Chapter Text
Alicent sat at the long dining table, flanked by Helaena and Gwayne, directly across from Rhaenyra (of fucking course). Her back ached with the impeccable posture she was keeping since the moment they'd sat down. Her emerald blazer was draped across the back of her chair, her ivory button up unbuttoned at the collar. The dinner conversation flowed around her, but her focus kept wandering to Rhaenyra, sat between Laena and Jace. She observed her in her periphery, watched her laugh, her sip her wine, her joke with Baela. Rhaenyra had been talking to Viserys, sat at the head of the table, about success at the company for a long few moments before Alicent found her voice.
“Rhaenyra, I noticed the quarterly report was delayed. Everything alright in your department?” Alicent asked, her tone dripping with feigned concern. She could feel Gwayne's gaze on the side of her face.
Rhaenyra’s smile was tight, her eyes never leaving Alicent’s as she spoke. “Just ensuring all the details are perfect, unlike some other departments that seem to rush through their work.”
Alicent’s laugh was light, almost musical. “Perfection does take time, doesn’t it? I just hope it’s actually worth the wait, as other departments are in a holding pattern until it's received.”
“Oh, it will be,” Rhaenyra replied, her voice smooth as silk. “Unlike the usual mediocrity we’ve grown accustomed to in the company.”
Alicent’s eyes sparkled with amusement, but her grip on her fork tightened slightly. Gwayne's hand found her knee. “Well, some of the departments prioritize intercompany synergy and hitting deadlines over putting everyone else's work behind because you can't be bothered to---"
"Enough!" Viserys slammed his dragon-headed cane on the floor, the sound reverberating through the dining room. Rhaenyra’s eyes flashed with barely concealed irritation as she stared at Alicent. Viserys struggled to stand, his frail body leaning heavily on his cane, drawing both of their gazes. Alicent instinctively started to rise, ready to help him to his feet, to keep him balanced, but he put his hand up, halting her. She sank back down. Helaena's hand found hers under the table, their rings clacking together in the silence.
"It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table," Viserys began, his voice strained and weak, yet determined. "The faces most dear to me in all the world... yet grown so distant from each other... in the years past." He sighed, half a wheeze, and loosened his tie a bit, his fingers trembling. He removed his sunglasses, revealing his permanently dark purple eyes, rimmed with dark veins. When he gives a weak smile, Alicent can see his fangs, always distended now.
"Tonight, I wish you to see me as I am. Not just as your sire, or the CEO and the signer of your paychecks," he chuckled softly, a sound tinged with both sadness and fondness, "but as your father, your brother, your husband..." Alicent forced a tight smile as his gaze settled on her. "Who may not, it seems, walk for much longer among you..." Alicent felt a pang in her chest, noticing that she and Rhaenyra flinched in unison. "It is uncommon for our kind to leave this mortal coil so young, a spry 101, but the gods seemed to have deigned my fate so." Alicent swallows, looking at the dark veins peaking out of his shirt collar.
"Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. Targaryen Industries cannot stand strong if our house remains divided," he continued, his voice wavering. "Set aside your grievances." His eyes flickered between Alicent and Rhaenyra, the weight of gaze weighing down on them. "If not for the sake of the company, then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly."
Viserys' eyes, filled with a mixture of hope and desperation, locked onto Alicent's. "Please," he pleaded softly, "do this for me. For us. For the legacy we all share." He slumped back down into his chair.
Alicent felt Helaena’s hand squeeze hers gently under the table. She glanced at Rhaenyra, who looked away, her jaw clenched tightly.
-*-
Alicent sighed, watching the water rush out of the faucet and swirl down the drain. These monthly dinners made her miss the days when she had a Xanax prescription. She glanced at her nails, perfectly manicured and painted a deep forest green, with tiny white scars lining the cuticles. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror. Her makeup had stayed in place, except for a bit of smudged lipstick. Her eyes looked tired, though. She wished she could leave, go home with Helaena, rewatch Practical Magic for the umpteenth time, and drink a whole bottle of wine. But that would be a show of weakness, and she wouldn't---couldn't allow that.
Besides, she did enjoy seeing some of the family she didn't cross paths with all that often. Baela, though resolutely dedicated to Rhaenyra and, more closely, to Jace, had somehow retained a fondness for Alicent. Alicent treasured the few stolen chats they managed to have during these events. Laena also made time for Alicent, though she kept their interactions terse in view of the whole family. Alicent’s phone still dinged with texts from her.
Laena: You good?
Laena: You both always do this then spend the rest of the dinner licking your wounds and pouting.
Alicent: I'm not pouting.
Laena: You're the queen of pouting.
Laena: The only one who might challenge your throne is Jace.
Laena: I wish you and Nyra would just leave each other alone. Or kiss and makeup. Or kill each other. Whatever will make these dinners less awful.
Alicent: She started it.
Laena: You're 36 years old, Alicent.
Laena: She started it? Grow up.
Alicent: Delete my number.
Laena: No.
Laena: Get over yourself and come back.
Laena: Also, will you be at my race tomorrow?
Alicent's head popped up when she heard the door open and close. Rhaenyra stood behind her in the mirror. She was dressed in a nearly sheer white button up, a black tank top underneath, and a pair of black leather pants. Annoyingly casually dressed, but not casual enough for Alicent to make a comment about it. Alicent watched her own face drop into a neutral, unimpressed expression in the mirror.
“Couldn’t wait to get a dig in, could you?” Rhaenyra’s voice was low, angry. Alicent's heart started to thump.
Alicent turned slowly, her eyes meeting Rhaenyra’s with a calm intensity. “Just pointing out the facts, Rhaenyra. If you find that bothersome, perhaps you should look inward.” She said with a saccharine lilt to her voice.
Rhaenyra stepped closer to Alicent, only a few paces away now, her face flushed with anger. “You’ve always had a way of twisting things to make yourself look better.”
Alicent’s eyes narrowed slightly and she stepped toward, her chin high. “And you’ve always been so good at playing the victim. It’s quite the performance, especially with all the privilege consistently provided to you despite your insistence upon shirking responsibility and duty unless it suits you.”
Rhaenyra’s breath hitched, her fists clenched at her sides. “You don’t know anything about what I’ve had to do to keep this family’s legacy intact.” She growled as she stepped further into Alicent's space. Alicent's blood rushed in her ears as her anger rose. What do you know of sacrifice? You are immune to all consequence, even death and age.
Alicent moved closer, her voice rising. “And you don’t know what it’s like to constantly have to prove yourself and work hard because you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth and relative immortality in your veins.”
