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The way the teal ribbons hung loosely at the end of the church pews made Laena nauseous. The fabric contrasted so pleasantly against the white gardenias that twisted around the holy house.
She didn’t hate the idea of marriage, it wasn’t something she had grown up dreading like some of her close friends. Rather Laena was terrified of marrying someone who didn’t truly love her.
The engagement had been a surprise, she and Harwin had only been dating a few short months when he’d popped the question. Laena had almost said no, the fear of being a replacement again. Somebodies second choice all over. It was a feeling all too common for her now.
Of course it wasn’t really anyones fault, Laena thought. Well anyones but her own. If she hadn’t been a dumb bitch, then she would’ve noticed the not so platonic feelings her beautiful cousin had always harbored for her uncle.
It had started when she was young, only 16 and riding around in her cousins, Rhaenyras, golden 67’ jaguar. Music loudly blaring through the stereo system that the girls father had installed, against ever car fanatics advice.
The gift had been less of a present, and more of demand, but her cousin was funny that way. Always acting like the exact thing she picked out was a surprise. Rhaenyra would insist that she had nothing to do with her fathers choice, but clear as day in her messages was a direct link to the auto auction where a dying rich woman assets were being sold off to the highest bidder.
The Targaryen had treated all of her daddy’s presents this way, her beachfront condo, the sailboat, the horse farm. Each one the result of Rhaenyras passing interest, and Viserys’s bottomless wallet.
Laena didn’t hate her cousin for her spoiled lifestyle, though. She herself was a Velaryon and that meant things came to her just as easily. Jealousy was never an emotion Laena had needed to feel, at least before Daemon.
The two of them would swirl through the back roads of upstate New York on the weekends away from classes. Both happy to be out of the congestion of the city, yet secretly bored without the bright lights and parties they’d grown so accustomed to keeping them alert.
It should’ve been apparent to Laena then. When they’d finally find themselves in the downstairs basement of Daemons house sipping on expensive booze and listening to old records. Rhaenyra would always wear one of her uncles shirts, and pretend she owned the place.
Laena had gotten bored with their routine rather quickly, always complaining that they did the same thing last weekend. But Rhaenyra wouldn’t budge, and Rhaenyra was always in charge.
He would never be there, the country home was his space to write music. “A place to unplug,” Rhaenyra would repeat like a parrot every time Laena would bring up the lack of wifi or cell service. At the time, he was still a retired artist, not having written anything in ages.
Inside the small house was three stories of boredom, in Laenas opinion. The top most floor was reserved for Daemons bedroom, and Rhaenyras own personal one that had been created upon her turning 15. The Targaryen girl had basically demanded such a place be created.
Of course, Daemon had happily obliged his niece, ever the doting uncle. The only time he seemed to go against the girls wishes were when Rhaenyra would have her fits, pleading for Daemon to get rid of whatever woman he was seeing. The older man would roll his eyes and scoff at the girls antics.
The guest rooms were on the second level, alongside the small kitchen that seemed to have a never ending supply of Rhaenyras favorite snacks. It was her safe haven, Rhaenyra had always said blissfully as she pulled Laena around the home to pick out movies or practice kissing.
Now the Velayron woman stood in her off white dress at the end of the aisle over thinking about the two people who had made an overly large impression on her romantic life. Glancing over to her brother and his husband, Laena gave a nervous smile.
Laenor and Joffrey had married a few years ago, well they had eloped. Corlys, their father, was livid. Of course a few weeks of Rhaenys, their mother, ignoring him was all it took for the man to see reason. In a way, Rhaenyras attempts at getting to her uncle had actually impacted Laenors life as well, introducing the two men together just before they turned twenty.
The sound of the piano cueing up was all Laena could hear as she took the timid steps forward to her soon-to-be husband. Harwin was handsome, as handsome as any man could possibly be if they weren’t a Valyrian. His dark hair, his deep eyes, and always a knowing smile. The term ‘Himbo’ was invented for him.
Now standing in front of her betrothed, Laena let out a breath of relief. Secretly, she had thought that Harwin may not show up. When they’d met, he was as obsessed with Rhaenyra as everyone else. Though that had changed. They both had changed then, both of them cast aside as broken chess pieces on the Targaryen game board.
