Chapter 57: Will You Drop By?—

  I stood by the windo of warm tea in my hand, watg the pale m light creep over Winterfell's harsh ndscape.

  M breeze ruffled my hair while the sun barely peeked above the horizon, casting stretched shadows across the snow-crounds. It was a sight to behold. The tea helped amplify it.

  Behind me, I heard the shuffling and rustling of furs.

  "Finally up?" I asked, turning to find Yara stretg, her eyes blinking away sleep as she took in her surroundings with evident fusion.

  "Why do you look so puzzled? Don't tell me you've fotten st night?" I asked, amused by her disorientation.

  She scoffed, a low chuckle esg her lips. "No, I thought I reached heaven st night. So I am surprised to wake up amid bck stones." She ughed with a yawn, her breasts heaving up at that.

  I matched her ugh, leaning against the windowsill. She's trying to wiggle under my defenses, ho. I replied, "True, Winterfell isn't that pleasant to the eyes. Harsh. Full of cold people."

  "So why're you helping it?" She fixed me with a direct stare, cutting straight to the point. "I heard you're letting Robb Stark remain King in the North. A separate Kingdom. Why're you being so o them?"

  "Careful," I took a measured sip of tea, "I enjoyed your embrace st night, doesn't mean you get to try to manipute me."

  She threw her head back with a ugh, making her breasts jiggle. "Hey, worth the try, no? Speaking of, are the Iron Isnds going to be indepeoo? You kept promising me 'Queen' title."

  "Nah. You'll be the Queen of Iron Isnds, yes, but officially you'll be dressed as a Highdy. Like Olenna Tyrell. The Queen of Thorns unofficially, in people's mouth, but on paper she's a Highdy. So yes, you'll be queen, but at the same time no."

  "Clever wordpy," she said, sitting up straighter. "And what of my people's traditions? Our way of life?"

  "Your people raid all they want – in the East. Leave my kingdoms alone, and I'll point you toward richer targets across the Narrow Sea."

  Her eyes lit with i. "The Free Cities?"

  "Among others. Plenty of wealth to be had without antagonizing dragons. The world has more tis thaeros and Essos, anyway.”

  "You're more ambitious than I thought. By the way…" she shifted, "where is Theon?” She looked at the open closet where her brother had bee night. “And when are we leaving for the Iron Isnds?"

  "Theon is ba the dungeons. He's untied now, don't worry. He'll get his food on time. As the brother of my Queen, I 't treat him too badly."

  "Your queen?" Her eyebrow arched. "You proposing a marriage?"

  I broke out ughing, cup still in hand as I approached her and grabbed her with my other hand. "I am making you Queen, and I made you feel like o night. Meaning you already are mine, you pirate whore. Why do I have to marry you?"

  She stared up at me, her expression unreadable for a long moment. If she felt offended by my insult, she didn't show it. Then she parted her lips and pushed her face up, meeting mine in a kiss. I stared silently as she closed her eyes, and my lips curved.

  At least she knows how to py this game. I thought as I tossed the cup aside without care, hearing it shatter against the ground, and leaning into the kiss.

  Her kiss was fierce, a csh of tongues ah that spoke of her strength and her defiance, even now. I ed my arms around her, pulling her against me as we tumbled bato the bed, a tangle of limbs and desire. My hands roamed over her body, trag the lines of her muscles, the dips and curves of her form. I cupped her full breasts, my thumb brushing over her nipple, feeling it harden at my touch.

  She moaned into my mouth, her back arg, pressing herself more firmly into my hand. My other hand slid down her side, gripping her hip befiving her ass a firm spank. The sound echoed through the room, followed by a sharp intake of breath from Yara.

  She chuckled before a wicked grin spread across her face. "I seem to have fotten how you made me feel like a Queen st night,” she said, voice sultry. “Make me feel that way again… Yrace?” she begged, her voice a low, husky whisper that sent a jolt of desire straight to my core.

  This woman knew what she was doing, and I was all for it.

  [Skill: ‘Dragondick - E’ activated!]