They were mere inches apart now, their breaths mingling, the air between them almost crackling. Rhaenyra’s eyes flicked down to the thumping pulse in Alicent’s neck, then to her lips, before coming back up to meet her gaze. Oh?
Alicent's eyes flickered down to Rhaenyra's lips. The gleaming tips of her canines caught her gaze. Her body felt hot. Was this fight or flight? Was this the feeling of a fox cornered by a hunter? She could barely tear her eyes away from Rhaenyra's mouth.
“Oh, what now?" Alicent’s voice was soft, softer than she meant for it to be. "You're going to kill me?"
"I would never." Rhaenyra said, and Alicent's eyes were drawn to the movement of her lips, her sharp teeth flashing as she formed the words. A shiver ran through Alicent.
"Yeah." Alicent said, pressing her fingernail into her thumb to ground herself. The pain put her mind into focus again, and met Rhaenyra's gaze unflinchingly. "I know. So put those away unless you mean it." Alicent snapped, pushing past Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra steps back but grabs Alicent's arm, keeping them locked in close to each other. Alicent raises her chin defiantly, finding her face just inches from Rhaenyra's.
Rhaenyra’s eyes, turning more and more purple by the second, blazed with a mixture of anger and something else, something Alicent dared not name. She stares back at her, her world zeroing down to her lavender irises, the inky pools of her dilating pupils, the flutter of her eyelashes. Alicent watches her eyes dropped to her lips once again. Oh.
Alicent can feel her pulse quicken and her lungs stutter as she becomes overtly aware of how close they are, of the loose grasp of Rhaenyra's hand on her forearm, of the spiced scent of Rhaenyra's perfume. She licks her lips, the waxy maroon of her lipstick sliding over her tongue. Rhaenyra's eyes follow the motion.
"Rhaeny---" Alicent started, cut off by Rhaenyra taking a large step back from her. They stared at each other wide-eyed.
Without another word, Rhaenyra turned on her heel and stormed out of the bathroom, leaving Alicent standing there, her heart racing.
What...the...fuck?
Alicent turned back to her own reflection, gripping the edge of counter. She looks at herself, her pupils wide in her brown eyes and her face dusted pink. A slow smile spread across her lips.
Oh, this could be fun.
-*-
Alicent's phone chimes incessantly. She picks it up off her kitchen countertop. She presses Stop on the Parking Spot alarm on her screen.
-*-
Alicent arrives at Targaryen Industries at 7:30 AM for her 8:00 AM workday. She pulls into the parking garage of the building, waves at the attendant, and drives down to the Targaryen Industries Executive Team Reserved spots. She passes the spot marked COO: AHT and parks her car squarely in the spot labeled CFO: RT. It's three spots closer to the elevator than hers. She can't help the little grin that spreads across her lips as she tosses her keys into her purse and steps out of her car. She checks her reflection in the shine of her car windows. She pops another button on her shirt, her neck on lavish display.
-*-
"You're in my spot, Hightower." Rhaenyra's voice was a low, dangerous whisper as she leaned over Alicent's desk, her hand pressing down on the pages Alicent had been writing on.
Alicent looked up, her expression innocent, her brown eyes wide. "Oh, am I? Must have slipped my mind. I'll move it later." She glanced back down at her papers, trying to conceal the smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Rhaenyra's other hand came down onto the desk with a thud, her body leaning in closer. Alicent tilted her head back up to meet Rhaenyra's gaze.
Rhaenyra's nose crinkled minutely as she peered down at Alicent for a long, intense moment. Her blue eyes seemed to tinge with lavender, her gaze boring into Alicent's.
Without another word, Rhaenyra stood up straight, turned on her heel, and marched out of Alicent's office, leaving the door ajar.
Alicent rolled her eyes, even as her lips tugged up into a satisfied smile.
-*-
Alicent sipped her coffee with a satisfied smile, pretending to be engrossed in her phone. Her back was to the door of the kitchen, but she heard it open and recognized the unmistakable clunk of those obnoxious boots on the floor. The fridge door opened, followed by rustling, then more insistent rustling, until the door slammed shut.
"Did you use all the oat milk?" Rhaenyra's voice was low and even, but Alicent caught the edge to it. Her smile grew wider.
Alicent shrugged, taking another sip as she turned around to look at her. "Sorry, didn't realize it was the last of it. I'll make sure they order more at the end of the week." She knew full well the shipment from last week was in the trunk of her car under a blanket.
Alicent tilted her head, stretching her neck one way, then the other. Rhaenyra's eyes narrowed, her gaze lingering on Alicent's throat as she took a deliberate swallow of her coffee.
For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them palpable. Alicent could feel Rhaenyra's gaze burning into her, but she held her ground, her expression serene, as she casually sipped her coffee.
"Well, enjoy your coffee, Alicent." Rhaenyra finally said, her voice tight. She turned on her heel and walked out, her boots echoing down the hallway.
-*-
"Rhaenyra, have you considered the long-term financial impact of this decision?" Alicent's voice cut through the boardroom like a knife. She leaned forward, her eyes locking with Rhaenyra's. "It seems a bit... short-sighted." Her voice was smooth, her tone sweet, but the intent was clear.
Rhaenyra's jaw tightened, her fingers gripping the expo marker in her hand until her knuckles whitened. The marker squeaked against the whiteboard as she paused, composing herself. Rhaenyra was dressed in well-fitted black trousers and a dark maroon vest, cinched at her waist. She turned to smile curtly at Alicent. Alicent's eyes dipped to the dragons embroidered along her pockets. "Thank you for your concern, Alicent. I'll take it under advisement."
"Of course." Alicent leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. She glanced at Bennard and Cregan Stark, both in their all-black suits, their faces impassive but their eyes flicking between the two women. "I will personally oversee the follow-up financial meeting between the Lannister Group, Stark Enterprises, and Targaryen Industries." Alicent caught Bennard Stark’s eye, offering him a reassuring smile. The elder Stark’s stern features softened just slightly, a nod of acknowledgment. She then looked at Cregan, who raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.
Rhaenyra resumed her presentation, her voice steady but with an edge that hadn't been there before. Alicent could see the frustration simmering just below the surface. The faint scent of Rhaenyra's lavender perfume and black coffee wafted past Alicent as Rhaenyra stepped around her chair to pull up a set of charts and graphs on her laptop, projecting them onto the wall.
Alicent crossed her legs, her stiletto heel tapping lightly against the polished floor, a quiet reminder of her presence as Rhaenyra returned to the front of the room.
As Rhaenyra continued to outline her proposal, Alicent glanced at the stack of documents in front of her, the edges crisp and pristine, unlike the battle-worn papers on Rhaenyra's side of the table. The slight tremor in Rhaenyra's hand as she pointed to a graph did not escape her notice. She couldn't help the little smirk that tugged at her lips, having pushed Rhaenyra off her game.
