do you think anything changes in a iceflamespring au with dragons (also find it funny that ls name is first in this pairing) and i was wondering which dragon you think valarr would have gotten
You’re their alpha and they’re your two pretty twinks 🙂↕️
In the early days I said Tessarion for Valarr, I believe, but honestly now I would say Vermax. And that's because I had this very specific idea how that would go:
Vermax, as we know, is Jacaerys' dragon. In canon, Jace dies during the Dance (rip king, love you </3). And Vermax, his dragon, goes feral with grief.
By the akotsk timeline (so, about 130 years post-Dance), Vermax is still alive. Still at Dragonstone. And according to my headcanon, he's even meaner than before. Ill-tempered. Vicious. Refuses human contact. Snaps at dragonkeepers. Hasn't let anyone near him since Jace died. He's been grieving for over a century and he's made it everyone's problem.
The dragonkeepers have basically given up on him. He's fed from a distance. Left alone. Considered too dangerous, too unstable, too broken to bond again.
And then young Valarr Targaryen walks into the dragonpit.
Here's what I think happened: Valarr looks like Jacaerys. He looks like Jace reborn. Dark hair (brown-black, the kind that's definitely not Targaryen silver but could pass for Strong bastard colouring if you're being cruel about it) except for that one distinctive white streak that catches light like a knife slash. Mismatched eyes, one darker than the other, heterochromia that makes him instantly recognisable. The Dornish warmth in his skin from his father's line. He's beautiful in that specific way Jace was beautiful. Like he knows he doesn't look the way a Targaryen prince should but he's trying very hard to be good anyway.
The resemblance is uncanny. If you put a portrait of Jace next to Valarr, you'd think they were brothers. Cousins at minimum. The same dark hair, the same build, the same earnest set to the jaw like they're both trying to prove something. Valarr even has Jace's energy. That golden-hearted, duty-bound determination with an edge but desire to be good despite everything. At least at first.
So Valarr walks into the pit. He's there for his first official bonding attempt (he's sixteen or seventeen, similar age Jace was when he died). He's nervous. Trying not to show it. Baelor is watching from the gallery, proud and worried in equal measure.
And Vermax, who's been snarling and snapping at every human who's come near him for 130 years, goes very still. Lifts his head. Stares.
The dragonkeepers freeze. This is new. This is wrong. Vermax doesn't look at people. He threatens them.
Valarr, who doesn't know any better, takes a step forward. Vermax makes a sound. Low. Uncertain. Not a growl. Almost a whine.
And then he moves. The keepers shout. Baelor stands. Valarr freezes... and Vermax crosses the pit floor in three strides and presses his great head to Valarr's chest. Gentle. Desperate. The way he used to greet Jace after long separations. The rumble that comes out of him isn't aggressive. It's relieved.
For a handful of heartbeats, Vermax thinks his rider has come back.
Valarr, shaking, lifts a hand. Touches warm green-bronze scales. "Hello," he whispers.
Vermax keens. High and broken. Because the boy is not Jace. He's not. The scent is wrong. The voice is wrong. But he's close. Close enough that Vermax, who's been alone for longer than any dragon should be alone, decides: close enough.
The bond forms. The dragonkeepers stand there, stunned, as one of the most vicious dragons in the pit bows his head for a boy who looks like a ghost of another prince.
Vermax is old, but not ancient. He's around 150 years old. That's peak power for a dragon. He's past the rapid growth phase but not yet into the slow decline. He's large. Not Vhagar-large, not Caraxes-large-but-make-it-serpentine, but solid. Intimidating. A hundred feet of green-bronze muscle and rage.
He's experienced. Vermax fought in the Dance. He survived the Gullet (Jace didn't, but the dragon did). He knows battle. He knows death. He's killed other dragons. He's dangerous in ways that go beyond size.
A century of grief has made him foul. He doesn't trust easily. Doesn't like other dragons. Snaps at keepers. Territorial. Possessive of the few things he allows himself to care about. And he's bonded to Valarr out of desperation, not love. At first. The bond isn't what it was with Jace. Can't be. Jace was his first. His true rider. Valarr is... a replacement. A placeholder. The best Vermax can get.
But over time, it deepens. Valarr is kind to him. Patient. Talks to him. Cares for him. Doesn't try to make him forget Jace. Just offers himself as he is. And slowly (very, very slowly) Vermax starts to love him for himself, not just as an echo of someone lost.
If we're putting dragons-survived-the-Dance Caraxes next to Vermax, here's what we get:
Caraxes is older (nearly 200 by akotsk timeline), smaller than Vermax in bulk but longer (that serpentine build), far more experienced in battle (fought in the Dance, killed Vhagar, survived), bonded to Aerion who is sharp and vicious and matches his energy. Caraxes likes you immediately because Aerion likes you and the bond doesn't lie. He's territorial, possessive, but from a place of certainty. You're his rider's, which makes you his, simple as that.
Vermax, on the other hand, is younger (150ish), larger in bulk, more traditionally powerful, experienced but bitter about it (lost his first rider, never got over it), bonded to Valarr who is earnest and trying so hard to be good. Vermax doesn't like you at first because you smell like Caraxes and Caraxes is a problem. He takes FOREVER to warm up to you, but once he does, he's worse than Caraxes about the possessiveness.
The first time you meet Vermax, he hates you. Nothing personal. You just smell like Caraxes. You've been in the meadow with Aerion and his nightmare wyrm, and the scent clings to you, and Vermax takes one whiff and snarls.
Valarr goes white. "Vermax, no—"
You freeze. This dragon is huge. Easily twice Caraxes's bulk, even if he's shorter in length. Green-bronze scales catching torchlight, eyes like old amber, teeth bared. He looks like he wants to bite you.
"I'm sorry," Valarr says quickly. "He's—he doesn't like other dragons, and Caraxes—"
"I understand," you say calmly. You don't back away. Vermax's eyes narrow. You're not running. Interesting.
It takes weeks before Vermax lets you near him. And even then, it's grudging. He tolerates you because Valarr clearly cares about you, and Vermax has decided (reluctantly) that he cares about Valarr.
But the shift happens slowly: you bring him food once, not trying to feed him, just leaving a sheep carcass near his preferred corner of the pit because you noticed the keepers are afraid of him and he's been underfed because of it. Vermax eyes you suspiciously. Sniffs the carcass. Eats it. The next time you visit, he doesn't snarl.
You don't push. You let him come to you. Sit in the pit with Valarr and just... exist. Read. Talk quietly. Ignore the dragon watching you from across the chamber. Vermax appreciates this. He's been pushed at for 130 years. You're the first person who just lets him be since Valarr.
The first time you touch him, it's an accident. You're reaching past his neck to hand Valarr something and your hand brushes green-bronze scales. Vermax goes still. You freeze too. Wait for the snap. It doesn't come. He just... watches you. When you pull your hand back slowly, he makes a low sound. Not quite a growl. Not quite approval. Considering.
You start talking to him the way you talk to Caraxes. Straightforward, no coddling. "You're being an ass today, aren't you? Yes, I can tell. Valarr's trying very hard and you're making it difficult." Vermax likes this. Likes being spoken to like he's intelligent, not a beast to be managed.
By the time Vermax actually accepts you, it's been months. And when he does, it's sudden: you're in the pit, Valarr is adjusting the saddle, Vermax is drowsing, you walk past the dragon's head without thinking, and Vermax reaches out. Nudges you. Gently. With his snout. The way he used to nudge Jace.
You stop. Stare. Slowly, carefully, lift a hand. Touch his jaw. Vermax purrs.
Valarr, behind you, makes a choked sound. Drops the saddle strap. "He's never— not with anyone but me—"
You scratch under Vermax's jaw. The dragon's eyes half-lid. The purr deepens.
"I think," you say quietly, "he's decided I'm acceptable."
Once Vermax decides you're his (his rider's, his hoard, his to protect), he's unbearable about it. Caraxes is possessive, yes. But Caraxes is possessive from a place of certainty. He knows you're his. He's smug about it. He purrs when you're near.
Vermax is possessive from a place of loss. He lost Jace. He will not lose you or Valarr.
He refuses to let Caraxes near you when you're in Vermax's territory. If you visit Valarr in the pit and Caraxes can smell you from three chambers over, Caraxes will try to come see you. Vermax will scream. Wings mantled. Claws out. No. MINE. Get your own.
He follows you. If you're walking through Dragonstone (or wherever the dragons are kept), Vermax will track you from inside the pit. You can hear him pacing, keeping time with your footsteps overhead. Valarr finds it endearing. You find it unnerving.
He growls at Aerion. Just. Constantly. Aerion will be standing next to you, making some cutting comment, and Vermax will growl from across the pit. Low. Steady. I see you. I'm watching. Don't try anything.
He will not let you fly Caraxes if he knows about it. You tried once. Vermax lost his mind. Screaming. Thrashing. Valarr had to physically calm him down. Through the bond, Valarr felt: SHE IS OURS. NOT HIS. OURS.
But here's the thing: Vermax is possessive, yes. Territorial, yes. But he's also protective in a way Caraxes isn't. Caraxes protects you because you're his. A treasured, precious thing. Vermax protects you because he can't lose anyone else.
When someone threatens you (verbally, physically, doesn't matter), Vermax moves. Puts himself between you and the threat. Wings spread. Neck arched. The message is clear: I have lost too much. I will burn the world before I lose her too.
And that's when you realise: Vermax doesn't love you the way he loved Jace or Valarr. But he loves you the way a dragon who's grieved for 130 years loves the few things he allows himself to care about. Desperately. Irrevocably. Without compromise.
If you thought Caraxes hating Vermithor was bad, wait until you see Caraxes vs. Vermax. These two dragons DESPISE each other.