Harwin was a drummer, joining Rhaenyras band when the girl had sought out a talented group of people for the job. Wanting to be the best, her cousin had staked out the music room on the Columbia campus, waiting for the perfect members to appear. Harwin just happened to fit the bill.
Laena knew it wasn’t fair to hold Harwins past crush against him, hell even she had fallen for Rhaenyra in her own way. The way the Targaryen girl swept everyone in her life up into a tornado of intoxication, it was a sort of madness.
The band was a way for Rhaenyra to gain the attention of her uncle, something for them to bond over. It should’ve felt wrong to Laena, the girls constant need to gain Daemons approval, but it never did. When her cousin asked Laena to join, she had felt thrilled.
She, alongside Harwin, Joffrey, and Rhaenyra, had created more than a few hits. Of course her cousin had said upfront that the band wasn’t anything permanent, that she wanted to be a solo artist one day.
“Standing in the Back of Your Show,” was unsurprisingly popular, leading them to make a few more tracks, “Guys My Age,” “Brooklyn Baby,” A plethora of jailbait themed melodies that made Laenas skin crawl now. Of course, Rhaenyra left the group officially at 21 to pursue acting and a more official solo career.
All of that was fine. Laena was tired of dealing with the performance schedule, at least she’d told herself (and her therapist) that. It was around that same time that other things changed for them.
The ceremony felt short, Laenas nerves were calmed as the family made their way over to the reception hall for dinner, and of course the cake. Laenor had put all his heart into the dessert, thrilled to finally show off his talents from the year of culinary school he had indulged in.
A simple three tiered white cake with fruits garnishing the outside left the other guest a little surprised. With all of the Velayron money it was a surprise for Laena not to have an over the top design. Of course, Laena and Harwin could care less about what their guest thought. It looked just right in their newly married eyes.
Across the reception hall, Laena spotted her cousin, the woman taking over her thoughts. Dressed in a surprisingly simple red dress, hair cascading like a silver waterfall down her slender, pale back.
Red lips painted themselves into an ever pleasant smile as she sat along side her stepmother, and former friend.
The duo looked surprisingly at home next to one another. A young lady trapped in a loveless marriage with an older, dying man, and a young woman who could have anyone she wanted in the world, excluding the person she loved.
They made a cute pair, Laena thought with a smirk as she watched them smile politely into their wine glasses.
Sometime before Rhaenyra made her debut as a solo artist, shit had hit the fan. Daemon and Mysaria, his long time girlfriend, had officially broken up. Rumors said there was a cheating scandal involved, but Daemon stated in interviews that they simply wanted different things.
Mysaria wanted to settle down, and Daemon wanted to focus on his family life. In a Way, it wasn’t really a lie.
It was a few months after those interviews that Viserys, Rhaenyras father, had decided to remarry her best friend. A rather shocking surprise for some, but Rhaenyra had already known.
Apparently she caught Alicent sneaking around their family home in nothing but her birthday suit. Prompting the girl to call her closest friend, Laena, in hysteria over the betrayal. “She used me to get to my father! What a traitorous slut!” It was more complicated than that of course, but it stung no less.
Laena had felt sorry for her, but now she wondered if it was exactly what Rhaenyra had deserved. A karmic move from god because her cousin was also a ‘traitorous slut.’
Rhaenyra had packed her bags that evening and went to stay at Daemons upstate New York cottage, for a whole month. Only returning a few weeks before the announcement about her fathers marriage.
Pulling herself back from those memories, Laena let her blue eyes flicker over to her now husband. The tall man was being kissed on the cheek by her mother, so happy to have a man like him in the family.
The music died down a little, allowing the slight slamming of a door to sway the attention of the guest. Sauntering his way in was Daemon Targaryen, looking a little drunk but mostly sexy. His red collared shirt was unbuttoned one too many, allowing a generous view of his chest.
Messing with the cuff links on his black tux, the man ignored the gazes being cast his way as he strolled toward the bride and grooms table. Laena saw her mother glare at the musicians, alerting them to continue their set.
He’d always been like that, shocking and awing people with every move he made. Naturally arrogant.