The soft hum of the projector and the shuffling of papers filled the silence between Rhaenyra’s sentences. Alicent's heart beat steadily, each thump wondering if Rhaenyra could hear it.
As the meeting drew to a close, Rhaenyra wrapped up her presentation, her voice firm despite the earlier interruption. "Thank you for your time," she said, casting a final look at Alicent before meeting Bennard and Cregan's gaze and shaking their hands. "I look forward to your feedback."
Alicent’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a small victory. "We’ll be in touch," she said sweetly as she firmly shook hands with the Starks, watching as Rhaenyra gathered her materials, her movements tense and deliberate.
As the board members began to file out, Alicent stood, smoothing the front of her blouse. Rhaenyra sighed dramatically. Alicent didn't entertain her, gathering her papers back into their accordion binder and sliding it and her Targaryen Tech laptop into her bag. She suddenly felt Rhaenyra's presence behind her. Alicent still ignored her. If she wanted Alicent's attention, she wasn't going to get it by pouting and brooding.
"Alicent." Rhaenyra's voice was much closer to her than she expected. Alicent put her bag on her shoulder and turned, finding Rhaenyra only a pace away.
"I don't really have time for a one-on-one right now, Rhaenyra. I'm already running late for my lunch with Helaena," Alicent said coolly, even as her heart beat in her chest. "Feel free to reach out to my assistant if you truly need my time." She gave Rhaenyra a grin as she stepped past her.
Alicent glanced over her shoulder as she walked out of the door to see Rhaenyra still standing in place. Was she... was she smelling the air?
-*-
Alicent runs down the stairs from the Executive floor to the Management floor, her breaths coming in steady, controlled bursts. Her stockinged feet pap, pap, pap against the marble steps, echoing in the stairwell. Reaching the bottom, she immediately pivots and sprints back up, her legs burning with the exertion.
Once she reaches the top again, she presses her pointer and middle finger to the side of her neck, feeling the rapid thrum of her pulse beneath her skin. She glances at her Targaryen Tech watch, its sleek design displaying her heart rate.
One more time for good measure.
She jogs down the steps. As she approaches the bottom again, she takes a deep breath and pushes off, launching herself back up the stairs.
This time, she takes two steps at a time, her muscles protesting and her pencil skirt straining. Her hand glides along the railing for balance, her eyes focused on the top of the stairwell. The sound of her footsteps blends with the distant hum of office chatter and the occasional ring of a phone.
Reaching the Executive floor once more, Alicent slows her pace, her breathing heavy but controlled. She checks her watch again.
Perfect.
She slides her feet back into her heels and straightens her clothes.
-*-
Alicent's green heels clicked rhythmically against the polished floor as she approached Rhaenyra's office. She knocked on the doorframe as she breezed in.
"Busy?" she asked, her tone light.
"Working," Rhaenyra replied, her back to Alicent, focused intently on her computer screen.
Alicent glided over to Rhaenyra's chair and rested a hand on its back, leaning in to peer at the screen. As she did, the neckline of her emerald blouse dipped slightly, revealing the delicate curve of her neck and her pulse thumping just beneath the skin. A faint glimmer of her watch displayed a quickened heartbeat, which she turned away from Rhaenyra's view with a subtle adjustment of her wrist.
Rhaenyra stiffened, her gaze shifting slightly to catch the side of Alicent's face. "Do you need something?" Her voice was a bit tight. Alicent struggled down a grin. Her pulse was still thumping quick enough that she could feel it. She wondered again if Rhaenyra could hear it. She had to, this close.
Alicent turned, her smile coy as her breath lightly brushed Rhaenyra's cheek. "Just checking on the latest numbers. Want to make sure we're on the same page." Her eyes scanned over the screen, parsing the information as quickly as she could as she tilted her head, stretching her neck further. "Looks like the projections are in our favor," Alicent murmurs.
"You could email me, and I'll send them directly to you," Rhaenyra suggested, her eyes deliberately avoiding Alicent's gaze.
Alicent allowed her eyes to wander over Rhaenyra's face, taking in her profile. She wanted to see her fangs, wanted to know what they fe--- "Yeah, I'll do that," she said, her voice betraying a hint of distraction.
Rhaenyra's gaze flicked briefly to the golden chain hanging around Alicent’s neck, then quickly back up to her face. "You're flushed."
"Oh?" Alicent tugged at her shirt collar, a smile curling the corner of her mouth as Rhaenyra’s eyes followed the movement. "It is a bit hot in here, isn't it?" She met Rhaenyra's eyes, her own gaze lingering on her lips before returning to her eyes.
Alicent cleared her throat, her cheeks subtly flushing as she stood. "Anyway, go ahead and send those numbers over to me." She said as she walked back out of Rhaenyra's office.
-*-
Helaena: Where are you?
Alicent: In the parking lot.
Helaena: I thought that was you.
Helaena: Are you coming in?
Alicent: Yeah, I'll be in in a minute.
Helaena: You're not going to be the Alicent Hightower 10 minutes early?
Helaena: You told me if you're not 10 minutes early, you're late.
Helaena: And that lateness is a sin.
Alicent: Perhaps I'm a changed woman.
Helaena: No, that couldn't be it.
Helaena: You're up to something.
Alicent: I'm so not up to anything it's crazy.
Helaena: I hate when I'm not looped in on your schemes.
Alicent: Lateness is a sin, but patience is a virtue.
Helaena: Guess we're both going to hell. See you there.
Alicent tosses her phone into her clutch. She checks her makeup again in the visor of her car. Her long lashes were heavy with mascara, her eyelids dusted with a rosy gold, and her eyes lined with emerald. Her curls were pinned back and away from her neck, half up in intricate braids and the rest tumbling down her back. Satisfied with her reflection, she closes the mirror with a snap, just in time to catch sight of a yellow Targaryen Tech car pulling into the lot.
-*-
"Alicent."
Alicent smiled before turning. Rhaenyra, still stuffing her car keys into her trouser pockets, strides up to her. Alicent's eyes drag down her form. She was dressed in a form fitted black suit, her blazer already draped over her arm, and her structured black bralette visible under the tight mesh of her shirt. Rhaenyra neck was glittering with chains, and her fingers were heavy with silver rings. Alicent thought they must look quite the pair, as she was dressed in a cowl neck emerald dress that reached just below her knees, a slit up her thigh. Her heels were a burnished gold, that matched the chain around her waist.
"Rhaenyra." Alicent greeted.
Alicent thinks her surprise shows fully on her face before she can school her expression impassive, as Rhaenyra grabs her arm, just above her elbow, gently. "Truce?" She says.