From Caraxes's perspective: the green one is IN THE WAY, the green one carries the WRONG prince (the guilty, soft one, the one who keeps looking at her like he has rights), the green one snarls at him (HOW DARE HE), the green one is YOUNGER and LARGER and Caraxes is OFFENDED by both of these facts, and she pets the green one and Caraxes can smell it on her when she comes back and it makes him FURIOUS.
From Vermax's perspective: the red one is DANGEROUS, the red one's rider is DANGEROUS (sharp, cruel, the wrong kind of Targaryen), she smells like the red one ALL THE TIME and it's WRONG, the red one is older, more experienced, bonded to someone who knows what he wants (Vermax's rider is still guilty and conflicted and it's EXHAUSTING), and the red one won and Vermax HATES that he won.
The result is that they can't be in the same sky, they can't be in adjacent pit chambers, if they see each other they fight, Aerion and Valarr have to coordinate their schedules to avoid overlap, and you're caught in the middle, smelling like both of them, and both dragons are furious about it.
The first time you fly with Valarr after having flown with Aerion the day before, Vermax can smell Caraxes on you. He refuses to launch. Just sits there, growling. Valarr is mortified.
"I'm so sorry, he's being—"
"I know what he's being," you say tiredly.
You have to wash before Vermax will let you up. Even then, he grumbles the whole flight. Aerion finds this hilarious.
"My dragon has marked you. Yours is just going to have to cope."
Valarr looks miserable. You look at both of them and think: I'm going to be killed by jealous dragons and no one will be surprised.
But here's what changes with time: the dragons start to tolerate each other. Not quickly. It takes months. Maybe longer. But they're both Dance survivors, both riders of Targaryen princes, both bound to the same impossible girl through their riders. And eventually, grudgingly, they start to accept what their riders have already figured out: they're going to have to share.
Key word: try.
They try to share you. Vermax hates it. Caraxes hates it. But they start to manage brief periods in the same space without immediately trying to kill each other because it upsets you which upsets their riders. You can visit both in the same day without one of them losing their mind. Aerion and Valarr can be in the same room as you without their dragons screaming three floors down.
It's not peaceful. There's still growling. Still territorial displays. Still moments where one dragon decides the other has gotten too much of your attention and needs to be reminded of boundaries. But it's... manageable. Barely.
And then something shifts.
Because the dragons realise something their riders realised long before them: there's one thing they agree on. One thing that matters more than their rivalry, their jealousy, their territorial bullshit.
You're their riders. No one else's.
Some lord makes a comment about you in the yard. Something dismissive. Crude. The kind of thing that would normally just get him a cold look.
Both dragons scream. Simultaneously. From their respective nests.
The lord goes white. Aerion and Valarr, standing on opposite sides of the training ground, both feel it through their bonds. Their dragons' fury, sudden and unified. The keepers scramble. And when they get to the pits, Caraxes and Vermax are at their respective gates, necks arched, wings mantled, making the exact same threat display. Not her. Touch her and we BURN you.
It happens again. And again. Any threat to you (perceived or real) gets the same response from both dragons. Someone speaks to you too sharply in the hall? Dual screaming from the pits. A knight gets too close in the yard? Both dragons trying to break through their gates. Caraxes and Vermax spend three days doing synchronised threatening rumbles that make the entire keep nervous.
The dragonkeepers don't know what to make of it. Dragons don't cooperate like this. Don't share territory. Don't agree on anything.
But Caraxes and Vermax have discovered they have a common interest: you. And by extension, each other's riders. Because you love Valarr (even if you won't admit it fully). And you love Aerion (even if you're trying to fight it). And the dragons can feel that through the bonds.
Which means: Valarr is important to you, which makes him important to them. Aerion is important to you, which makes him important to them.
So when someone speaks ill of Valarr in the yard (some lord's son, drunk, running his mouth), Caraxes and Vermax both scream. When someone insults Aerion at a feast (calling him mad, unstable, dangerous), both dragons rattle their chains.
You're all a bonded shape. A strange, tangled, impossible shape. Two dragons who hate each other but love you more than they hate each other. Two princes who want you and are learning to exist in the same space without killing each other because you've made it clear: you won't choose. Not yet. Maybe not ever. And the dragons who share their riders' feelings and have decided, in their reptilian way, that if they can't have you separately, they'll have you together.
Caraxes still snaps at Vermax when the green dragon gets too smug. Vermax still growls at Caraxes when the red wyrm gets too possessive. They still can't be in the same sky without supervision. They still compete for your attention, your touch, your affection like greedy, dangerous cats.
But when an outside threat appears? When someone who isn't Aerion or Valarr tries to touch you, threaten you, take you?
The dragons are united. Absolutely. Unquestioningly.
Because you're theirs. Both of theirs. Their riders'. And anyone who doesn't understand that is going to learn it the hard way.
And Valarr, watching this shift happen, feels something change in himself too. He was guilty at first. Torn up about wanting you when Aerion wanted you, when he had no right to want you. He tried to be good. Tried to step back. Tried to let you go.
But then he sees Aerion with you in the yard. Sees the way Aerion makes you laugh. Sees his cousin's hand linger at your waist. Sees the way you look at Aerion. Hunger barely concealed, want you're trying to fight.
And something in Valarr just... breaks.
Shifts. Hardens. The guilt doesn't disappear but it gets buried under something darker, more selfish. He starts thinking: Why should I let him have you? Why should I be good when being good means losing you?
The change is gradual. Subtle at first. He stops apologising for wanting to be near you. Stops pulling away when you touch him. Starts touching you back: hand at your elbow, fingers grazing yours, standing closer than proper, whispering in your ear and calling you love.
He starts competing. Not obviously. Not the way Aerion competes, all sharp edges and deliberate provocation. But quieter. More insidious. He learns what makes you smile. What makes you soften. He uses it.
He stops feeling guilty about using it.
He watches Aerion steal you away for flights and instead of stepping back, he asks you to fly with him the next day. Watches Aerion bring you gifts and starts bringing you things too: books you mentioned wanting, flowers from the gardens, your favourite wine. Watches Aerion make you laugh and learns how to make you laugh harder.
Through the bond, Vermax approves. Finally. FINALLY. His rider is fighting for her.
And the worst part (the best part) is that it works. You notice. You notice Valarr changing, shedding that guilt, leaning into something darker and more certain. You notice him looking at you the way Aerion looks at you: hungry. Possessive. Like he's decided you're his and he's just waiting for you to catch up.
And you're drawn to it. To both of them. The sharp vicious certainty of Aerion and the dark, tender hunger of Valarr-who's-stopped-being-guilty. You're caught between them and you don't want to escape.
The dragons know. Feel it through the bonds. Feel their riders' want, your want, the impossible tangle of it all.
And they've decided: if their riders won't force you to choose, neither will they. You're theirs. All of theirs. The four of you bonded into something that has no name, no precedent, no rules.
Summary: A month after the birth of Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, Helaena and Jace prepare for a very important ceremony that marks the life of every parent: their children’s nameday.
Warnings: Modern AU. Fluff. Family fluff. Babies. Canon divergence. Original valyrian lore.
Keeping up with the Targaryens — A Modern Targaryen series.
Chapter 1 (on Patreon) - 28th of May on Tumblr/AO3
Chapter 2 (on Patreon) - 4th of June on Tumblr/AO3
Chapter 3 (on Patreon) - 11th of June on Tumblr/AO3
. . .
"name day" is a short married!Jace/Helaena story set in the Modern Era, and was posted on my Patreon on April 2026.
Subscription is only $2 a month for early access to everything I do and exclusive access to some works, and I promise you won’t regret it.
the five fundamental steps a valyrian cat must follow to seduce a mate (Epilogue)
Summary: Vermax cares for the human kittens like a good father would. Dreamfyre makes a wonderful decision.
Set circa 2031.
WC: 5.4k words
Chapter 1
Previous chapter: Chapter 12
Vermax eventually understood why humans had to stay tucked away in their bedroom and practised making human kittens.
Making kittens took work.
And time.
And more time.
Dreamfyre had made her decision the moment the human kittens began crawling in their wobbly little ways.
To Vermax, it was perfect timing. He remembered how he and Jacaerys had been a pair since their earliest kitten days, back when his human wasn’t even tall enough to attend those mysterious human schools.
And he remembered Lucerys just walking in that wobbly way human kittens did when he was a kitten too!
Naturally, their own kittens should grow up alongside the human kittens. They would be companions for life, the way nature clearly intended.
But making kittens… well, it was complicated.
Every full moon, Vermax and Dreamfyre mated dutifully, and they waited.
And… nothing.
The human kittens grew. They learned to walk, and shout his name, and shout Dreamfyre’s name, and run with terrifying speed. Their hair grew long and white like Helaena’s. They wore party clothes, had birthdays and tea parties and played in the park and on the beach.
And no kittens.
Oh, he was beginning to feel very, very sad.
But then Dreamfyre started smelling different, and acting different, too. For days, she’d been moving slowly, curling into him more often, making soft little noises and not wanting to eat. Vermax was worried yet, and he watched her carefully as they cuddled on the bed every time, because Helaena didn’t want her going into the nest for a few days, and Dreamfyre obeyed, and Helaena called a vet.
Vermax approved of that very much. The Vets always fixed things, even if their hands smelled strange, and sometimes they had needles.
Still, when the vet arrived and took blood from Dreamfyre’s leg, Vermax bristled. He didn’t growl, didn’t hiss — but the Vet got a very clear look that said he was being tolerated on thin ice, because Dreamfyre needed a smart human to figure out if she was sick or not.
And then, he put a round thing on Dreamfyre’s belly and moved it very slowly.
And then, Vermax heard it.
Thumps and swooshes and beating that sounded strange until he understood them.
Hearts!
They were having kittens.
Two kittens, like the two human kittens!