Feeling her husbands gripe tighten on her hand as the silver haired man walked up, Laena feigned a smile. Grabbing a nearby champagne glass, Daemon took it upon himself to make a toast, resulting in the music dying once more. “Congratulations to the happy couple, I’m so glad the two of you found each other. It can be terribly lonely in a world like ours. May your love flourish.” It was a simple speech, which shocked both Harwin and Laena.
It was always a surprise when Daemon managed not to insult or offend anyone, let alone when he actually congratulated someone. Rhaenyra had always been the exception in that regard too
Gracefully, the devilishly handsome man sloshed back the contents of his glass before sauntering his way toward Viserys. Obviously eager to remove himself from the spot light.
Releasing her held breath, Laena let her eyes fall on Harwin. The man was watching her cousin carefully, alongside a few other individuals who knew about what had happened a few years prior. Though the two of them never mentioned the truth behind the incident, Rhaenys and the rest of their family was ever quick to draw their own conclusions.
After Viserys officially remarried, Rhaenyra and Daemon were estranged. It was heavily noted that they didn’t speak once at the wedding. Laena would always wonder what caused the schism, and later when she asked Daemon outright he simply said, “A difference of opinion on succession.”
Then the man shut himself inside his office for the day and proceeding to break every object he could, excluding the family photo of the Targaryen family. An old picture taken when Aemma was still alive had always sat on the edge of his desk, “a reminder of the good ole days.” He would say and flourish his hand out dramatically.
Much to Laenas surprise, the month after the divide, Daemon reached out to her regarding some work. Deciding he wanted to make some sort of album, he needed her help.
The excuse was good enough, and when Laena had started working with him it was innocent. Even then though, it felt like a betrayal to her cousin. Of course, there was something sinfully sweet about taking something that had always belonged to Rhaenyra Targaryen.
She and Rhaenyra hadn’t spoken much after her fathers wedding, the girl folded in on herself. Focused on her music, a few movie roles, and then on her fathers company. Laena told herself that was the reason she kept her time with Daemon a secret, because she didn’t have a moment to tell her.
It was a ghastly night, a heavy storm kept rumbling outside the music studio as the two of them worked on the newest track. Daemons lean frame stretched over her to push a button, and Laena couldn’t pull her eyes away from the way his perfect form revealed itself under his plain white tee shirt.
Soon the duo was fucking right there on the floor. It should’ve been gross, they were technically related. But Daemon had never been as close with her as he was with Rhaenyra growing up. It didn’t feel like family.
Whoever said Daemon Targaryen had erectile dysfunction in that tabloid years ago, was completely misinformed. He’d had her several times that night, then twice more the next morning. Laena had never liked long bouts of sex, but the man seemed to have an unquenchable thirst for Valyrian pussy.
One thing led to another, the two of them ended up moving in together. At least partially. Daemon always had his own space, the cottage upstate.
They had been together a few months when Laena had decided it was time to share the news with her parents. An idea Daemon was firmly against. Or at least he was, until she’d mentioned that the dinner would include their entire family.
“Dance, Dance, Dance!” One of the Baratheon girls was chanting, making the happy couple blush. Harwin rose first, helping Laena from her chair. Carefully they moved to the center of the room and began to sway to their song, “Fly Me to The Moon.”
A gentle hand around her waist was guiding Laena into their choreographed steps. The couple had practiced for a month to make sure they didn’t embarrass themselves. They’d never had that natural rhythm some people had together. They had to work for it.
When the song finally ended, several others joined them on the floor. Across the room, Laena caught sight of her ex asking Rhaenyra to dance and rolled her eyes.
Somehow the two of them had matched without trying. Just like that dinner so long ago.
Rhaenyra had been late joining them that night, giving the excuse that her boyfriends car had trouble so they had to Uber. The Valyrians sat happily around a circular table at Umbertos, the Italian restaurant where Laenas parents often ate.
The waiter spilled a glass of water onto Alicents shoes, causing the pregnant girl to cry. Rhaenys assured her that no one would notice, but Daemon couldn’t stop laughing. Laena suspected he had orchestrated the whole thing, considering she saw him slip the man a fifty when they’d first arrived.
Finally, Rhaenyra and Harwin, her boyfriend at the time, appeared. The Targaryen girl wore a little black dress with a golden necklace and several rings, as Laena examined the pieces of jewelry she realized that Daemon had worn an almost identical set. They truly were a pair.