Alicent raises her eyebrows. "What?"
"Our last dinner didn't go...well." Rhaenyra said, surprisingly soft as she spoke to Alicent.
"Oh? No one ended up in a knife fight or bitten. What more could you ask for?" Rhaenyra gave her an unimpressed look.
"You know what I mean." She said flatly. "My father wants you and I to get along..."
"So no fangs out in the bathroom this time then?" It a bit too blatant of a jab, but Alicent delights in the way Rhaenyra dips her head.
"You're impossible." Rhaenyra sighs, brushing the silver strands of hair framing her face away. Her hair was up into a low bun, pinned by long silver pin. "I mean it, though. Father isn't well enough to be here, but I want him to hear we got along."
Alicent found herself nodding. She could see Viserys, in her mind, in his bed at the Red Keep, hooked up to steadily cycling machine pumping new blood into him. She flinched lightly. "Okay." Alicent said, taking Rhaenyra's arm. "Truce."
-*-
A truce on one front, not them all. Alicent thought, as she sipped her wine. In Viserys absence, he had made a special request of the restaurant. When they arrived, there were name placards at each seat. Alicent found herself seated between Rhaenyra and Alys Rivers, an outside consultant to Targaryen Industries and close friends with Helaena.
Alicent sat at the long, elegantly set table in the otherwise empty restaurant, the soft clinking of cutlery and murmurs of conversation providing a gentle background hum. The warm glow of the chandelier above cast a golden light over everything, making the crystal glasses and polished silverware sparkle. She sipped her wine, savoring the rich, full-bodied flavor as she glanced around the table. As she adjusted her position, her leg brushed against Rhaenyra’s under the table. Alicent maintained a composed exterior, swirling her wine in the glass.
Alys, seated to her right, leaned in and whispered something to Helaena next to her. Helaena giggled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Alicent turned slightly, catching Alys' eye and sharing a conspiratorial smile. Alys was a little odd, but she was smart and interesting, and she was kind to Helaena. She also disliked Daemon almost as much as Alicent did.
"Seems like the wine is making its rounds quite effectively," Alicent commented, her voice low and smooth. Alys smiled at her, her striking blue eyes sparkling.
Alys chuckled. "It certainly helps lighten the mood. Helaena and I were just reminiscing about the 2019 Targaryen Gala. Was it Tyland or Jason who toppled the champagne pyramid?"
Alicent laughed at the memory. "Tyland." Alicent and Rhaenyra said in unison. Alicent glanced over at her, giving her a small smile.
Across from them, Baela and Rhaena were deep in conversation with Laena, their animated expressions and gesturing hands illustrating a lively debate about some racing thing Alicent didn't fully understand. Aegon was muttering something in Jace's ear that had Jace frowning. Alicent shot Aegon a look from across the table. He put his hands up and leaned back in his chair. Aemond, returning to his chair from the bathroom, leaned down to kiss her cheek on his way. "A refill?' He asked, tapping her glass.
"Yes, please." Alicent responded. Aemond gestured to the waiting attendant, Alicent's preferred merlot in his hand. Aemond took it out of his grasp as he approached and filled Alicent's glass. She gave Aemond a smile as he nodded to her. He hip checks Rhaenyra's chair as he turned to return the bottle and Alicent sighed. She flicked his arm as he passed.
Criston Cole, seated at the far end of the table, dressed in his suit and white tie, watched the room with a calm, assessing gaze. He caught Alicent's eye and nodded slightly, a gesture she returned with a polite smile. Rhaenyra hummed. Alicent’s attention shifted back to Rhaenyra. She was studiously not looking at Alicent, but she could see the way her jaw clenched. Alicent leaned closer, her fingers brushing Rhaenyra’s arm again, this time lingering a bit longer.
“So, Rhaenyra,” she said, her voice silky, “how’s the new project coming along? I heard it’s quite the undertaking.” Alicent more than knew how the deal with the Starks was going. She had Rhaenyra CC her on her EOD reports for the past few months now.
Rhaenyra turned to face her, their eyes locking. “It’s challenging, but nothing we can’t handle,” she replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of something. She sipped from her own glass and Alicent watched her lick the thick crimson away from her lips.
Alicent smiled, her fingers trailing down to Rhaenyra’s wrist before pulling away. “I’m sure you’ll manage it beautifully, as always.”
Alicent could feel Helaena's gaze on her from the other side of Alys. She ignored it. She ignored the first few vibrations of her phone as well.
Helaena: Since when do you say genuinely nice things to Rhaenyra in front of everyone?
Helaena: What are you playing at?
Helaena: LET ME IN ON YOUR SCHEMES
The final course of their meal was served without much event. This was the first dinner Alicent could remember in a while where there wasn't a long stretch of awkward silence or a dramatic storm off. She reached for the salt, her hand lightly grazing Rhaenyra’s. Rhaenyra didn't flinch away from her touch.
As she cut through her steak, that she had ordered rare instead of her preferred medium, she laughed at a joke Jace told, leaning into Rhaenyra slightly, her shoulder pressing against hers. Jace looked surprised, but pleased when she rifted with him for a few rounds of joking. She'd always liked him, despite him being Rhaenyra's most loyal apprentice.
When Alicent was leaned over to speak to Alys, Rhaenyra’s fingers brushed against her thigh, just for a moment, to pull her attention.
"Do you think tonight is going better because of the truce or because we ordered twice the wine?" Rhaenyra muttered into her ear.
"Maybe both." Alicent mused. "Or maybe because no one is trying to show off for daddy." When Rhaenyra laughed, it was a soft, intimate sound, meant for Alicent’s ears alone.
As dessert was served, a decadent chocolate mousse, Alicent had enough wine in her system to make her bold. She slid her hand over Rhaenyra's thigh as leaned over her dessert, spooning a bite into her mouth. She turned her head toward Rhaenyra as she licked the mousse off the silver. Rhaenyra's eyes followed the motion.
“Alicent,” Rhaenyra said low, barely audible, her voice carrying a warning note.
Alicent’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming.
-*-
"You're drunk." Rhaenyra said, as she walked Alicent out of the restaurant and into the parking lot. "Why don't I give you a ride?"
"I would love a ride." Alicent said, turning to face Rhaenyra. She slid her hand along Rhaenyra's arm, tilting her chin up to meet her gaze with a grin. Rhaenyra's eyebrows raised. "But Helaena's already offered to take me home."
"Good. Just don't want you crashing a Targaryen Tech car. That'd be a bad look," Rhaenyra quipped, a touch of humor in her voice.
"Thank you for tonight," Alicent said before she could stop herself. "It was... nice pretending to like each other."
