Chapter 51: Promise of a Good Show—

  I found myself standing in what had once been an old ste chamber uhe Great Keep. It was a dark, cramped room lit by a single flickering torch. Shadows flickered across the stone walls, revealing cracks and chipped mortar that spoke of Winterfell’s age. This pce was over 8,000 years old, after all.

  I felt the cool underground air steady my thoughts as my lungs were filled with them. I was mostly done, except for this.

  I had spent most of the m settling the u. After Sansa reunited with Bran and Ri, the people of the North went hunting for the remaining Ironborn. No she of them tried to hide in the ers and celrs of Winterfell, but all were found. Unlike my initial pn, I had them executed. What use were they, after all, if Theon Greyjoy was already in my hands?

  Sansa had stood with me as I addressed Winterfell’s surviving folk. With her calm, resolute presehe crowd settled, and we promised to hold the castle until proper order could be restored. A few questioned having a Targaryen in charge, but Sansa vouched for me, so they begrudgingly bowed their heads. I loved my wolf pup already.

  No doubt some would remain wary, but I wouldn’t expect otherwise. For now, peace was held by a thread.

  And that led me here, ihis dim corridor, fag Theon Greyjoy.

  “'t believe he's still unscious in a situation like this,” I said, taking a look at him.

  The fool was bound to a wooden chair, wrists tied behind him with rope thiough to restrain a direwolf. He’d been unscious when we dragged him down. Blood crusted near his temple where I’d struck him earlier, and his mouth hung slightly open, shallow breaths esg.

  I stood near his shoulder, Sansa close by my side. She stared at him, her expression one of anger and disappoi—perhaps betrayal. Although the st one had lost its edge by now. They’d grown up together once upon a time, so she felt betrayed, but she'd already e to accept that.

  “What are we going to do with him?” Sansa asked, and I gestured my at her.

  I approached the chair. My footsteps filled the hollow halls. I pced a hand on his shoulders and jerked him slightly. “Wake up, Greyjoy.”

  Slowly, Theon’s eyelids fluttered. A low groan came from his throat. He shifted, then jerked upright, blinking furiously as he realized his predit. Panic fshed across his face; his gaze darted around the dark room until it settled on us.

  “You—” he rasped, voice scratchy. His eyes trembled when he reized me. “This must be a bad nightmare. Yes. A Targaryen in Winterfell… a dragon… all that ’t be right.”

  I let out a low, humorless ugh. “Are you truly that surprised, Greyjoy? It’s been an iing turn of events, but it's not a dream.”

  He flicked his gaze to Sansa, and some sort of desperate ing lit in his eyes. “Sansa—listen to me,” he said, tone crag into a plea. “This man… He ’t be trusted. He’s just using you and your family. Targaryens have always—”

  I ughed, which cut off his words. “Look at this guy,” I said and slipped behind Sansa, sliding my arms around her waist. She stiffe the public dispy, but she didn’t pull away. My rested on her shoulder, and she let out a shaky breath. “He thinks he turn you against me,” I said, amused. “Isn't that funny, my dear?”

  Theon’s face twisted. “W-What are you doing to her?!” he demanded, voice brimming with arm.

  Sansa managed a small squeak, turning her head slightly to look at me. “We’re— hey, someone is right in front of us—”

  “And?” I gently turned her to face me better, ign Theon’s sputtering. “Why should humans care if a dog sees them mate?” Her eyes widened, and my lips met hers in a deliberate, unhurried kiss. She melted against me with a stifled moan.

  “Mhm…” It was our first true kiss, more than a quick brush of lips on cheek, and the sensation of her warmth, the press of her body, flickered through me with satisfyi. My hands tightened around her waist, feeling the heat of her flesh.

  For a moment, it was as if Theon and the rest of the world ceased to exist.

  She wiggled, pushing herself into me, her body craving my kiss. At one point, she started liking this. She started liking showing this side of her to the dog.

  When the kiss broke, I kept my forehead lightly against hers, sav her breath. “Your lips are delicious, Sansa.”

  Theo out a low growl. “You… you bastard—”

  I returned my attention to him with a sly smirk. In the books, I heard that Theon dreamed of marrying Sansa. He must be losing his night right now. That’s when I noticed something else about him—an unfortable bulge in his trousers.

  “Oh…?” I said with mog sympathy. “Look at him. This Ironborn pig definitely had his eyes on you, Sansa, from the day he was a ward here. Look at that little tent. What a weird bastard. And you Stark kids sidered him a brother.”

  Sansa stiffehen scowled in Theon’s dire. “You… you’re so disgusting! Even this aside, you killed two poor farm boys,” she snapped. “You loser, you piece of shit… You betrayed my family, Theon! My father believed in you—Robb believed in you. We all trusted you!”

  Theon’s face twitched, shame warring with anger. “At least… at least they weren’t—” He swallowed. “Bran and Ri. You should be grateful that I didn't kill your brothers!”

  “What?” Sansa was stunned.

  I moved in a blur, my fist crag across his cheek. Theon shouted in pain, head snapping to the side. “You speak like that in front of me one more time, Greyjoy, and you will never speak again. Whether they were Stark boys or not, you still murdered i children. You’re in no pce to defend yourself, or bait rage from Sansa.”

  He gred back, bloody lips curling up in a sneer. “You’ll pay for this, lizard,” he spat, the er of his mouth bleeding. “My sister, she’ll e for me. She's already been travelling for a while now. Asha is not like me, she’s stronger, and her Ironborn men are—”

  “Ah. Asha, is it?” I mused aloud, stepping beside Sansa once more. My hands drifted along her waist, drawing a small whimper from her. “Good. That’s what I o know. That's why I came to you. How nice of you to tell me about the Ironborn’s pns so easily. Very good. But Theon, do you really expect your sister to defeat my dragon?”

  He froze, realizing he’d just handed me a vital piece of intelligence. Anger fred in his eyes, but no words came.

  Smiling, I leaned into Sansa’s ear. “You should go, baby,” I murmured. “Let me finish with him. We don’t want you to see things you’d regret.”

  She swallowed, ch on her cheeks. “I… Fine,” she said softly, gng at his bound form o time before stepping away from me. The door creaked as she left, leaving only me and the prisoner, along with the quiet drip of water from somewhere in the darkness.

  I watched her retreating figure for a heartbeat, sav that bright red flush across her face, and the sway of her full hips. I loved that she was already an adult in this world, it was much better to look at.

  I turo Theon, who gred defiantly despite the ropes biting into his wrists. “Now that we're alone…”

  “What… what will you do to me?”

  “Oh no, don't get me wrong. I didn't send her away to torture you. I just want to tell you something that I 't in front of her,” I smiled.

  “...What is it?”

  “Let your sister e,” I said lightly. “I’ll be waiting for this Asha. And you, Theon,” I ughed, stepping closer, letting him see the glint in my eyes. “Since you like to watuch, you’ll have a front-row seat to the show. To what I'll do to your dear, strong, sister.”

  Theon's lips pressed into a thin line, fear, frustration and dread visible i of his jaw.

  I ran a hand over the stubble of his scalp in a mock-pityiure. This was fun. “Just be patient,” I told him. Then, with that, I spun and strode out of the room, leaving Theon alone in the darko seethe.

  Outside, the torchlit corridor smelled faintly of old stone and dust. I paused, colleg my thoughts, already f new pns for dealing with Asha Greyjoy.

  “Hey, you're out…” Sansa was waiting, flustered by our little dispy earlier. A smile touched my lips.

  One more loose end to tie up. Admittedly, I should deal with Sansa properly before Asha’s Ironborn forces came.

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