waist, pulling her closer.

Daemerys didn't know what she was doing, she had never kissed anyone like this before. Once they pulled away for air, they smiled against each other lips. It was perfect. They were perfect.

"I still hate you", Daemerys mumbled on his lips, looking at him surprised when he chuckled — she didn't know he was capable of that but she loved the noise that came from his lips.

"I know, my love", he kissed her forehead, her eyes closing in content.

A cough broke them apart. Ser Criston stood awkwardly in the doorway — eyeing Daemerys quickly before bowing his head. "Sorry to interrupt, my princess, erm my lady?", he didn't know what to call her, "I must insist that Daemerys comes back to her chambers, the hour has grown rather late".

Daemerys smiled quickly at Aemond before dashing off. Leaving the man in a blushing mess. Ser Criston followed the woman quickly, he noticed her red cheeks and lips and smiled down to himself. It was about time, he thought.

"I hope the library was content enough for you, my lady?", he asked once they ventured to her chambers. The woman swatted his armoured chest, making him laugh.

Daemerys smiled herself at the situation. She didn't know why he was being kind to her but she accepted it for now. "Don't mention anything to anyone".

Criston nodded, holding out his pinky making her raise an eyebrow before enlacing her own around his. A silent vow that he wouldn't speak a word. "Goodnight, my lady".

"Daemerys".

"Goodnight, Daemerys".