Oh, Vermax was so happy!
Kittens! They were going to have kittens!
And he was the very best mate through all of it! He absolutely was!
He hunted for the best foods for her, and guarded her while she ate, and fetched every soft object in the house that wasn’t nailed down to make sure their nest was the most comfortable for her to rest on.
Kittens were a lot of work to grow and make; she needed to be pampered.
And he never left her side once.
Dreamfyre purred and curled around him every night, her belly warm, and Vermax kept watch over her like a good mate.
Her belly grew round and warm beneath him, and every time the vet came, his face lit up like this was the best day of his entire human life.
He always let Vermax listen to the heart. Always. The little weird round thing pressed to Dreamfyre’s belly, and there it was again, that fast sound.
His kittens.
Vermax always tried to press his head to her belly to hear them, but he only heard her heart.
But one night, he had his head pressed to her belly, and he felt something right against his cheek.
The kittens.
He purred, slow and deep, letting the sound rumble through his chest and into Dreamfyre, and they moved under his chin again, fluttering around.
They moved when he purred. They knew him!
Oh, he slept just like that against her belly so many times after, and the kittens always replied to him!
Growing them took time, so he didn’t sleep all that much. He ate faster and patrolled everywhere they went, and watched every shadow. Twice!
The human kittens were careful with her, too. Hera and JaeJae touched her with soft hands and serious faces, and brought her nice fruit snacks to share, placing them gently like offerings. They were big now, enough to understand. It meant they could bond properly with the kittens.
Vermax even allowed them to test the nest, to make sure it was fluffy enough. Jacaerys seemed shocked that the human kittens were allowed in there at all, as if this were somehow illogical. The human kittens were their kittens. Of course they could access the nest, even if they were human.
Vermax improved their nest very much while they waited for their little kittens, with new plush things and covers and pillows, all of them new!
At night, he curled around Dreamfyre’s body, his chest and neck right against her belly, where he was most sensitive. Sometimes the kittens kicked him with bold little taps from inside, and he purred them back to sleep.
The humans whispered a lot during those days about dates and signs and being ready, and Vermax listened on, but he was not impressed. He would know when it was time, Dreamfyre would tell him.
Which was why, when he noticed she was circling him and pulling him to the nest one day, he followed, and when she lay by their nest, he stayed right by her, watching.
And then she started whining, and he knew it was time to call the humans.
Vermax bolted for the castle, sprinting through halls and stairs until he found Helaena and grabbed the hem of her clothing, tugging hard.
Now. Now. Now.
And she understood, and washed her hands and took towels and went right down with him.
“Oh, my baby,” Helaena breathed as she stopped by the nest. “My poor baby.”
Vermax lifted his head, rumbling low and unhappy as Dreamfyre’s sides rose and fell too fast. Helaena set the towels carefully into the nest before kneeling and reaching for her.
“I know,” she murmured, stroking her back. “It’s so uncomfortable. It’s how it’s supposed to happen. It’s why I told them to just slice me open and take the twins out.”
Vermax snapped his head to look at her, eyes narrowing. Slice? Cut?
What foolish, violent nonsense was this?
Helaena rested a hand over her belly and waited, her brow furrowing as Dreamfyre shifted and squirmed again.
“That is a contraction,” she whispered. “Vermax.”
He straightened immediately.
Yes, what did she need?!
“I need you to go to that light,” she said, pointing. “And press the red button on the wall.”
Vermax turned in the direction. There were many lights in the caves, and strange human contraptions that mostly just… existed. He had never needed them before.
“Press it,” she instructed. “And keep pressing until you hear Jacaerys’ voice.”
He walked to the wall, stopping at the button and raising his paw, pushing on it, and turned to the entrance of the cave.
Nothing.
Well, was he coming?
But he pressed again like Helaena had told him to, and suddenly the stone flickered, glowing suddenly like a window, and Jacaerys appeared on the other side.
“What’s happening?” he asked at once. “Is everything alright?”
Vermax looked from the small-Jacaerys-in-the-stone back to Helaena. She was already looking at him, calm but urgent.
“Call the vet,” she told Jacaerys firmly. “Tell her Dreamfyre is in labour. I don’t think her waters have broken yet, but I don’t know the timeline for Valyrian cats.”
Vermax stayed by the wall, tail stiff as Jacaerys nodded on the other side, waiting.
Yes, yes, the vet. The vet knew everything.
“Calling, I’ll be there in a minute.”
The stone dimmer and Vermax rushed to Dreamfyre quickly, licking her ears and neck, pressing his forehead to her neck and purring, trying to calm her.
Helaena kept watch, rubbing her back and comforting her with towels, very ready for her, until a lot of time had passed and he heard sounds at the mouth of the cave and ran to go see, just as Jacaerys and the vet arrived.
“There you are, Vermax,” the vet smiled, meeting his eyes. “Can you show me where our girl is?”
He circled her and glared at Jacaerys. His human was a disaster. Hair everywhere, clothes rumpled, smelling faintly of panic and old coffee. The vet, on the other hand, was ready, with her hair tied back and covered, hands steady, suitcase of Important Things at her side.
“I’ll… uh… stay out here,” Jacaerys said quickly. “He doesn’t like me in there.”
Vermax didn’t even huff. As if he would want a useless male in his nest.
“Have food and liquids ready,” the vet instructed briskly. “Things she likes. She’ll need strength once this is over.”
She stepped into the cave, kneeling at Dreamfyre’s side as Vermax followed at once.
“How is she doing?” the vet asked, already pulling on gloves.
Vermax rushed back to his mate’s side, licking her neck gently again.
Helaena looked at Vermax and Dreamfyre, smiling a little.
“Yes.”
“Well, that is quite the experience,” she declared, looking at Vermax. “You stay right there with your mate, Vermax. We’re going to put this nest of yours to very good use today.”
He puffed his chest a bit. Of course.
Vermax did not move from Dreamfyre’s side.
She whined again, a low, unhappy sound, her body tightening beneath him, and he answered at once, pressing closer, purring. It was his job, it was what mates did.
It went on for so long. Too long. His Dreamfyre was hurting, even with everyone near, even with the nest perfect and safe.
“Alright, Dreamfyre,” the vet said gently. “I think we’re close to meeting your first kitten. You’re doing beautifully.”
Vermax’s heart flipped in his chest, but he lowered his head and touched his nose to her cheek, assuring her he was right there.
“Pass me the towels,” the vet requested quietly. “You stay with her. I’ve got this.”
Dreamfyre cried again, sharper this time, and Vermax caught a new scent in the air, heard the soft rush of liquid, but he did not lift his head.
“Almost there,” the vet encouraged. “Almost there.”
Dreamfyre panted, her sides heaving, and then there was a wet sound, a shift of hands…
A kitten, dark-furred and impossibly tiny and warm and alive.
Dreamfyre reacted at once, licking eagerly, breathless and frantic, and Vermax leaned in beside her, nose trembling as he took in the scent. Their kitten. His chest filled so fast it almost hurt.
He joined her, gentle, until the little one wriggled harder, letting out a thin, indignant whine.
Yes, yes, that was a strong kitten.
Helaena reached gently, drying the kitten’s belly and belly, turning it gently just as it tried to move to its back and crawl closer, all blind determination and tiny paws, and Vermax nudged it closer to Dreamfyre’s warm body.
Yes, the kitten would be comfortable and warm. He had chosen the perfect warm cave.
“And this other one is very eager,” the vet exclaimed, delighted. “Look at you squirming.”
Vermax lifted his head at once, ears sharp, watching as the vet moved her hands back to Dreamfyre, bracing carefully, never pulling, as another small body came out. Half a kitten, slick and determined and just as dark as the first, kicking its way out.
“Good girl, good girl,” the vet praised. “And we have the second kitten!”
Dreamfyre leaned forward immediately, licking the kitten as the vet let her tear the sac herself. The second kitten responded at once, a sharp, offended little whine bursting free as it squirmed indignantly at being pushed from Dreamfyre’s perfect, warm body into the world.
Vermax rumbled low in his chest, pride swelling. Two. Two kittens! And strong ones, with strong longs and movements, eager to live. Perfect kittens!
“Good girl,” the vet praised. “I didn’t have to do one thing, Dreamfyre. You just did it all on your own; we just helped!”
Dreamfyre purred, panting, licking their kittens before reaching for the cord keeping the other one still attached to her, breaking it before moving back to comfort their whining kittens, and the sound ceased as soon as they latched onto her, suckling eagerly, feeding perfectly.
She purred, happily, and so did Vermax as he stood close to them.
The vet helped Dreamfyre through it all, with what she called the afterbirth and cleaning up, all clean and careful.
Dreamfyre slowly eased as the worst passed, breathing better and seeming to be more comfortable, until she was resting and curling around their kittens.
Helaena gave them space then, slipping away from the cave. When she returned, the scent of food came with her, rich and comforting. She knelt by Dreamfyre’s head, set the bowl within reach, and stepped back without intruding.
“I’ll recommend you feed Vermax after you feed Dreamfyre,” the vet said as she packed her things. “He’ll be focused on keeping his family unit fed and safe, so he won’t be mindful of himself. Give him extra, too. He’ll give her part of his food anyway.”
Vermax’s ears flicked, but he did not deny it. Of course he would. She was his mate, and feeding his kittens!
Helaena nodded, listening along.
“And I’d bring the closest fountain inside the cave for now,” the vet continued. “They won’t move far for at least two weeks, maybe more. You intend to keep the kittens, correct?”
Vermax raised his head to them, sharp.
Keep them? As if there were any other answer! They were his. They were Dreamfyre’s. Were the humans going mad?!
“Yes,” Helaena said without hesitation. “We feel like they’re meant for our children, the way Vermax was meant for Jace.”
