“You must never reject an alpha’s advances, or they will force them. Or direct them elsewhere and sully your name with whores and bastards,” Alicent explains to him, in the days following Aemond’s first heat at the age of 12. Explaining his added duties, his unexpected new place in society. “After enough times an alpha may let you prepare with oil. But at first you must endure the mating bite, and then the pain of every encounter after.” Or: The world teaches Aemond what it means to be an omega. And then, with much time and healing, his new husband helps him unlearn it.

"The game is over, Uncle," Jace spoke calmly as Aegon froze in Arryk's hold. "I'm bringing you back home." Aegon fought back against fear and rage both, the emotions tightening his throat. "Y-You don't have to do this nephew," he pleaded, and he couldn't even bring himself to hate how weak he sounded. He didn't care. All that mattered was that he escaped. "Just let me go! You can find another to marry, someone more suited, I-I'm not-I wouldn't begrudge you! Please, just tell them I'm dead, or that you couldn't find me, Rhaenyra didn't even truly want this..." Jacaerys' steely features softened and he walked forward to where Aegon was still held by Sers Arryk and Erryk. "Why should I search for another when you are right in front of me?" Jace reached out to hold his uncle's chin, "and you have a duty to fulfill." Aegon attempted to look away but the king tilted his head up, forcing him to meet his dark gaze. "I want an heir."

An uncomfortable family supper takes a turn for the worse after a secret is exposed. The King believes a hasty marriage can hold the family together, but how can that sustain peace when one of the grooms hates the other? “When were you going to announce that your second son is an omega?”