"Alicent..." Rhaenyra breathed, her voice softening. She opened her mouth as if to say more.
"Alicent!" Helaena called out, pulling both of their gazes as she emerged from the restaurant. Alys waved at them before embracing Helaena. Alicent turned back to Rhaenyra.
"Goodnight, Rhaenyra," Alicent said, letting her instincts take over as she pulled Rhaenyra into a hug. She tilted her head slightly, exposing her neck and shoulder, feeling Rhaenyra's breath quicken against her skin. Rhaenyra leaned in, her nose brushing lightly against Alicent's pulse point.
"Gods," Rhaenyra mumbled, her voice more a sensation than a sound against Alicent's skin. Images of Rhaenyra’s fangs flashed through Alicent’s mind, her pulse quickening at the thought of them grazing her neck, of blood spilling hot down Rhaenyra's chin.
"Sleep well," Alicent murmured, stepping out of Rhaenyra’s grasp. She couldn’t resist reaching up to lightly cup Rhaenyra's cheek, her thumb pressing at the corner of Rhaenyra’s mouth, just enough to reveal---ah, there they are. Alicent smirked, patting Rhaenyra's cheek with a playful pap! pap! before stepping away.
Her eyes darted to the lot, landing on Alys and Helaena, who were clinging to each other and staring back at her. Shit.
Alicent gave Rhaenyra one last glance before striding toward Helaena's powder blue SUV.
"Goodnight," Rhaenyra called after her.
-*-
“So…” Helaena finally broke the silence, her voice hesitant as they pulled out of the lot and headed back toward the Red Keep.
Alicent hummed noncommittally. “Yes?” she replied, keeping her tone light. When in doubt, play dumb.
“Loop me in!” Helaena insisted, her blue eyes flickering between the road and Alicent. “You’re up to something!”
“What makes you think I’m up to anything?” Alicent asked, feigning innocence.
“Because you seem to be finally acknowledging and acting upon the years of tension between you and Rhaenyra.” Helaena's words were direct, and a hot blush crept up the back of Alicent's neck. She focused on the streetlights flashing by, trying to keep her expression neutral. “And I couldn’t predict you doing that without an ulterior motive.”
“Why do you say that?” Alicent kicked off her heels into the footwell of Helaena’s car, needing something to do with her hands.
“That you’d have an ulterior motive?” Helaena echoed, glancing at her as they stopped at a red light. Alicent nodded. “Because… you guys hate each other. Bracken and Blackwood-style hate.” Helaena turned fully to look at her, her gaze intense. “But also because you guys used to love each other.” Alicent managed not to flinch at the blunt truth. “You can’t love each other because of the hate, and you can’t fully hate each other because of the love. It’s like our family’s great Shakespearean tragedy of the century.” Gods, Helaena always had a way of speaking plainly. Maybe too plainly.
Alicent sighed, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. “I just want to rub it in her face,” she admitted, her voice low.
“What?” Helaena asked, accelerating as the light turned green.
“That she wants me,” Alicent said, the words slipping out despite herself.
“You’re insane,” Helaena said with a laugh, shaking her head.
-*-
The elevator doors slide open, revealing Rhaenyra standing inside the sleek, mirrored cabin. The ambient lighting casts a soft glow over the polished floors and the minimalist steel paneling. She, unfortunately, looks great in a black trousers cinched at her waist and tight white t-shirt.
“Which floor are you headed to?” Alicent steps, smoothing her blouse and pulling her purse closer to her side. The doors close with a gentle hiss, and they begin their descent
“Security. The tenth,” she replies, her voice steady. She doesn't miss the flicker of Rhaenyra's expression. Something, something there, anger?
Rhaenyra’s fingers move gracefully to the control panel, pressing the button for the tenth floor. As the elevator hums softly, she makes a show of casually stretching, her movements fluid and deliberate. "Visiting Cole?" She asks after a long moment. Hm.
"Grabbing my keys from him." Alicent says, watching the numbers tick down above the door. 28, 27, 26... "He picked up my car from the restaurant."
"How chivalrous." Rhaenyra comments. Hmm.
"Well, that's what we pay him for." Alicent says, daring to glance at her. Rhaenyra is facing forward, her jaw clenched.
The elevator dings as it reaches the 23rd floor, and the doors slide open. Rhaenyra steps out. She turns back with a parting smirk and says, “I thought you might enjoy a longer ride. Time to catch up on your daydreams.” She winks as Alicent looks up at her.
"Wha--" Before the doors can close, Rhaenyra reaches back inside and presses every button on the panel with a decisive flourish. The buttons light up one by one as they register her selections, each floor now queued for a stop. Alicent huffs as she gives her a withering look as the door closes.
-*-
"Can I hit that?" Alicent asks.
"It's bad for you," Rhaenyra replies, flicking the ash off the end of her cigarette. She hands it to Alicent anyway, their fingers brushing as she takes it.
Alicent takes a long drag, her breath coming out in a plume of white smoke. "Is it not bad for you?" she asks, genuinely curious, her dark eyes fixed on Rhaenyra's face as she takes another drag.
"Who's to say?" Rhaenyra shrugs, leaning against the wall beside Alicent. Alicent holds the cigarette out, and Rhaenyra cups the back of her hand, bringing it to her lips. She meets Alicent's gaze as she wraps her lips around the cigarette and inhales deeply. Alicent watches her turn her head and puff the smoke out.
"I can hear your heart beating," Rhaenyra says, her voice low and teasing. Damn it.
"Nicotine always makes it race," Alicent replies, taking one last drag from the cigarette before dropping it on the ground between them. She stamps it out under her red-bottomed shoe.
-*-
"Can you clasp this for me?" Alicent asked, stepping into the doorway of Rhaenyra's office. She held up a golden necklace, the delicate chain loose in her fingers. The office was quiet, empty save for the two of them, having stayed hours past close to finish the final details of the Stark Project.
"Sure." Rhaenyra turned in her chair, her eyes flicking up to meet Alicent’s. "Come here."
Alicent stepped fully into the room, kicking the door shut behind her. Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow at the gesture but said nothing, standing and motioning for Alicent to turn around. Alicent complied, gathering her hair up to expose the nape of her neck. Rhaenyra reached out, her fingers brushing against Alicent's skin as she grasped the chain and pulled it around her neck. The clasp snapped into place with ease.
Rhaenyra’s fingers lingered, gliding along Alicent’s neck and collarbone as the cool metal settled against her skin. Alicent stood stock still, her breath catching as Rhaenyra leaned in closer, her breath warm against the crook of Alicent’s shoulder.
“Rhaenyra,” Alicent mumbled, trying to maintain control over her voice.