Vermax settled again beside Dreamfyre, pressing closer, pride warm and steady in his chest. Yes, this was exactly where they belonged.
The vet smiled.
“Well then, you’re all set. I’ll be back next week. If you need me before that, call, and I’ll be here in ten to fifteen minutes to check on all four,” she said, picking up her suitcase. “You’ve already adjusted Dreamfyre’s diet for this new routine, so all I’ll ask is that you keep watch on the colour of her discharge and the smell. They’ll allow you close, but I recommend not touching the kittens for the first two or three weeks unless it’s a true emergency.”
Helaena nodded along.
“We’ve yet to observe abandonment of a kitten in this species,” the vet continued. “But we always monitor it closely. They’ll grow very quickly over the next few days, especially given your location. Don’t be surprised by that.”
Vermax sat steadfast at Dreamfyre’s side, eyes never leaving the kittens tucked against her belly. They were sleeping in perfect stillness, tiny sides rising and falling, breaths soft and even. His chest rumbled, low and content.
“He allows the children into the cave and the nest,” Helaena spoke up softly. “Vermax, I mean. And Dreamfyre cuddles them when they are in there. How long should I keep them away? The twins are very close to both cats.”
Vermax lifted his head at that.
The human kittens were clever and independent. They understood the newborn kittens needed attention now. Jacaerys and Helaena would tend to them well while Vermax and Dreamfyre focused on the smallest ones.
“I’d say the first two weeks, at least,” the vet replied. “Then see how Vermax reacts to them being outside the cave, and wait for him to allow them closer. Valyrian cats often present their kittens to children when they want bonding to happen. Mates are quite synchronised mentally, so they don’t make those decisions lightly. I would wait for them to present the kittens before the children are allowed to touch them.”
Vermax moved closer to Dreamfyre at that, curling close, watching the kittens, curling his body close to keep them warm.
Yes, when the time came, the small kittens and the human kittens would bond perfectly, but this was a time for the kittens to grow and stay in the nest.
When the vet finally left, and the cave grew quiet again, and he kept watch, focusing on Dreamfyre’s steady breathing, and then the faint, squeaking murmurs of their kittens. The sounds were new, and a bit different from the humans, but perfectly nonetheless.
Vermax leaned in, sniffing his kittens. Milk and Dreamfyre and kittenhood.
One of them woke first after the first feed. The copper one, its colour visible even in the low light, wriggling blindly against his belly and whining as it searched for milk. Vermax reached out with a careful paw and guided the kitten back to Dreamfyre’s warmth, waiting until it latched on and suckled.
There, a well-fed kitten. The dark one followed immediately, clever and quick.
Vermax purred, and Dreamfyre answered, soft and tired, tucking her head beneath his chin.
He did not sleep much those first days. Every sound outside the cave made his head lift, ears sharp, eyes glowing faintly in the low light, and he investigated every scent.
Helaena came with their food many times a day, and she brought the water fountain into the cave just as the vet had instructed. Vermax made certain Dreamfyre drank before he did. Keeping her strong meant keeping the kittens strong.
The vet came back and examined everyone, and she was very happy.
The kittens grew fast. Their bodies filled out, their cries grew louder and far more demanding. Vermax learned every sound and twitch, the difference between hunger, discomfort, and simple indignation. There was a great deal of indignation, very much like the human kittens.
It was between the doctor’s first and second visits that one kitten opened its eyes. He noticed first, of course, when he was grooming Dreamfyre.
His kitten meowed, blinking at him, sniffing, as if trying to figure out which one of them he was, and then squirmed right to Dreamfyre’s body, as hungry as always, and Vermax purred as he licked it too. A fed and clean kitten was a strong kitten.
The second kitten followed a day later, eyes cracking open in a slow, suspicious way, as if the world had personally offended it by existing. Vermax approved of that instinct at once. Caution was good. Caution kept kittens alive.
With their eyes open, everything was louder.
The kittens squeaked not only when hungry, but when Dreamfyre shifted, when Vermax moved, and when Helaena came. They announced every feeling with loud passion. Vermax answered them all, lowering his head to sniff, to lick, to reassure and purr. Sometimes he just put a paw over them, heavy and warm, and that alone was enough to settle their complaints.
Dreamfyre grew stronger by the day. She ate with more appetite, drank deeply, and stretched carefully around the kittens, and Vermax stayed in the cage to keep watch of her, so she could keep doing just so.
The doctor came again and was very pleased with their progress, and Vermax felt his chest swell with pride.
Of course Dreamfyre and the kittens were thriving. He was taking care of them.
With time, their personalities started showing, and they were clearly not the same.
The copper one was quiet. Not weak, never that, but gentle in the way it moved. It suckled neatly, paws kneading Dreamfyre with careful rhythm, and when it finished, it happily curled around itself and seemed happy to rest between Vermax and Dreamfyre and interact with them. Whenever Vermax sniffed it, the copper kitten answered with a soft sound and pressed its tiny head into his chin, trusting and warm. It slept deeply, only waking when it truly needed something, and trusted him at all.
And the black one… oh, that was a loud kitten. It protested everything: hunger, fullness, being repositioned, and the very concept of sleep itself! It crawled over Dreamfyre’s legs, over its sibling, over Vermax’s tail, and did everything with fearless determination, squeaking its displeasure at any obstacle that dared exist. When it woke, the entire cave knew. When it was hungry, it demanded results immediately.
And oh, how it protested when Vermax moved it right back into place, to keep it safe and inside the nest. Every time! The black one was courageous, yes, but not very clever. Didn’t it understand that its paws were still too soft, that the floor was too warm and vast? The nest was their safety. It should remain in it.
Once, it nearly toppled right out of the padded nest and onto the stone below, and the fright made Vermax’s heart almost stop! That was the one he watched most closely. His reckless kitten shrieked about the injustice of it all and then, moments later, fell fast asleep between them as if nothing had happened.
Dreamfyre noticed too. She nudged the black kitten back with firm authority whenever it strayed too far, and nudged the copper one forward when she sensed it was time to explore a little more.
It was why Vermax allowed the copper kitten to step out first. He could feel its paws growing rougher, ready for warmth and stone, and Dreamfyre did not object at all. Still, he stayed close, every sense alert, ready to guide it back to the nest the instant it cried.
His copper kitten was very careful as it stepped out, a little wobbly on the stone but not unhappy at all to feel it beneath its paws. It paused, testing the warmth, tail flicking in thoughtful concentration.
The black one came immediately after, far less interested in thinking and far more interested in going, and it even attempted to run!
Well. It slipped. Of course it did, its small body was still learning balance. But that was perfectly acceptable, because it merely squeaked once and then seemed quite pleased with the warm floor anyway, sprawling there as if this, too, had been part of the plan.
Vermax watched them both for a moment, satisfied, and then took the opportunity to tend to the nest. He pulled away the used covers, set them neatly aside, and arranged the new fluffy ones Helaena had brought, layering them carefully until the nest was once again perfect. The humans always cleaned the covers. That was their role. He had no concerns there.
The vet came in days after that, too, and seemed very happy.
She moved slowly, respectfully, putting the copper kitten on a scale gently first, earning an unhappy squeak, but the vet didn’t even seem to mind.
“Alright, let’s see…” she murmured, letting the numbers settle. “Oh, look at you. A whole kilogram. A very well-fed baby.”
Vermax’s chest puffed as she pulled the copped kitten from the scale and turned it to its belly, running her thumb over the paws.
“I see you’re about ready to leave the nest. Those little toes are hardening nicely, ready to take heat.”
Her fingers traced over the kitten’s body, checking muscle and stretch, and the copper kitten purred in response.
“Oh, someone is being very well fed,” she hummed. “Good tone… good stretch… healthy skin… everything exactly where it should be.”
She set the kitten down, and it immediately toddled straight back to Vermax.
“Well, no need to test your coordination,” the vet chuckled. “Go on, watchful dad. Put them back in the nest.”
Vermax did not bother replying. He gathered his kitten up at once, settled it back into the nest, and rubbed his head against it gently, licking to settle them.
Oh, he didn’t need to look to know the black one was picked up; he could hear the loud outrage it let out at being removed from the floor.
“Yes, yes, I know,” the vet laughed. “You are very opinionated.”
Helaena chuckled.
“Sounds like a baby I knew.”
The vet chuckled, weighing the kitten, and Vermax didn’t know how to read the numbers to know she was very happy.
“Oh, a kilogram and fifty grams!” the vet exclaimed. “Beautiful growth. Absolutely gorgeous.”
Vermax lifted his head a little higher.
Of course. He was raising very healthy kittens.
The vet finished her notes quickly and moved on to look at him, and Vermax followed the quiet call, knowing well his role.
He stepped onto the scale and stood perfectly still while she took her reading.
“Strong, healthy, exactly where you should be,” she said, then glanced at him with some amusement in her voice. “A little leaner than before, but that’s what happens when you take night watch seriously.”
She crouched and examined him next, hands steady and confident as she checked his eyes, ears, and teeth. Her fingers moved along his ribs and shoulders, down his legs, pressing and testing muscle and joints.
“Excellent condition,” she praised. “Good coat, clear eyes, strong heart… I’ve got nothing bad to say about you.”
That was enough for Vermax. The moment she released him, he went straight back to the nest, herding the black kitten closer as it attempted something reckless, just as Dreamfyre rose and moved toward the vet, knowing it was her turn.
She sat on the scale and waited, and the vet let out a soft breath.
“Beautiful,” she said. “You’re recovering exactly as you should.”
She examined Dreamfyre with the same careful attention, checking her belly, her breathing, her temperature. She listened to her heart, felt along her sides, inspected her teats, nodding at each conclusion.
“Milk supply is excellent,” she said to Helaena. “No swelling, no tenderness. You’re doing wonderfully, mama.”