  ****

  With another loud session to enjoy the m, we were pretty te already. I walked through Winterfell's corridors with Yara beside me, noting how the guards' eyes followed our every movement.

  The standby guards’ gazes held a mix of fear and judgment – some even ht disgust.

  A few whispered behind their hands as we passed, no doubt sharing lurid theories about what had transpired. The cold stone walls had carried sound far st night, and more so this m. Despite the ropes that now bound Yara's wrists, her willing participation hadn't been obvious to others. The marks on her neck probably didn't help matters either. To others, it probably came off as a rape.

  "They think you're a monster," Yara noted with amusement, her voice low enough that only I could hear. Her lips curved into that familiar ical smile I might grow aced to.

  I shrugged, walking casually aing a passing guard's disapproving stare until he looked away first. "Let them. Fear ands more respect than kindness, and I’d rather be feared than loved."

  Those words I'd heard a lot ba earth, but I only uood it here in this world of blood and fire. As the pirate princess of the stubborn Ironborn, she should know a thing or two about it.

  "True enough." She rolled her shoulders, the ropes shifting against her leather jerkin. A small grimace crossed her face, though whether from disfort or anticipation, I couldn't tell. "Where are we going now? When do we leave for the Isnds?"

  "Now, actually. The sooner we deal with your father, the better." I g her profile, studying the tight set of her jaw and the slight furrow between her brows. "Nervous about fag him?"

  "Hardly. Just w how he'll react to a dragon at his doorstep. And… well. If he'll be wise to choose life over death.” She sighed softly.

  Whatever the case, she was his daughter. So she was naturally worried.

  I wao ent on that, but our versation halted when we rounded a er and came face to face with Sansa Stark. She froze mid-step, her blue eyes widening before darkening with somethiween hurt and anger. Her gaze flickered between us, lingering on Yara's bonds.

  "...Viserys," she managed, her voice carefully trolled. "Lady Greyjoy."

  "Lady Sansa," I replied evenly, watg her flinch at the formal address. Her lips quivered, hesitating, before she spoke up.

  "Might I... speak with you privately before you depart?" Her eyes held a plea. When I went silent, she added, "Please?"

  I hummed. "I was just leaving for the Iron Isnds. I was supposed to leave early in the m, but it's already te. There are matters that tention-"

  "Please," she repeated, more urgently. "Just a moment of your time."

  After a pause, I cpped my hands. Two guards appeared promptly, and I gestured for them to escort Yara outside. Yara shot me a look, and then looked at Sansa. As the guards led her away, she tilted her head back deliberately, exposing the marks on her neck. Her smirk ointed directly at Sansa.

  Sansa stared at her walk away, and once we were alone, Sansa turned bae and her posure cracked. "You... you raped her?"

  "What? No. Did she just look like someone who was raped? She made a deal with her body, and I accepted. That is not rape," I replied matter-of-factly, somewhat irritated by the accusation.

  Her lips pressed into a thin line, color rising in her pale cheeks. "How... how could you do that with her? Someone like her?"

  "I just told you it's not ra-" I paused, my mind lighting up as realization dawned on me. I studied her flushed fad trembling hands. "Ah, I see. You're pining why I slept with another woman? …Lady Sansa, you and I are not in a retionship. I thought that much was clear. Whatever... expectations you might have had were your own."

  She ched her jaw, her head l as words failed her. Her auburn hair fell forward, partially cealing her face. “...Well, si seems our versation has ended,” I said after a moment of tense sileurning to leave, my boots eg against the stone floor.

  "W-wait," she called out, voice catg. I stopped but didn't turn, keeping my shoulders rigid. "Will you drop by after you're done... or just return to King's Landing from the Iron Isnds?"

  "Probably the tter," I said, and walked away, my footsteps measured and deliberate, leavianding alone in the dimly lit corridor.

  The sound of my departure seemed to echo off the a walls of Winterfell. But I couldn't fly off on Viserion's back just yet, I had to verse with the impromptu Lord before that

  **

  **

  **