“You smell so good,” Rhaenyra murmured, her hands trailing down Alicent’s arms before sliding back up to rest lightly on her ribs. The touch was almost too much to bear.
Holy shit.
“D-Dior,” Alicent stammered, cursing herself for the shaky tone. She could feel Rhaenyra’s lips hovering just above the pulse point in her neck, the proximity overwhelming.
“No, it’s you,” Rhaenyra insisted, her voice a soft purr. “You always smell so good.” Alicent’s body betrayed her, a shiver running down her spine as Rhaenyra’s hands drifted lower, tracing slow, burning circles above her hips. “Especially when you’re worked up like this.”
Holy. Shit.
“I’m not worked up,” Alicent shot back, though the breathless quality of her voice gave her away. She could almost feel Rhaenyra’s smirk against her skin, her mind racing with thoughts of those sharp fangs hidden just behind her lips.
“Alicent, I can smell you. Your blood… your sweat…” Rhaenyra’s hand dipped to the waistband of Alicent’s trousers, making her gasp. “Your—”
“What are you playing at?” Alicent twisted in Rhaenyra’s arms, her face now mere inches from Rhaenyra’s, her voice low and dangerous.
Fuck.
“You’re driving me crazy,” Rhaenyra breathed, her gaze flicking to Alicent’s lips, her expression one of barely restrained hunger.
“You’re driving me crazy,” Alicent retorted, her voice sharp with frustration. “You undermine me in board meetings, then you try to fuck me in your office?”
Rhaenyra’s lips curled into a wicked grin. “Never heard of foreplay before?” She teased, leaning in closer, her nose brushing against Alicent’s ear as she inhaled deeply. "You're the one who came in here to tease me," she whispered, her breath hot against Alicent's skin. "You're the one who closed the door."
Holy shit. This is actually happening...
Alicent averted her gaze, steadying herself with a hand on the edge of Rhaenyra’s desk. “Gods,” she muttered, before meeting Rhaenyra’s eyes with renewed resolve. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not—”
Before she could finish, Rhaenyra dropped to her knees in front of her. Alicent’s eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat. “W-what are you doing?” she stuttered.
“Whatever you want me to,” Rhaenyra replied, her hands resting lightly on Alicent’s hips as she looked up at her with a lusty glint in her eyes.
“Rhaenyra…” Alicent began, but her words trailed off as Rhaenyra’s hands slid up her sides, then back down, her touch sending shivers through Alicent’s body.
“Feels nice?” Rhaenyra asked, her voice low and seductive.
Oh gods.
“Yes,” Alicent breathed out before she could stop herself. “I—why—”
“I’ve always wanted to,” Rhaenyra confessed, her nuzzling against her hips bone through the fabric of Alicent’s trousers. “But after the past few weeks…the games you’ve been playing… Call me impatient, but I couldn’t wait any longer.” Alicent’s fingers found their way into Rhaenyra’s hair, tugging sharply and forcing her to tilt her head back. “You wanted me on my knees, begging for it like this, right? Admit it.”
“You sure seem like you wanted it just as much,” Alicent conceded, her voice tight with control. With her free hand, she began to undo her belt, the metal buckle clinking as it came loose. Rhaenyra’s eyes followed the movement with undisguised hunger, her hands eagerly reaching for the zipper as Alicent popped open the buttons of her trousers. Finally, the fabric hung open, revealing the green lace of her underwear stark against her pale skin. Rhaenyra leaned in, pressing kisses along the lace, her nose nuzzling into Alicent. It took all of Alicent’s willpower to tug Rhaenyra’s head back again.
When Rhaenyra looked up, her fangs glinted in the dim light.
“You don’t get to taste me yet,” Alicent said firmly, tugging Rhaenyra to her feet. Rhaenyra immediately pressed into her, backing her against the edge of the desk. The mug of pens toppled over behind her, the contents scattering to the floor. Alicent’s hands tangled in Rhaenyra’s hair once more, her voice a challenge. “Can’t even control yourself, huh?”
“Not with you,” Rhaenyra admitted, her voice hoarse with desire. “Gods, you smell so fucking good. Please, Ali.”
“Kiss me.” Alicent conceded finally. Rhaenyra didn’t need to be told twice, even when Alicent dodged her first kiss, making her chase her lips. Rhaenyras hand slid up to her chin, pressing on it til Alicent opened her mouth. Rhaenyras tongue sent ripples of sensation through Alicent as it explored her mouth. Alicent groaned, grabbing Rhaenyras other hand and sliding it down into her pants. Rhaenyra immediately began rubbing her through the lace of her panties. Alicent panted into her mouth.
Gods, every dirty fantasy she’d ever had seemed to all be coming to fruition in this very moment, all except one. Alicent slid her tongue along Rhaenyras teeth, too fast for Rhaenyra to realize what she was after. The pain, even though Alicent liked it, was swiftly replaced by an odd buzzing pleasure as Rhaenyras saliva soaked into the fresh gash on the tip of her tongue. Alicent tasted iron, felt hot blood fill her mouth. Rhaenyra made a sound of surprise, her eyes wide as she leaned away from Alicent. Crimson stained her lips and dripped down the corner of her mouth.
“Fuck, Alicent.” Rhaenyra said, even as her fingers continued sparking pleasure between her thighs. Alicent watched Rhaenyra tongue lick the blood from her lips. she could feel blood leaking out of her lips, dripping down her chin, filling her mouth. She watched Rhaenyras eyes follow a drop as it dripped from her chin and stained her white shirt. “You taste even better than I thought.” Rhaenyra leaned in again, and a hot wave of blood spilled over both their chins as her mouth opened to meet Rhaenyras. Rhaenyra tongue felt like heaven and hell as it licked over her teeth, the roof of her mouth, swirled around her tongue. She began to suck on her tongue and that had Alicents knees buckling, Rhaenyra's desk suddenly taking most of her weight. She kissed Rhaenyra back furiously, even as her head started to feel fuzzy, even as her limbs started to feel a bit pins-and-needles-y. She felt like she’d had half a bottle of wine suddenly. Rhaenyra looked like she’d had quite the drink as well as she leaned back finally and allowed Alicent to catch her breath.
“Let me fuck you.” Rhaenyra all but whined, her forehead leaning against Alicent’s. Alicent still had enough sense about her to shake her head, even as Rhaenyras fingers picked up speed in her pants, driving Alicent steadily towards the edge. Alicent gasped when Rhaenyra slid her panties to the side in a fluid motion and continued her ministrations on Alicents sensitive clit. It felt even better directly like this. Alicent wasn’t going to last much longer, even as she tried to focus herself, trying to conjure non-sexy things to mind: quarterly reports, events without valet, people who prefer white over red wine, that HR guy who asked to give her a foot massage at a party once. “I’ll bend you over this desk and have you cumming on my fingers in seconds.” Rhaenyra breathed. Alicents hard work was undone in an instant as she tried to fight off her inevitable orgasm, even with Rhaenyra whispered dirty nothings in her ear.