The vet reached for her head, and Dreamfyre leaned in, pressing her head to her hand, taking the scratches happily with a purr.
That was a very useful human indeed.
He watched from the nest as the vet took her things and walked back with Helaena, and their cave was quiet again, and the kittens moved right to Dreamfyre’s body, kneading her, feeding happily.
They fell asleep after, and so did Dreamfyre, but Vermax just watched them.
They were stronger every day. They could run and explore, their paws ready for warm ground, their little minds already full of opinions and intent.
The black one… yes. So much like Hera, all boldness and impatience, convinced the world ought to move faster to keep up.
And the copper one, gentle and thoughtful and affectionate, careful with each step and every sound. That one would suit JaeJae perfectly.
They were the right age. He had been a walking kitten when he bonded with Jacaerys.
It was night, and Helaena had just left after feeding them when he settled on his decision. Dreamfyre had just eaten, and when he pressed his head to her, she purred deeply, and he felt it in his heart that she knew what he wanted to do and agreed.
He pushed the bowls aside and walked to the wall, pressing the human button and waiting.
And then he pressed again.
And again.
What were the humans doing that they weren’t answering?!
Finally, the stone lit right up.
“Vermax?” Jacaerys’ face appeared, looking confused and nervous. “Is everything okay?”
He sat back and meowed.
Jacaerys just stared back.
Oh. Hopeless creature.
He trilled, chirped and meowed again, tail flicking.
Well?!
But Jacaerys opened and closed his mouth, and scratched his head.
“I’ll tell Helaena to go down there.”
Good. Correct response.
The screen went dark. Vermax returned to the nest and settled beside Dreamfyre, licking behind her ear until she purred again.
Finally, Helaena stepped into the cave and quickly jumped to go after her, circling her and moving to sit in front of the nest.
And then he waited as she blinked, tilting her head.
“Do you want me to stay?” she asked.
Yes, obviously!
Someone needed to stay with Dreamfyre!
Vermax pressed his head against her legs and pushed, guiding her closer until she sat down.
“Alright,” she said, smiling softly. “I’ll stay here. You… go do your thing.”
Vermax left the cave at once, moving quickly through the castle until he reached the room where the human kittens were playing with Jacaerys.
“Vermax!” they gasped together.
They ran to him, and he pressed his head to both of them, purring hard as their hands stroked him, scratched behind his ears, kissed his head and went down his back.
Jacaerys looked at him, a bit confused.
“What are you doing here?”
He huffed at his human.
What? He was collecting his human kittens!
He licked them both carefully, circling them, nudging them on their little backs to call them along.
“Alright, alright,” Jacaerys sighed. “Come on, children, before he decides teeth are more effective.”
He guided everyone down, and the children did not mind one bit using the stairs, even though Jacaerys was huffing behind them.
The human kittens let out soft coos when they got into the cave area, looking around, always excited to be there, and Jacaerys quickly grabbed Jaehaera’s hand when she almost ran off, knowing too well she was eager to explore them.
Finally, they stopped in front of the cave, and he looked at Jacaerys.
Well.
He had delivered the kittens.
Jacaerys sighed, resigned.
“Only one dad allowed inside,” he informed the children. “And I’m not one.”
Vermax meowed and nudged them both inside again, and they paused just as they caught sight of Helaena.
“Mama!” JaeJae exclaimed.
She was seated by their nest, playing gently with the black kitten, while the copper one lay curled against her belly, utterly content beneath her scratches. Dreamfyre lifted her head at once and rose, walking toward them with a deep purr. She pressed her head to each child, allowing their hands, patient and careful, to pet her. She had missed them. Vermax knew it. Their human kittens were very loved.
She nudged them closer to the nest, and Vermax took their side, urging them closer too.
“The babies!” JaeJae whispered, awe-filled.
“The babies are very small,” Helaena reminded softly. “So we are gentle. And we respect their parents.”
The black kitten promptly grabbed her finger, triumphant, and Helaena laughed under her breath, freeing herself and scratching its neck instead. Vermax stepped in then, nudging both kittens, guiding them closer. He pressed the copper kitten gently against the warmth of Helaena’s belly, and it stirred, blinking awake.
Vermax walked to them, nudging both the small kittens, nudging the copper kitten in the comfort of Helaena’s belly, and it opened its eyes to look at him, waking up softly.
He moved right to JaeJae, then, making him sit on the nest before he took the copper kitten gently from Helaena and placed him on his lap, nudging it in his arm.
It moved on his lap at once, curious, pressing its head to his hand, trying to play.
JaeJae gasped, frozen in wonder.
“Does it mean it’s my kitten, mama?” he whispered.
Helaena watched closely. Vermax leaned in, pressing his head against JaeJae’s side.
Yes, they would make great companions. Both gentle and sweet and good siblings.
“I think so,” Helaena whispered. “What do you want to call it?”
JaeJae thought about it hard, scratching the ear of the copper kitten sweetly.
“Shrykos!” he declared, at last.
Helaena raised her eyebrows, looking surprised.
“Well… Shrykos it is,” she replied. “Very poetic, little love.”
Vermax licked JaeJae’s hair gently, purring.
Yes, Skyros was a perfect name.
He stepped back from them, looking at Hera, and she was just wide-eyed and waiting.
He nudged her more softly, and she stepped forward, eyes fixed on the black kitten still perched on Helaena’s lap. That one was like her, bold and fearless, though much louder.
Vermax guided Jaehaera down to sit on the nest too, and she placed her hands neatly on her lap, waiting. He lifted the black kitten carefully and set it into her hands, rubbing his head against her arm.
To his surprise, the kitten didn’t run off or even try to be mischievous. Instead, it stared straight into Hera’s face, as if the world had finally presented something worth considering. Then it leaned forward, pressing its head into her palm, demanding attention and play.
Hera obliged at once. She reached out with careful hands, scratching its head and ear, then daring a gentle rub of its round belly. The kitten allowed it all, very happy with the comfort.
Vermax purred, deep and satisfied.
Yes, they would make perfect companions.
“Morghul,” Jaehaera declared, very sure.
His human kitten girl was not one for many words. Each one she chose mattered.
Helaena leaned closer, studying her face. Hera looked up at her then, lilac eyes wide and solemn.
“Morghul?” Helaena asked.
Hera nodded, still scratching the kitten’s belly.
“Morghul,” she repeated, very simply.
Vermax stepped to Dreamfyre, pressed his head to her neck, purring together.
the five fundamental steps a valyrian cat must follow to seduce a mate (12)
Chapter Summary: Vermax cares for the human kittens like a good father would. Dreamfyre makes a wonderful decision.
WC: 2.7k words
Chapter 1
Previous chapter: Chapter 11
Human kittens, Vermax realised very quickly, were exhausting.
They cried constantly. They needed to eat constantly. They made messes constantly.
And even after a whole moon cycle, they couldn’t even crawl yet. Nothing had changed from the first day they arrived home to today.
Jacaerys and Helaena had stopped going to school entirely, which Vermax approved of. Obviously. Someone had to tend the helpless little things and teach them things! They also brought home two ladies who spent the night in the nursery so the kittens wouldn’t be alone. They were calm and soft-spoken and didn’t seem to mind Vermax and Dreamfyre slipping into the room at all hours to make sure they were doing things right.
Still, Vermax quickly realised how different it was to be around human kittens when they were your human’s kittens.
He remembered clearly how Mother Syrax and Father Seasmoke and Caraxes had guarded him and his siblings, but they’d cared for Mama’s kittens too. He knew theoretically that someday he would help Jacaerys raise his own kittens.
But this wasn’t theory!
Vermax spent every moment on high alert, pacing, listening, sniffing, watching every twitch and squeak from the caged beds. Dreamfyre helped, thank the skies — they took shifts during the night when the ladies were there, and traded places whenever Jacaerys or Helaena had to leave the room without the other.
And he was so busy!
How did two little beings who didn’t move and only ate and slept manage all of it?! All they did was eat, and sleep, and cry, and make waste, and cry again, and get changed, and then somehow cry more—
“Shh, shh,” Jacaerys whispered, rocking Jaehaerys in one arm — one arm! Like an absolute reckless fool! — while the human kitten howled and squirmed, crying like the world was about to end, his other hand shaking a bottle on his other hand. “It’s okay. I know, I know. You had to wait so long for your meal. I’m so evil.”
Vermax watched from the kitchen doorway, positively scandalised.
One arm!
One!
He had two! Why wasn’t he using them?!
Vermax hissed at him. His human was going to drop the kitten!
Or spill the fake milk. Or both!
But Jacaerys, infuriatingly, ignored him.
He adjusted the wailing creature against his chest, walking into the living room, and flopped onto the couch. He threw his head back dramatically before offering the bottle to the baby.
A bottle.
A bottle!
With powder and water inside!
Instead of real, proper milk from Helaena, warm and safe and natural!
Vermax’s tail bristled in outrage.
Absolutely not.
He would never let such foolishness happen with his own kittens.
When he and Dreamfyre had their litter, she would feed them herself, the way cats and sensible creatures did. No strange plastic contraptions. No powdered impostor milk. No humans shaking bottles.
Dreamfyre would be comfortable, adored, pampered — and the sole provider of milk for their babies.
Because clearly, if it were left to Jacaerys, their poor kittens would starve, be dropped, or fed through some ridiculous human invention!
Vermax glared pointedly at him from across the room as poor little Jaehaerys sucked the plastic, finally quiet.
“There you go,” Jacaerys sighed dramatically. “You only had to wait three minutes past the two-and-a-half-hour mark. Absolutely outrageous! The cats will kill me for starving you.”
Vermax flicked his tail. He was correct. The only reason he remained alive was because he was just slow in doing it.