Leaning down, Rhaenyra kissed her father lightly on the cheek before sitting down beside him. Ever the gentleman, Harwin pulled out his dates chair and tucked her under the table.
On her left, Daemon played with his cutlery, loudly. Angrily almost.
The Targaryen man locked eyes with his niece, “Rhaenyra, you’ve grown since I last saw you. Older, maybe you’ve gained weight.” The young woman seemed just as annoyed as Daemon did, “Probably not, I’ve lost a hundred and eighty five pounds.”
Corlys and Laenor shared a confused Look, but Laena had learned years ago not to bother keeping up with Rhaenyra and her uncle when they were conversing. The two of them had a language all their own.
Rather than ignore the comment though, Daemon responded, “And gained what? Two sixty?” His lilac eyes shot over to Harwin, who gave a confused cock of his eye brow. ‘Oh he’s being an overprotective uncle,’ Laena thought, ‘How cute.’
“This is Harwin, he used to play drums in our band. Now he is working to be a professor at Columbia. Harwin, this is my Uncle Daemon. I don’t believe you’ve had the displeasure of his company yet.” Rhaenyra gestured with her hand between the two before reintroducing him to Viserys, “Daddy, you remember Harwin. He’s the man who came over for brunch last week.”
Clearly testing the fires of her uncles temper, Rhaenyra shot a sweet smile to the rest of the family, “We’ve been dating for a few months now.” As if anyone at the table had asked.
This moment felt odd, especially because Rhaenyra had “dated” only one man previously, Criston, and she was adamantly against using labels.
Alicent slurped loudly on her drink, which let Rhaenys slip into the conversation. “Very nice to see you again Harwin, I must confess I’ve often wondered what you were up to these past few years.” Laena gave her mom a look, clearly surprised that her mother could even remember Harwins name.
Viserys coughed into his napkin while Corlys glared at Daemon, clearly concerned about why the two of them had arrived together.
Deciding that there was no real reason to wait, Laena went to announce their relationship, but Daemon beat her to it. “We’ve actually gathered everyone here for some exciting news.” Using one hand to intertwine their fingers, and the other to snag his glass, Daemon smiled thoughtfully. Now that Laena knew him better though, the grin was maliciously sinister.
The fool that Laena was actually felt happy that her boyfriend was taking this step so seriously. Raising his flute into the air, Daemon spoke again, “I’d like to formally ask Laena to marry me. If I have your permission Corlys?”
The table went wild. “Excuse me?” Rhaenys spat loudly, while Laenor and Alicent both choked on their drinks. Across the table, Viserys smiled and clapped, “Oh how wonderful!” Completely unaware of the chaos surrounding him.
Corlys stood up angrily, Laena had never seen her father so mad. Not even when Laenor had eloped. “Absolutely not. No. I will never accept this Daemon, I cannot believe. How long have you been seeing my daughter?” Laenas father was flabbergasted, practically shouting at this point. Face red and blue eyes wild with rage, Corlys then grabbed the bread knife before Rhaenys pulled him back down into his chair.
Laena, herself, was surprised. Marriage had never been discussed between the two of them, and she had secretly assumed Daemon wanted to die a bachelor.
Taking the chance to slip a glance at her cousin, Laena felt her bones chill. Rhaenyra held no smile, no frown. The girls face was devoid of emotion before she smirked.
Slowly, the Targaryen brought her wine glass up to her lips and took a sip. Pretending that the Velayron family wasn’t having a melt down around her. “Didn’t you already have a wife? I thought you said marriage didn’t suit you.” Rhaenyra hissed out through her perfect teeth.
This unknown information startled Laena, and she looked at her boyfriend for an explanation. Even she wasn’t aware that Daemon had been married before.
Daemon simply smiled, “Not one of my choosing. My marriage to Rhea was a farce, that’s my past. This is my future. What is it you kids say? I’m cutting toxic people out of my life.”
Suddenly Laena was watching a movie, her soul practically elevated out of her body. Her cousin stood abruptly, throwing her entire drink at Daemon.
In an attempt to catch it, the man let the glass shatter against his palms. Alicent shrieked somewhere on the sidelines when the mans blood started running. “Rhaenyra!” Viserys growled out, clearly shocked by his ‘perfect’ daughters outburst.
