THE HEAVY WOODEN door creaked open as Valaena shoved it with more force than necessary, the echo of it slamming shut behind her bouncing off the stone walls. She released a deep breath, closing her eyes as the door burst open behind her again. 

She didn't need to turn to know who it was.

Daemon entered with the same brooding glare he'd worn the entire walk back. They hadn't spoken a word, but his silence had been louder than any shouting. He seemed to struggle with what to say, pacing back and forth until stopping to lean against the table with a tired sigh.

"I would confine you to your rooms if I didn't know any better," his voice trembled, clearly attempting to simmer his anger as he refused to look at her.

"I don't know what you mean," Valaena folded her arms over her chest defensively.

"Don't lie to me!" Daemon exploded, sweeping a goblet off the table in a sharp, furious motion. It clattered against the stone floor, wine splashing like blood across the flagstones. Valaena took a step back, her arms falling to her sides as he rounded on her. "Every time I look at you, it's like you're chasing death."

"Because you refuse to let me die," Valaena shouted back at him, fueled with the anger of constant nightmares that haunted her nights.

"Because I cannot lose you," his voice broke, catching Valaena off guard as she turned her head away.

Daemon dragged a weary hand down his face as he released a tired sigh.

"What you did tonight was stupid and reckless," Daemon told her.

"You can't seriously be angry at me for tonight," Valaena voiced her disbelief with a scoff as she turned back to look at him.

"You think I taught you to fight so you could throw yourself into danger?" Daemon questioned, his voice stern as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him.

"You taught me because I could not have a dragon," Valaena replied in frustration.

"I taught you so you can be safe when I cannot be there to protect you," Daemon corrected her, his voice rising again. "Not to get into petty fights."

"Petty?" Valaena questioned with a scoff. "You sliced off Vaemond's head for calling the boys bastards, yet when I might do the same, I am chastised."

"And what happens when you get hurt?" Daemon raised his voice as he spoke.

"You have other children," Valaena muttered, her voice quiet but unwavering, even as he shook his head sharply.

"Don't say that," he snapped, desperation cutting through his tone.

"Children who look like you and aren't afraid of dragons, our own birthright," Valaena added bitterly as she released a humorless laugh. "You said so yourself."

"I do not care." Daemon reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her gaze to snap up to meet his.

"I am a bastard," she said, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes. "They are your legitimate children."

"They do not matter like you!" Daemon's confession lay heavy in the room as they fell silent.

He reached up, cupping her head in his hands, and leaned his forehead against hers. Valaena tried to blink away the tears as he held her.

"You are the only thing that matters," his voice held a softness that she rarely heard as she released a shaky breath. "I want you to know that."

He pulled away slowly, staring into her eyes as if to make sure she understood. His pupils found the violet flecks that he was so fond of in her eyes. Proof that she was his. His only firstborn child, the one he loved more than the rest.

Valaena reached up, grabbing his hand in hers as she gripped it like a lifeline. After a few moments, Daemon leaned forward and planted a kiss on her head as he wrapped his arms around her. She gladly reciprocated the hug, allowing herself to feel like a little kid again as he rested his chin against her head.

They stayed like that for a while, the only sound being the crackling of the fire. For once, Valaena allowed herself to relax in her father's embrace, forgetting the harsh realities she face.

"You do not need to always prove yourself," Daemon murmured into her hair. "You will always be my daughter."

Valaena pulled away slightly, just enough to look up at her father. Her eyes searched his face, as if trying to find any trace of a lie. His expression had softened, more than she had ever seen, as he reached up to gently brush away the tear railing down her cheek.

"No matter what anyone else says," he said quietly, "You're still my little dragon."

Valaena released a choked laugh as a bittersweet smile made its way onto her face. Daemon smiled faintly in return as his arms fell from around her.

"Get some rest," he told her softly. "Tomorrow will come quickly."

"We're not leaving?" Valaena questioned as she felt the smile slowly drop from her face.

"It's best we stay a few days to survey the threat of the Hightowers," Daemon responded.

"I see," Valaena nodded, although she was anything but happy. All she wished was to go back to Dragonstone, where her brothers were safe and she didn't worry about every corner she turned in the Red Keep.

Daemon didn't say another word as he turned and walked away. The door creaked open, then shut with a firm thud, leaving Valaena standing alone.

She stood still for a moment, staring at the empty space he'd left behind. His words echoed back to her, like a distant memory that seemed more dream-like than reality. Engulfed by a flurry of emotions, a frustrated breath tore from her lips as she turned sharply, shoving the table with both hands. It crashed against the stone hearth with a deafening clatter, the contents scattering violently across the floor.

With a heavy sigh, Valaena crouched down to right the overturned table and gather the scattered contents. Her fingers brushed against the warm stone near the hearth as she reached for a goblet that had rolled close to the fire.

Valaena paused as her fingers brushed against the metal, glancing up at the fire that flickered before her. Without fully thinking, she drew back from the goblet as she slowly extended her hand toward the flames. Her head tilted as the heat licked at her skin but the burning pain did not follow.

She flinched back as something clattered off the edge of the table behind her, a plate she hadn't placed fully on the surface hit the floor with a sharp clang that echoed through the room. She stood up quickly as her breath caught, looking over her shoulder to find no one else there.

It was only her.

Valaena released a shaky breath as she turned away from the fire, crossing the room to snatch up her cloak. She flung it over her shoulders, fastening it as she made her way to the far wall where she had positioned her bed to conceal the entrance to a hidden passageway.

She pushed it aside and flung open the narrow stone door, its hinges groaning softly in protest. Her footsteps were swift and silent as she slipped inside, letting the darkness swallow her whole. She allowed her memory to guide her through the dark passageway, away from the Red Keep and back to where she felt most at home.