But little Jaehaerys didn’t seem troubled at all. He only sucked dutifully at the fake milk, staring up at Jacaerys with enormous, dreamy human eyes. His tiny paws opened and closed, his little legs gave soft kicks, and Jacaerys’ whole expression melted — that human mix of tired and happy and overwhelmed and helplessly in love.
Mama, Kepa and Dad looked like that a lot.
“You’re worse than your uncles,” he murmured to the kitten. “Yes, you are. I knew you would be the second I saw you. They never left your grandma alone. But at least you take the bottle. Eggy and Viz refused to even try.”
Jaehaerys just sucked more, until the fake milk was almost over, and he let the bottle go, and Jacaerys offered it a little more, but the human kitten turned his head, so he just put it down.
“Alright, there we go. Perfectly fed and happy.”
He shifted, adjusting the tiny body against his shoulder.
“See, Vermax,” he called. “He is happy.”
Vermax just watched them both, squinting.
Jacaerys stood, supporting the baby carefully now — two hands, finally — one cupping his head, the other resting along his back, and he began to pat him in slow little taps, rocking on his heels.
“Come on then,” he sang under his breath. “Let’s get that little burp out. And let’s hope I don’t have to wash this shirt so soon, because I like this one.”
Vermax lowered himself onto the floor, satisfied, and the little kitten let out a little burp.
Jacaerys lit up.
“There we go,” he cooed, easing himself back onto the couch and shifting Jaehaerys into the cradle of his arms.
He stared down at the little bundle like he was made of starlight.
“You’re going to be named soon, you know that? Brother Aurion says everything is ready. Yes, it is. He is so excited to see you.”
Vermax watched quietly.
Oh, humans were so weird.
The kitten already had a name. His name was Jaehaerys. Vermax had learned it, accepted it, and approved it. Why did they need to make it again?
But Jacaerys only kept talking, oblivious.
“Everyone wants to fly in to see it, but we’re not letting them, are we?”
The kitten shook his little arms, somehow delighted by nothing, and Jacaerys shook his head, smiling.
“No, we won’t. I’m barely sleeping. I can’t take guests right now!” he said, voice dipping into that exhausted, deliriously affectionate tone. “Hera doesn’t like Daddy sleeping. No, she doesn’t. And she doesn’t like anyone picking her up but us, does she? No, she doesn’t.”
Vermax huffed, but was ignored.
Of course Jaehaera didn’t like strangers! She was a newborn kitten. She belonged in her nest, with warmth and quiet and scent-familiar creatures. Not being passed around by random humans with loud voices and bad instincts!
Humans were so bad at basic den-logic.
“So they’ll only get photos,” Jacaerys continued cheerfully, resting a hand on the kitten’s belly. “You can get godparents when everyone sleeps better.”
He punctuated the thought with a series of kissy faces — absurd little smacking noises that made Jaehaerys happy anyway.
Vermax rested his head on his front paws.
Good, no strangers. They had a good group caring for their kittens.
Maybe the human was learning something.
A sound from the kitchen made his head snap back to the kitchen, and Vermax could see Jacaerys’ phone lighting up.
“Yep, that’s Jaehaera’s alarm,” he declared. “Let’s get you to Mama. I don’t want to wait for your sister to start wailing for food, too.”
He walked off, and Vermax watched as he turned the corridor and went to the bedroom, and he knew Dreamfyre was in there with Helaena, so he didn’t worry about following.
Jacaerys rushed back to the kitchen to silence the alarm, moving frantically as he began preparing the disgusting fake milk the humans insisted on giving the kittens.
Vermax, however, was the one who heard the faint whine from the nursery. He bolted to it at once, and little Jaehaera was already stirring, squirming in her spot, her cries rising in pitch and urgency.
He pushed his nose against her, trying to comfort her.
Oh, where was that useless human who dared call himself her father?!
“I got her!” Jacaerys called loudly. “Just a minute.”
Vermax breathed warmly against the little princess, purring low in his chest, and her cries softened — only a little — but they did not stop. She needed her human! She was hungry!
Finally, Jacaerys ran into the room, bottle in hand and breathless.
“I got her,” he announced, reaching into the crib quickly. “I got you. My gods, you two get loud.”
Vermax huffed. Of course they got loud! They were hungry and helpless!
He lifted Jaehaera carefully, settling her against his shoulder as he glanced at Vermax.
“Thank you, Vermax,” he breathed, sinking into the rocking chair. “I should start training you to heat up bottles.”
Vermax snorted.
With that fake milk? Absolutely not.
But he padded over anyway, settling at the base of the chair as Jaehaera latched onto the bottle and began to suck contentedly, making soft little happy noises.
He supposed… this was acceptable.
Well, they stumbled through those weeks anyway, really.
Jacaerys always had to run with food, and Helaena was a bit stressed because… well, the kittens were a lot of work and noisy, and apparently Mother-Miss Alicent was irritating her for reasons Vermax didn’t entirely understand.
But with time, it was easier. They had nap schedules and feeding charts, and everyone knew exactly when the human kittens would soil themselves and were ready for it! Vermax only suffered with it the littlest bit. And everything was predictable, too. The human kittens even grew louder lungs and somehow used them less!
And he was a very good companion cat, he kept watch of them and cared for them with Jacaerys and Helaena and Dreamfyre. He even let Aemond and Odette help, because they truly loved the human kittens.
Mama, Dad, Kepa, all of Jacaerys’ siblings came to visit, and they brought his siblings and Mother Syrax, and Caraxes, and Father Seasmoke!
And grandpa and grandma too, and when grandma came, she brought Meleys.
Everyone adored the human kittens. And what wasn’t there to love? They were noisy, yes, but they were good kittens: beautiful, fat, healthy, and very proud of themselves.
“Oh my gods,” Jacaerys breathed.
Vermax opened his eyes from his light nap, snapping to look at him. His human was elbow-deep in the toy chest by the cribs, staring without blinking. Vermax followed his line of sight—
Jaehaera.
She was on her hands and knees again, rocking back and forth like she had been doing for some moons now.
Jacaerys called it “tummy time” and claimed it was good for the kittens, but Vermax considered it a complete waste of everyone’s time. They’d been doing this for moons — so many moons he’d lost count — and the human kittens still couldn’t walk.
Honestly, someone should take them to a human vet.
Still, he watched her closely. Jaehaera grunted, stared right at him and huffed.
Oh. She wanted him to come closer.
Vermax rose to his feet, but Jacaerys’ voice stopped him.
“Stay,” he instructed softly. “Let her come to you.”
Vermax blinked, baffled.
Was Jacaerys aware that his kittens couldn’t walk? How exactly was she meant to come to him?
But then Jaehaera babbled something, reached a chubby hand out, and…
Moved.
Slowly.
Wobbly.
“That’s it, Hera,” Jacaerys whispered. “Go to Vermax.”
She squealed in delight and pushed again, knees scrabbling forward. Vermax stayed perfectly still.
His human kitten was moving! She could move! And she was moving right toward him!
And then her knee caught on the blanket, and it slid, and she slipped right down the floor with a little thud.
The room was in silence for a half blink before her little lip trembled and her face crumbled, and Vermax moved to his paws right away, running as his human kitten wailed.
He pushed his nose to her body, and she cried louder at first — because of course she did, she was a dramatic little kitten — but he just purred like he knew she liked it, pressing closer to her as Jacaerys came quickly.
“It’s okay,” he cooed, pulling her into his arms. “It’s okay. It was just a slip.”
Vermax pressed himself against them, head butting gently into Jaehaera’s shoulder as Jacaerys rocked her. He purred into her side, licking her soft, pudgy arm. Slowly, her cries quieted and slowed and softened, and she leaned into him, tiny fists closing around his neck, and she nuzzled him like he always nuzzled her.
“There you go,” Jacaerys whispered, kissing the back of her head. “See? It didn’t even hurt.”
Vermax continued to purr, proud and relieved.
She was a very brave human kitten.
Jaehaera pulled back from him, and both she and Jacaerys looked up, and Vermax turned to find Helaena coming in with Jaehaerys in her arms and Dreamfyre by her side.
“You won’t believe this,” Jacaerys smiled up at her.
“Dadadadadada,” Jaehaerys called, squirming in her hold, reaching his arms to him.
“Oh, yes. Dada,” she laughed, kissing his round, damp face. “Someone spent his whole bath calling for you.”
Still smiling, Jacaerys held out his arms, and Helaena happily set their son into them.
“Hera crawled!” he told her. “To Vermax!”
Helaena looked at Vermax, and he raised his chin proudly.
Yes. His human kitten adored him.
“Really?” she breathed, settling down beside him and taking Jaehaera into her lap. “Did you crawl to Vermax, my sweet girl?”
Jaehaera responded by immediately grabbing a fistful of her mother’s hair. Helaena winced, laughing anyway.
“Well, I can’t wait to see it in the camera,” she said through the grimace anyway, shifting the kitten and prying her fingers away. “My clever girl.”
Jacaerys’ smile somehow grew even wider.
“She went straight to him,” he said proudly. “Honestly, anyone would think she was crawling to you!”
Vermax puffed his chest out. She was his human kitten! Of course she had come to him.
Dreamfyre rumbled approvingly and lowered her great head, giving Jaehaera’s hair a delicate lick while Helaena steadied her.
“And she only cried for a heartbeat when she slipped,” Jacaerys added, bouncing Jaehaerys as he squirmed happily on his lap. “Didn’t make a single fuss once Vermax reached her.”
“Oh, that I believe,” Helaena teased, helping Jaehaera balance on her chubby legs. “You’re terribly brave when Vermax is around, aren’t you?”
Vermax sat a little closer, curling his tail around his paws, watching his kittens, and Jaehaerys leaned forward, stretching both chubby arms toward him, and Vermax stepped closer to him, brushing his head against his little body, not minding the grabbing of his fur and skin. Kittens weren’t smart with their hands.