Rather than apologize, the Targaryen girl only seemed more angered. Twirling from the table, Rhaenyra stormed away. An uncomfortable Harwin arose from his seat and followed suit, after a few lackluster apologies, “She’s had a rough few weeks. With the anniversary and all. Not herself.”
Laena thought he was incredibly kind for even offering an explanation, and a sense of dread filled her stomach at the thought of what day it was. Aemmas death.
Selfishly they had decided to announce their relationship on the date of her mothers passing, no wonder Rhaenyra was so upset. Of course, Daemon had made the reservation but he could hardly remember Laenas birthday so she doubted it was on purpose.
Turning back from the fleeing couple, Laena took note of her boyfriends state. Bloodied hand being covered by the napkin on the table, courtesy of Laenors help.
The man didn’t wear a frown though, instead he seemed to beam at the girls outburst. At the time, Laena had thought he found the situation funny, watching his grown niece throw a giant fit. Now though, she realized he must’ve just been happy that he managed to shake the girl so much after their time apart.
Now as her husband twirled her around on the dance floor, Laena was able to view a different sort of exchange between the Targaryen couple.
Daemon had somehow convinced his niece too dance with him, and unlike Laena and Harwin, they glided together perfectly. No effort needed.
She watched as the silver headed man leaned down to whisper something into the younger woman’s ear, which caused the girl to blush. It was almost comical how Laena hadn’t noticed their intimacy before.
It had been a month since the dinner, and Laena was trying to mend the bonds between uncle and niece. A family outing to the cottage, she had suggested. Like an idiot with some sort of “healer” complex, Laena felt it was her requirement as both a devoted friend, and loyal fiancé.
The couple had arrived before Rhaenyra, and Daemon had walked Laena through his private space. To an extent. There was still Rhaenyras room, which had been firmly off limits her entire life, and that rule hadn’t changed upon their engagement.
It should’ve seemed odd to her, the fact that Daemon hadn’t wanted to touch her once in the cottage. Especially considering he’d had her several times the week before. As soon as they entered the home though, he was suddenly distant. No lingering touches, not even a kiss.
Laena chalked it up to nerves, at the time.
Then her cousin had arrived, Harwin in tow. They shuffled into the home and Rhaenyra gave Harwin the tour, of course Rhaenyra showed Harwin to the guest room. Which Laena found odd, but perhaps she had only a twin size bed in her old space. Anyone who looked at Harwin knew he couldn’t possibly fit comfortably in anything less than a King.
The next day went fine, they’d had breakfast and played a few board games. Soon the evening came, and the drinking began. All of them had changed into their respective pajamas and just like all those years ago, Rhaenyra was wearing that oversized washed out tee Daemon had given her. Now though, she was taller. Slender legs pooled out from the underneath of the shirt seductively.
The sight made even Laenas breath catch, and the familiar image of her in Daemons shirt had never felt wrong to her. Not even then.
It was fun, cute even, when Rhaenyra suggested they play truth or dare.
The first round passed easily, “Who was your first kiss?” Harwin had asked Laena on his turn, and she blushed as she glanced at her cousin in answer. The group laughed and continued.
Leading Harwin to ask Rhaenyra, “Where was your first time.” The air seemed to tingle with discomfort, “I’ll pass, better if I just take the shot.” One glass of patron was poured, by Laena, and slid over to her cousin who pounded it back eagerly.
The Velaryon girl had thought it was with Criston, but maybe she was wrong. In fact, Laena hadn’t recalled Rhaenyra ever discussing her sexual exploits. It was just assumed that she’d had experience, especially when Laena had listened to the girls most recent album. The lyrics screamed of a woman who had known true passion.
An amused Daemon just smiled, “My niece doesn’t do those sorts of things. She’s a good girl.” Harwin frowned a little, “I didn’t know we could pass!” Laena laughed at his outburst, clearly the man was intoxicated.
Soon the players were tired, clearly bored of their shenanigans. Retiring to their separate spaces for the evening, Laena thought she had managed to mend the gap between the duo, at least just a bit. Little did she know how right she was.
Getting up in the middle of the night to grab water and pee, for she’d had way too much to drink before bed, Laena glanced at the clock before realizing her fiancé was gone. 2:45am. It wasn’t an uncommon thing, for Daemon had never slept through the night with her. Laena chalked it up to his edginess, an anxiousness that didn’t allow him to sleep very long. In a way, she was always saddened that they never woke in each others arms.