“Am-ambitious” Alicents voice was so beyond breathy, low and affected.
“Well, I’m a future CEO, so. Ambition is a given.” Rhaenyra grinned in Alicents face as she rubbed her clit even faster, her fingers practically vibrating.
“Gods—-“ she groaned out. “You’re so fucking annoying.” Rhaenyra grinned wider, and leaned forward to lick the blood from Alicents chin, kissing up her face to kiss the corner of her mouth, her cheeks, her temple. It was far too affectionate. Alicent moaned, unable to contain it, as she found herself teetering just on the edge.
“You can come back to mine and ride my strap all night if you want.” And gods, did Alicent want. She imagined herself, naked and sweating, bite marks scattered over her entire body, desperately riding Rhaenyra on her couch, in her bed, on her balcony. She imagined—-quarterly analysis—-Rhaenyra moaning in her ear as Alicent showed her what she could do with her long fingers. She imagined—-events without valet—-Rhaenyras face smeared with her blood and her cum. Alicent imagined——
Her orgasm washed over her like a riptide, sending her tumbling into wave after wave of pleasure. She grabbed the back of Rhaenyras head and smashed their lips together, trying to muffle her moans in Rhaenyras mouth. Rhaenyra fangs grazed her lower lip and she pressed up immediately, until the sharp edge pierced her lip. When Alicent came back to the moment, Rhaenyra was leaned back looking at her, blood dripping down her chin.
“Gods, of course you look that good when you cum.” Alicent allowed Rhaenyra to kiss her again, allowed her to suck on the cut in her lip, allowed the buzzing rush of pleasure she felt when Rhaenyra drank of her. Then she shoved Rhaenyra back. She didn’t budge as much as Alicent wanted. Alicent was pretty damn strong, but nothing compared to Rhaenyra's Targaryen strength. Rhaenyra was all but a brick wall to her. She budged a second too late, clearly reacting to Alicent's intention rather than her actual force. Rhaenyra's smirk dropped when Alicent tugged her zipper up and buttoned her pants. She distracted Rhaenyra with another kiss as she buckled her belt.
“Hey, wait…I want to ta—-“ Alicent shushed her with a hand on her cheek and a thumb against her lips. She pressed at her bottom lip til she got the memo and opened her mouth. Alicent pressed her thumb against her lower canines, less sharp than the top, but still enough to break her skin. Rhaenyra sucked immediately, and that buzz zipped through Alicents arm.
“Any blood left on my face?” Alicent asked after a few moments, and watched Rhaenyra sharp eyes scan her face. She released her thumb and leaned forward, kissing her cheek, then her chin. She tilted Alicent's head back gently and licked from her clavicle up to her chin.
“Fuck, you taste so fucking good.” Rhaenyra groaned as she continued kissing and licking the blood away from her neck and jaw. Her kisses slowed down over her pulse point, and she sucked a bruising hickey into it. Alicent growled, tugging at her hair. “It’ll heal faster if you let me bite you there.” Rhaenyra murmured into her ear, making Alicent shiver. “Gone by morning.” She could already feel the gash in her tongue almost entirely closed.
Alicent tugs Rhaenyra head back. “Tempting, darling. But no.” She pushes on her shoulder til she can put distance between them. Rhaenyra expression swirls with a few different emotions, settling mostly on confusion. Alicent pats her cheek. “This was very nice after a stressful day.” She grabs her bag off of her chair and starts towards the door. “Oh, do send me the final reports of the day.” She leaves before Rhaenyra can respond.
-*-
Alicent drives entirely the speed limit her entire drive home. She barely notices the music playing, having pressed shuffle on her library, like a psycho. By the time she’s parked at the Red Keep, Rhaenyra has texted her twice.
Rhaenyra: My offer still stands.
Rhaenyra: Both for the bruise and the ride. I’m just down the hall.
Alicents fingers brushed over the hickey purpling on her neck. This was going to be annoying to hide at work. She’d be wearing collared shirts buttoned all the way and turtlenecks for the week at least. But, as she pressed her ring finger into it and felt the light ache of it, she was almost happy to have it. A reminder, the only evidence that would last on her body as the cut on her lip and tongue were already fading lines and the gouge in her thumb was almost entirely closed. She sighed and tossed her phone into her purse.
As Alicent walked into the lobby of the Red Keep, the doorman began to greet her before his face paled. She looked down at herself. Ah, right. The blood on her skin had been dutifully licked away, but the drops staining her shirt would take an entire bottle of tide to remove.
Alicent laughed and muttered, “Nose bleed.” as she hurried toward the elevator. By the time she got to her apartment, the effects of Rhaenyra's saliva, or the adrenaline of it all, had worn off, and she slumped, exhausted, into her couch. Her phone started to ring. She could see on her watch that it was Rhaenyra calling. She sighed and fished it out of her bag, answering after a few rings. She wanted to make her sweat a bit.
“Desperate.” Alicent said in loo of a greeting.
“Just checking to make sure you made it home alright.” Rhaenyra said. Alicent could just barely hear the sounds of the street on the other end. She must still be driving home.
“Already naked and in my bed.” Alicent said. She kicked her shoes off and propped her feet up on the arm of the couch.
“Tease.” Rhaenyra said, humor in her voice.
“Well, you’re not home for me get off on your pretty fingers again and it’s almost my bedtime, so.” Alicent grinned as she heard Rhaenyra breathe through the phone.
“I can be there in 8—no, 5 minutes.” Alicent could hear Syrax's engine rev.
“Too late, Rhaenyra.” Alicent said casually. "Don't crash a Targaryen Tech car. That'd be a bad look." She said mockingly.
“You can be so cruel.” Rhaenyra laughed. “I could at least drop by to take care of that hickey for you.”
“If you think you biting my neck won’t result in my head between your thighs, or yours mine, or both, you’re a fool.” Alicent put the call on speaker and balanced her phone next to her head on the back of the couch.
“Gods, Alicent. Who knew you had such a filthy mouth.” Rhaenyra's voice was so sexy, Alicent was having a hard time concentrating as she pressed the tip of her finger into the gouge on her thumb. “I’m sincerely offering. Just a quick bite, a little bit of feeding, and then I’m on my way.”
“I like it.” Alicent said before she could think better of it.
“What?”
“The bruise.” Alicent said, committing.