“Careful,” Jacaerys spoke gently, prying his fingers open. “We are gentle with the cats. Gentle.”
Jaehaerys blinked up at him with wide, innocent eyes… and then tried to grab his whiskers.
Vermax jumped off, and Jacaerys held his little hands, but he pressed his head to the kitten’s belly anyway. Kittens were truly hopeless with their hands.
The rest of the day passed peacefully. They ate, and Vermax kept his usual vigilant watch as Jacaerys rocked Jaehaerys to sleep, while Helaena gently sang to Jaehaera. When they finally carried the baby monitor back to the bedroom, he stayed in the nursery, settling himself between the cribs. His kittens were safe, drifting off, and he intended to remain right there.
He had just curled his tail around himself when a soft movement caught his eye, and Dreamfyre was right at the doorway, her silhouette framed by the dim hallway light.
She stepped inside with an affectionate chirp, circling the spot in front of him, and brushed her head against his, calling him.
He stood up, looking back at the kittens before looking back at her.
Well. They would come back soon.
Dreamfyre guided him out and down, and it was no time before they were in their cave again.
She moved to their nest, chirping again, lying down and waiting for him. Vermax moved around quickly, ready to curl around her and cuddle, but Dreamfyre shifted, raising her back legs up, lowering her front legs, tail sweeping aside.
He froze for a moment.
Oh?
Oh!
He knew what that meant.
. . .
Next chapter: Epilogue: Vermax and Dreamfyre's kittens arrive at last. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera gain their life companions. (On Patreon) - 14th of May on Tumblr/AO3
the five fundamental steps a valyrian cat must follow to seduce a mate (11)
Chapter Summary: Vermax continues working on making the nest comfortable. After months of preparing, the human kittens come home.
3.3k words
Masterlist
Chapter 1
Previous chapter: Chapter 10
Vermax tilted his head from his spot on the bed, mirroring Jacaeys as his human did the same, staring down at the glowing rectangle in his hands, completely lost.
He was building something.
At first, Vermax assumed it must be a nest.
Sure, he had never seen a human having a nest before — it seemed they all just used a lot of things and places to fill up the functions a nest would be perfect for — but he had not lived with many humans, so he could never be certain. Dad and Mama didn’t have a nest, nor did Kepa make Mama one when he stole her, nor Uncle Joffrey when he stole Dad.
But perhaps they were simply subpar and strange humans, and Jacaerys — clearly moved by example by seeing Vermax being a good — had finally decided to do the right thing. His mate deserved a nest. His soon-to-arrive kittens deserved a nest. Vermax approved wholeheartedly of this development.
Except… it wasn’t a nest.
Jacaerys was building little beds for the human kittens!
In a completely different room from his own!
It was outrageous! Stupid!
No nest was one thing — Mother Syrax and Father Sunfyre didn’t have one either, though Caraxes had attempted to build one for Mother Syrax (as… subpar… as the result had been). But separating the kittens into another room?
How was Jacaerys supposed to guard them at night?!
How was Vermax supposed to guard them?!
How was anyone supposed to be close to the tiny, helpless humans?!
Oh, humans were so, so stupid.
He would simply have to move his own bed into the kittens’ room when they arrived. Someone competent had to keep watch, after all. Fortunately, human kittens were slow and barely moved inside their little caged beds. That would make guarding them easier.
“It’s a screen,” Aemond said dryly from a few steps away. “You can tilt it without injuring your neck.”
Jacaerys glared at him.
“I’m trying to focus on a thing,” he argued.
“You can zoom in,” Aemond shot back immediately. “It’s an iPad, not a book. What exactly are you lost about?”
Jacaerys’ expression twisted into something between disgusted and utterly confused.
“Screw D.”
Aemond sighed, shaking his head.
“You know, you could’ve avoided all of this by having the carpenter come over and put it together for you. Or just delivering the cribs finished!”
Jacaerys scoffed.
“And leave everything about preparing for my children’s arrival to someone else?” he glared at him. “No! I’ll figure this out.”
Aemond scowled, crossing his arms.
“Then do it faster. They’re not watching Wicked.”
Aemond let out a frustrated sound — a hiss that sounded suspiciously like something Dreamfyre would make — and stepped forward, simply snatching the screen out of Jace’s hands.
“Let me see this.”
Jacaerys made a noise that was absolutely not dignified.
“Hey, give that back!”
Aemond arched a brow without looking away from the screen as Jacaerys’ face went all pink.
“These aren’t instructions. These are… diagrams for people who already know what they’re doing. Did you tell them you don’t know what you’re doing?”
Vermax watched them closely, squinting.
That was Jacaerys’ bed for Jacaerys’ kittens. It was his duty to build the nest.
What was Aemond doing?
“You’re on the wrong side,” he declared. “You’re doing it upside down.”
Jacaerys’ eyes widened, and he gasped.
“I am…”
But Aemond gave him the screen back, and Jacaerys shut up.
“Dammit,” he mumbled.
Aemond chuckled, clearly amused.
“So I thought.”
Jacaerys shoved the iPad onto his lap with a huff.
“It looked right upside down,” he insisted weakly, grabbing the half-assembled mess and rotating it again.
“Yes, and I believe you,” Aemond replied, voice and face flat.
Vermax sprawled a little closer to the edge of the bed, peering between them.
Humans. Completely hopeless. It was why they needed parents for so long in their lives.
“I had it,” Jacaerys grumbled, poking the wooden pieces beside him together. “I just… had it wrong.”
“Because that is not the definition of failing.”
His human glared at Aemond.
“You know, you don’t have to stay here and mock me.”
“Oh, I’m well aware,” Aemond said, shifting into a slow, maddening smirk. “I’m staying because it’s entertaining.”
Jacaerys groaned, tossing some wood away, rubbing his eyes, and Aemond softened a bit.
“It’s just a pair of cribs,” he reminded him. “You’re not rebuilding the iron throne.”
But Jacaerys didn’t look up, still looking completely out of his own mind, and Aemond softened.
“Let me help,” he decided. “Helaena is my sister. Those are my nephew and niece. And I’m actually old enough now to assure you I’ll be around. I’ll be a good uncle.”
Jacaerys finally looked up, eyes tired.
Vermax waited, thinking it over as Jacaerys’ face softened.
Well. That made more sense.
It would make the beds better, too.
It was acceptable.
Vermax watched them working on it from the bed, quietly. Well, it was a human structure; he did not have much to do in there.
He supervised, of course. To make sure the humans didn’t just make a mess and ruin everything.
Eventually, the strange little cage came together: tall sides, neat wooden bars, a tiny bed far too small for any respectable creature… but Vermax supposed a human kitten might fit. He remembered Mama’s human kittens — small, soft, wobbly things who stayed in their caged beds until their legs figured out what standing was. That took ages.
They finished the second one too, and Jacaerys put the small mattresses on the bed by Vermax to go grab something else, and he pushed his paw against it quickly, testing the softness.
Yes, they were good. Soft, but not too soft. It would be good for a human kitten.
“The little thief approves,” Aemond quipped.
Vermax turned to look at him.
Thief?
Who was he calling a thief?!
But he didn’t have time to correct this outrageous slander, because the metal box outside made its loud humming-growling sound. Someone was arriving.
He bolted out the balcony doors, tail flicking excitedly, watching the door until it opened.
Helaena! And Odette!
And they smelled like Mother-Miss-Alicent today. Had they seen her?
He waited, tail moving all around as he waited for the door to open, and Helaena smiled right when the door opened, and she saw him.
“There’s my welcome wagon,” she cooed, reaching for him and scratching his head.
She was home!
Oh, she would see the kitten beds!
Vermax circled her legs carefully — because she was big, and he didn’t want her to get hurt.
“Helaena,” Jacaerys called from the kitten room. “We finished!”
Vermax followed right after them, and when she stopped at the door, he was able to catch a big sniff of the bag in her hand.
Oh, that was interesting.
“Oh, Jace,” Helaena gasped softly.
Vermax looked up.
Yes, yes — she was seeing the rest of the room now. Jacaerys had added the flat picture-things humans liked — dragons and flowers in bright, pretty colours — and drawers, shelves, and even little rocking chairs made for humans.
He tried to climb on one, and he was too big for such a puny little chair, so it really was just for humans. Fine.
Jacaerys stepped up to Helaena, placing one hand over her belly and leaning in to kiss her sweetly.
“Hello,” he greeted, all sweet. “I hope you had fun.”
Odette immediately drifted toward Aemond, which was good because it meant his path was clear, and Vermax used the opportunity, shoving his head right into the bag Helaena was still holding.
Oh! Soft things!
Covers, pillows… perfect for the nest.
“Well… you know…” she sighed, tired. “Mother was… Mother. Very cheerful to hear the doctors finally confirmed we’re having a boy and a girl — as though I hadn’t been telling her this for almost five months now.”
Jacaerys chuckled, brushing her cheek with his thumb.
“He’s a shy boy,” he said simply. “Nothing wrong with that.”
They kissed again, and Vermax was about to try to dig in when Helaena pulled the bag up, putting it on the bed.
“Mother got us bedding,” she sighed. “Even after I told her for weeks that you don’t put bedding in cribs anymore, because it isn’t safe. But Mother never listens.”
“Doesn’t it cause suffocation?” Aemond asked, already frowning deeply.
“And overheating! And trapping!” Helaen looked at him.
Odette scoffed, and Jacaerys frowned in the kind of way that meant he agreed but also didn’t want to say so.
“She said all of her kids had bedding in their cribs and none of us died.”
Aemond didn’t even blink or give anyone a moment before replying, very flat.
“Because apparently that was the goal.”
Helaena let out a soft chuckle, but sighed.