As quiet as a mouse, Laena slipped from Daemons room on the third floor. At the end of the hall, a small red light peaked from underneath the forbidden door.
It was wrong for her to look, Laena thought, but the alcohol had empowered her and curiosity was her biggest vice.
An energy seemed to radiate from the room, like a magnet it called her forward and soon Laena found her hand on the knob. Ever so gently, she turned the brass ball before pushing forward.
Blue eyes adjusted to the red light quickly as Laenas eyes took in the sight. A room, decorated with photos of Daemon, and his niece. Fucking.
They were huge, and everywhere. Like some sort of pornographic shrine. Then in the center, Daemon knelt between his nieces legs on a king sized altar.
It was perverse, it was incestuous, and it was wrong. But Laena found herself unable to pull away from the sight, enthralled by the horrific beauty of it all. Like a train wreck, her blue eyes were glued to the destruction in front of her.
Rhaenyras body was arched back, and even under the large tee-shirt Laena could see her heaving breast. Panting with want, the girl kept her nimble hands on Daemons silver hair, pushing his mouth further onto her.
“Uncle, I love you.” The girl moaned, breathlessly and completely unaware of their audience. Just as easily Daemon pulled his head away, inserting his fingers into the girl so he could croon back to her, “You’re my good girl, right? No one gets to have you but me. I love you.”
The moment was ruined with the declaration, for Laena knew it was true. Never had the man uttered those words to her, not even when they had gotten engaged. Not when she’d given him head. Not when they’d slept together each night.
A heavy gasp escaped the Velayron girls lips and the duo did their best to scramble into decency. Unlike the movies though, they didn’t burst apart. Instead, Daemon protectively moved to guard the girl from Laenas judgmental eyes. “This room is Off Limits!” Rhaenyra spat angrily, as if she hadn’t just betrayed every ounce of trust Laena had in one evening.
Laughing, the Velayron just took a step back and closed the door before running to pack her things. The commotion of doors slamming and Daemon emerging from the room seemed to awaken Harwin, as the massive man appeared downstairs in the kitchen.
“What the fuck Daemon!” Laena finally managed to get out, only to be met with silence as the man slipped down the hallway to asked Harwin politely to pack his bags.
Confused, the burly man did as told and waited for more instructions, “Is Rhaenyra alright?” He asked shyly, timidly, “She’s more than alright Harwin, she’s been upstairs fucking her uncle while we both slept!”
Laena half laughed, half screeched out as she barraged down the steps to a sleepy and confused man.
Rather than wait any longer, Laena tore Harwins keys from his hands and headed outside, with the man following behind. “Why would she, I don’t understand?” Clearly unable to process the information, Laena allowed him to babble out nonsense for the rest of the ride home.
Now, the two Targaryens swayed across the dance floor, completely unfazed by the mess they’d left ages ago. Hands caressing each others faces, exchanging words that seemed to be vows.
Like moths to a flame they swirled together, or maybe the rest of the guest were moths drawn into the inferno that was Daemon and Rhaenyra. Somehow they’d managed to make Laena feel like an intruder at her own wedding.
The band finally struck up the last song and everyone clapped, happy to have spent the evening celebrating the newly weds. It was fine, it went perfectly, Laena told herself before she slipped back to the reception from the bathroom where she was reapplying her lipstick.
Heels clacked softly on the floor as she reappeared only to be met with a spotlight on a kneeling Daemon. The Targaryen man held a tiny box with a ring that managed to sparkle so brightly that Laena could see it from across the room.
Rhaenyra stood in front of him, teary eyed and nodding, as if they hadn’t just stolen the entire day from her. Jumping into her uncles arms, Rhaenyra kissed him with fervor.
Confused and disgusted guest gasped at the sight, while some of the more traditionally Valyrians clapped. Even Alicent shed some tears of joy for the couple, clearly thrilled that at least one of them got a happy ending.
It was the biggest day of her life, and somehow her cousin had ruined it. Laena felt her husbands arms engulf her, scooping her up bridal style to carry her to the limo.
Whatever, Laena thought, they deserve each other.