“Oh.” Rhaenyra said simply and a little spike of panic rose in Alicent's chest. She usually played her cards much closer to her chest, but weeks (years) of tension finally letting off just a little tonight has her feeling loose.
“It’s the only thing that stayed.” Alicent sighs. In for a penny, in for a pound.
“Alicent.” Rhaenyra breathes. “Come over.”
“No.” Alicent responds immediately.
“Then invite me over.” Rhaenyra's voice is low as it buzzes through the speaker of her phone.
“No.”
“Why deny yourself? You obviously want me.” That has Alicent's hackles rising. This was not for Rhaenyra to be rubbing in Alicent's face.
“You obviously want me.” Alicent batted back. “I take great pleasure in making you beg, and you do it so easily.” She jabbed.
“I’ll beg all night, baby.” Baby? That was new. “You can handcuff me and ride me for as long as you want and I’ll beg for you the whole time.” Gods, it wasn't easy to rub this in her face when she was absolutely and utterly shameless about it.
“Now who has a filthy mouth?” Alicent can't help but tease.
“I can do a lot with it.” Rhaenyra's voice has shivers running down Alicent's spine, pathetic.
“I’m sure you can.” Alicent chuckled, even as her underwear started to stick to her uncomfortably. “I do owe you an orgasm and I always make good on my debts.”
“Oh yeah?” Alicent could almost see the grin that was almost certainly on Rhaenyra's face. She hears Syrax's engine cut off, dinging, and Rhaenyra's car door opening and closing.
“Mhm. But not tonight. You can’t have everything you want right when you want it, princess.” Alicent knew the nickname vexed Rhaenyra.
“Mm, maybe not.” Rhaenyra said lowly. “I’ll wait for however long to taste you again. Your blood——gods, Alicent.”
Alicent's ears perked at that. She’d always wondered about these sorts of things but never asked much about it. Asking Rhaenyra when they were young wasn’t very enlightening, and she never really wanted to ask Viserys too much about it. Helaena had been fairly forthcoming about her animal only diet before joining the family, and Aegon and Aemond---Well, Alicent didn't really want to hear about their exploits either.
“Best you ever had?” Alicent jokes.
“Yes.” Rhaenyra says immediately. Alicent's heart thumps in her chest. She hears Rhaenyra greet the doorman.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” Alicent bats back.
“Certainly not.” Rhaenyra says, “I always knew you would taste good, I could smell it." Alicent bites her lip. "But gods above. You taste so fucking good.” Alicent couldn’t help but puff a bit at her words. “Ambrosia. Honey. Fuck...”
“Is that why you’re so desperate, sweetling?” She means it to be as condescending as possible, to rebuff the far too genuine compliments Rhaenyra is tossing at her.
“That, and how good you sound when you moan, and how gorgeous you are when you cum.” Rhaenyra's voice is low with lust.
Alicent shivers. “One track minded.” She parries.
“Well,” Alicent hears rustling, thinks she must be shrugging. “What else is there?”
Alicent knows what she means. There hasn’t been much to their relationship since Alicent married Viserys. They’d lived through backhanded comments, boardroom brawls and stolen glances for 18 years now. These past several weeks of flirting, of toeing the line, and then finally taking a full step over said line…well that was the closest they’d been in years. Alicent heart aches. This is exactly what she was trying to avoid.
“It was nice being close to you.” Rhaenyra says suddenly, as if she can read Alicent's mind.
“I bet it was.” Alicent says. She hears a knock at the door, echoed through her phone speaker. She sighs and hangs up, tossing her phone into the cushion of the loveseat.
She tugs her door open. Rhaenyra is leaning against her doorframe, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"You're like a stray cat..." Alicent says. "I feed you once and can't get rid of you."
Rhaenyra just smiles at her. She leans forward, into Alicent face. Alicent doesn't flinch away. She meets her gaze almost defiantly. "Can I kiss you goodnight?"
Alicent peered behind her down the hall. She leaned out of the door and looked down the other end of the hall. She grabs a handful of Rhaenyra's shirt and tugs her into her apartment, closing the door behind her.
"Don't get too excited..." Alicent says as she presses Rhaenyra into the door. "I just don't want anyone hearing or seeing anything they shouldn't."
"I can be quiet." Rhaenyra says as Alicent presses one of her hands against the door right above one of her shoulders, as the other rests on her waist. Rhaenyra's hands busy themselves toying with Alicent's curls. Rhaenyra's eyes travel down her body. "I thought you said you were in bed and naked."
"You wish." Alicent says, even as her cheeks heat.
"Can I kiss you?" Rhaenyra asks, her eyes meeting Alicents.
"Why?" Alicent watches Rhaenyra's brow crinkle.
"Because I want to?" Rhaenyra replies.
"Why?"
"Because I like kissing you." That has that familiar panic spearing through Alicent's chest. She curls her fingers into the fabric of her shirt at her waist. She grasps at her shoulder.
"Show me your fangs." Alicent blurts. "Please." She adds quickly, remembering her manners.
Rhaenyra's eyebrows raise, but her eyes still begin to tint lavender as Alicent watches. She opens her mouth and bares her teeth. Alicent's eyes lock on to the sharp, gleaming, canines as they grow longer before her very eyes. Alicent's body ripples with sensation, with what she thinks might be fight or flight, even as it starts pooling between her thighs.
"I want---" Alicent reaches up to grab her chin. "Gods, I want you to suck me dry." Rhaenyra's eyebrows shoot up her forehead, her pretty purple eyes wide. Alicent leans forward and kisses her cheek lightly. She brushes her lips along her jaw, listening to Rhaenyra's breathing growing ragged. Alicent's kisses Rhaenyra's chin, then the corner of her mouth, then a light brush of her lips against Rhaenyra's.
"Goodnight, Rhaenyra." She steps back from her. Rhaenyra, breathing hard, rolls her eyes a little.
"You sure do love to play your games, don't you, Alicent?" Rhaenyra asked as she step toward her. She leaned forward and kisses Alicent's cheek. "Goodnight." Her lips brush along Alicent's ear as she says it. She turns and opens Alicent's door. She has the good sense to look down the hall before stepping out. She give Alicent a little grin before walking down the hall to her own apartment. Alicent closes the door behind her.
-*-
Helaena: Was that Rhaenyra in your apartment?
Helaena: Loop. Me. In.
-*-
Alicent calls her brother the next morning.
“Hello dear sister.” Gwayne's smile is evident in his voice.
“Crisis level green, Martin’s in 30?” Alicent says.
“I’ll be there."
-*-
“YOU WHAT?” Gwayne runs his hand through his tousled red hair. His blue eyes are wide as he stares at her with disbelief.