THE SUN HAD fully risen by the time Valaena crept back through the hidden door behind her bed. Her toes were numb from the cold stones beneath them as she brushed the cobwebs from her hair. She didn't even have the energy to be surprised that Elissa was already in her room, calmly stripping the bedsheets to take down for washing as if her lady had not just returned from sneaking through the city barefoot at dawn.

"You're back late," Elissa remarked as she tossed the bedsheets into a basket, eyeing Valaena's ripped-up cloak and dirtied feet. "And without shoes."

Valaena pulled her hood down with a heavy sigh, dragging a hand through her tangled braid. Her feet ached, scraped from the stones, and her stomach growled in protest.

"I'll start a bath," Elissa seemed to realize Valaena was tired and in no mood for words as she left to order the servants to bring water.

Valaena exhaled slowly as she dropped down on the edge of her bed, her shoulders slumping before she let herself fall back against the mattress. The door creaked open again just as her eyes fluttered shut. Footsteps followed, far too heavy to belong to her lady-in-waiting.

"Unless you're bringing me food or letting me sleep, go away," Valaena groaned as she opened her eyes.

Jacaerys stood in the middle of her room, arms folded across his chest as he took in the state of her.

"Well," he said dryly as he stepped forward. "You look like you fought a direwolf and lost."

"Maybe I did," Valaena muttered, throwing an arm over her face. "Now go away."

Jacaerys didn't move, instead moving forward as his eyes narrowed at her.

"You're bleeding," he pointed out as he caught sight of her bare and bloodied feet. "What happened?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, far too quickly.

"And why is your cloak ripped up?" Jacaerys questioned as he reached forward to grab her cloak and inspect the ripped fabric. "Did you do this?"

Valaena groaned as she threw her arm away from her face, giving him a withering glare.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said, reaching down and yanking the fabric from his hand.

"Did you sneak out again?" he questioned, voice laced with disapproval and concern. It was almost as if she were getting lectured by her father.

"No," she said flatly as Jacaerys gave her a look, the kind that said he didn't believe her for a second.

"You're a terrible liar," Jacaerys told her with a shake of his head.

"And you're annoying," Valaena shot back, flopping onto her side with a dramatic sigh as she buried her face in the pillow. "Go away."

Jacaerys ignored her command, instead walking toward the wall next to her bed.

"You didn't even bother to hide the secret door this time," he said, reaching up to shut it tightly. "I could see the panel from halfway across the room."

"Are you here to scold me or to help me die quietly of exhaustion?" Valaena asked him.

"Neither, clearly," Jacaerys said with a sigh. "Someone has to make sure you're not getting yourself killed."

"Ugh, you sound like Father," Valaena groaned, dragging a pillow over her face.

"You're not invincible, you know," Jacaerys told her, his voice soft as he spoke.

"Now you really sound like him," Valaena mumbled into her pillow, peeking up at him through strands of hair.

Jacaerys gave her a flat look but said nothing, clearly biting back another lecture.

"It's fine," Valaena said as she pushed herself up into a seated position. "Elissa's drawing me a bath, so you can stop hovering."

"She knows you were out?" his voice dropped, laced with quiet suspicion. It was clear he trusted the Lannister about as much as the rest of their family did.

"Not this again," Valaena groaned, rolling her eyes.

"You should be more careful around her," Jacaerys warned. "You know how things always find their way back to them."

"Relax. I don't trust her with everything," Valaena said, brushing her hair back from her face. "But I don't think she wants to betray me either. Not yet."

"You're an idiot," Jacaerys said as he shook his head.

"So I am," Valaena agreed as she sank back into her mattress.

A soft knock on the door interrupted them before Elissa stepped inside without waiting for a response.

"The bath is ready, my lady," she said with a bow of her head, ignoring the pointed glare from Jacaerys.

"Thank the gods," Valaena groaned, already sliding off the bed.

"Should I tell the kitchen to bring something up for the prince as well?" Elissa asked.

"No," Valaena said before her brother could answer, giving him a pointed look. "He was just leaving."

"Fine, I'll go," Jacaerys said, turning to leave. He paused at the door, as if remembering the reason he came. "Viserys wants us all to dine together tonight. Seems he's already forgotten how well that went last time."

"Does he want this family to murder each other?" Valaena questioned incredulously.

"It appears so," Jacaerys shrugged, clearly as excited as she was. "Try to be on time. And maybe find a pair of shoes?"

He released a laugh as she threw a pillow at him, dodging it with ease as he turned to leave. The door clicked shut behind him.

"Elissa," Valaena called, sitting up slowly.

"Yes, my lady?" her lady-in-waiting answered from across the room.

"If I drown in the bath, tell Jace it was his fault," she told her.

"I'll be sure to inform him," Elissa replied smoothly, unsurprised by her request.

Valaena gave a faint nod as she rose from the bed, tugging off her cloak with slow hands. The scent of lavender and steam wafted from the adjoining room as she shuffled toward the bath, every muscle aching with exhaustion.

The moment her body sank into the warm water, a soft sigh escaped her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned her head back, the weight of the morning finally beginning to melt away.

For now, at least, she could rest.