“Well, we have this,” she announced. “And we now have at least half a year of her asking why we’re not using it every time she visits or sees a photo of the babies.”
She pulled the pillows out of the bag, and Vermax watched slowly.
Oh, that looked very, very fluffy.
Why wouldn’t they want that for their kittens?!
“It’s… fine,” Jacaerys tried, wincing. “She’s… uh… doing her best?”
Helaena threw him a flat look, putting the big pillow down.
“I don’t want to risk our babies suffocating!” she cried. “What if they get trapped under it? And look at this — it’s full of ribbons. Ribbons! They could come loose and choke them!”
Jacaerys’ face softened.
“I know,” he told her.
Vermax didn’t blink away from them for a moment, measuring their movements, before trying to grab the big pillow from where they put it, but stopped quickly when Jacaerys glanced at him.
But he didn’t look any upset.
“Well…” Jacaerys spoke slowly. “I’m certain they will be very useful, anyway.”
He walked to the bed, pulling the pillow and covers and putting them in the bag.
“What?” Helaena asked, staring at him.
“They are so fluffy,” Jacaerys affirmed. “And soft. You know, perfect bedding.”
She stared right back at him.
“I mean,” he added, gesturing vaguely, “who wouldn’t want their… beds… covered with such wonderful things?”
He put the bag down on the floor, and Vermax stayed still, watching him move to Helaena and slowly turn her around.
“I mean, you all saw how fluffy they are,” he continued.
Vermax nosed the straps of the bag.
Well, they were very sturdy.
Sturdy was good. It meant he could drag the whole thing away when the humans were distracted.
Jacaerys moved behind Helaena, putting his hand on her back.
“I mean — look at the mural, everyone,” he said brightly. “Look how perfectly it matches the colour of the bedding!”
They all turned around, though Helaena was still looking absolutely confused.
It was very fluffy bedding.
What if they changed their minds?! Vermax needed to have it first!
“Where else would we find such a perfect blend of colour and… cotton… and fluff?” Jacaerys went on earnestly. “Just look at them! The dragons! The sky!”
Vermax eased his mouth around the straps of the bag, testing the weight.
Okay, good, it was a good weight. He had prey heavier than this!
“I cannot think of a more perfect blend, really.”
Vermax backed out of the room slowly, still eyeing the humans, but they were just watching the mural.
“I think the babies will love being comfortable and warm,” Jacaerys added loudly, “with those most comfortable and ideal covers and bedding and pillow—”
He managed to make it to the corridor and took a few more slow steps before rushing right to the living room and out, down the stairs.
Oh, stupid humans!
These perfect, fluffy treasures were clearly meant for his kittens. Their human kittens already had the ridiculous caged beds; they didn’t need the good nesting things.
Vermax darted all the way down to the caves, slipping through the familiar corridors until he reached the warmth of their home, and Dreamfyre was curled in their nest, dozing, but her head lifted the moment she heard him.
He chirped sharply and nudged the bag toward her. At once, the big pillow tumbled out, and she came right to him to inspect.
Her nose pushed deep into the fluff, whiskers twitching as she tested the softness, and Vermax stood proudly beside her, chest puffed, tail swaying, watching as she inspected each pillow and cover, rubbing her cheek against them before turning a delighted look back at him.
Vermax almost pounced in happiness when she picked the first pillow up and organised it around their nest, and then walked back to him once she was done, pressing her whole warm body against his and purring like a storm.
He curled himself around her right away and moved right to the nest to cuddle with her.
Vermax continued perfecting the nest exactly as Dreamfyre required, padding it with pillows and plushes and arranging little decorations all around the outside. He brought her flowers from the gardens, and pretty stones he found by the beach — even though carrying them in his mouth left far too much sand on his tongue.
But it was worth it.
Oh, and the shiny blue stones! He had found a handful and pressed them carefully into the structure, and Dreamfyre had loved them.
They looked just like her markings!
He brought her all things blue he found! Blankets, ribbons, and even a brush and comb! Very beautiful.
And Jacaerys only caught him a few times during his raids. Hardly ever, really!
And he let his human keep the round blue plush he’d tried to steal back. A fair compromise.
Jacaerys was only being a good mate and a good father.
It took some time, but eventually — finally — the nest was perfect for Dreamfyre.
It was so perfect he almost wanted to drag Helaena and Jacaerys back just so they could admire it. But they had left, saying they would return with the human kittens.
Of course, Vermax remembered these things well. When Mama had her kittens, Joffrey had been born at home like a proper birth, but Eggy and Viz had needed a hospital.
Humans were very fragile creatures.
He was curled by Dreamfyre’s side, proud and content, as she inspected the last bit of ribbon he’d added to the entrance of their cave, when he heard a call from somewhere.
“Vermax, Dreamfyre,” Aemond called, the voice echoing through the walls. “Jacaerys and Helaena are coming home. Get back here.”
Vermax lifted his head at once.
They were coming?!
With the human kittens?
Oh, it was duty time now.
He scrambled to his feet, chirping urgently and waiting for Dreamfyre to rise before darting out the entrance to the caves. Aemond was there already — wisely not stepping a single toe inside their territory. He knew better.
“Jacaerys said you know how to act with kids, so…” Aemond paused, looking down at Vermax with a small frown. “You… behave. And you…”
Dreamfyre just circled his leg, rubbing her body on his legs.
“You’re smart enough,” he decided quickly. “Let’s go. I’ll take the lift.”
They took the stairs — because they weren’t lazy like the humans — and Aemond was waiting when he got there, picking a meaty snack from Dreamfyre’s bottle.
Vermax wanted to hiss at him.
Oh, every day they gave her a meaty snack just for her. It was unfair!
Helaena said it was from the vet, but why would Dreamfyre need something he didn’t need? He fed her! She was healthy!
“Good girl,” Aemond praised, stepping back. “I got something for you two.”
He walked out, moving to a bag, and pulled two blankets from inside, and Vermax paused to watch.
“You sniff it,” he told them. “No stealing.”
He put the green one to Vermax’s nose, and he sniffed a little closer.
It was… new.
Like human kittens!
“There you go,” he told him. “Dreamfyre?’
She leaned in, sniffing in too as Aemond offered him another.
It was a little different, a bit saltier. But it was human kittens indeed, fat and milk.
Aemond took the blankets away, and they all waited.
Oh, it felt like forever!
They were away for four nights, why take so long?!
But then the lift started moving.
Vermax froze, every muscle going perfectly stiff as he waited, and Dreamfyre stood just as still beside him, tail twitching along with his own.
The door opened, and Jacaerys was the first to appear. He practically launched himself down the ramp, all clumsy, and turned to help Helaena move a… well, Vermax didn’t know what it was, but it was like a car on top of big sticks between the body and the wheels.
He could hear some breathing and moving, and the warm, milky smell of human kittens!
“Hello, babies,” Helaena smiled at them.
Oh, she looked tired. Her eyes were all soft, and she still looked like the human kittens were inside her.
Vermax almost broke. He almost dashed forward right then and there.
Vermax held himself in place. They were home, they were home!
They were home. They were finally home.
But he held himself together like a goo cat!
“Let’s get inside,” Jacaerys told them. “And then we can all say hello properly.”
Vermax’s heart thumped, and he followed them right in as Odette and Aemond came to fuss over them and grab bags and all.
“Oh, look at you,” Odette cooed into one side of the carrier, brushing a finger across something tiny inside. “I finally catch you awake.”
“First time for everything,” Aemond spoke, and he was even smiling.
It was a bit strange.
Jacaerys moved back to Vermax, his hand moving to pet his head, but he didn’t wait for that. He darted forward, circling around his human with a deep purr, rubbing his body against Jacaerys’s legs and hips, nudging him, standing on his back paws, sniffing him from boot to shoulder.
Oh, he smelled like the human kittens, now! Soft and warm and new.
He had missed Jacaerys so very, very much.
“I know,” his human petted his ear. “I know, I missed you too.”
He stepped back and patted his thigh.
“Come here,” he said gently. “Let me show you them. You can sniff, okay? But only sniff.”
Vermax stilled, waiting as Odette stepped back, and Jacaerys grabbed the contraption by a big strap, taking one out and setting it where he could see.
“Vermax,” he spoke slowly. “This is Jaehaera.”
Jaehaera was all bundled in soft yellow clothes. She was very pink, and her mouth was a bit open.
He leaned in, sniffing.
The tiny thing smelled… warm. Soft. A little like milk. A little like Helaena. A little like Jacaerys, too. Her eyes were open, large and blinking, her little mouth making very tiny shapes, and her human paw was tight around a blanket.
He leaned in, rubbing his nose over her little feet, and chirped very softly.
Jacaerys smiled.
“Good boy,” he whispered. “That’s perfect.”
Dreamfyre stepped to his side to see her, and Vermax gave her space, moving to where Helaena was, and she had a green bundle in her arms when she smiled at him.
Aemond guided her into the chair with a careful hand on her back, and once she sat, Vermax pressed his head to her thigh, purring.
He had missed her so much.
“Hello,” she greeted softly. “Look…”
She shifted just enough for him to circle the chair, and then she tilted the bundle toward him so he could see.
Inside was another tiny human, face round and pink, fast asleep in the soft folds of green cloth.
“This is Jaehaerys,” she whispered.
Vermax leaned forward, sniffing carefully.
Jaehaerys smelled like Jaehaera — the same warm-milk softness and a faint human sweetness — and like Helaena, and like Jacaerys too. But beneath all that was something else, just him.
When he sniffed his human paws, he could see he had six digits on all four, and not just five, which was strange from a human. But he was a fat kitten, and he smelled as healthy as his littermate, and that was fine.
Vermax leaned closer to Helaena, rubbing himself on her thigh.
They were wonderful kittens. He would take very good care of them.
. . .
Next chapter: Chapter 12: Vermax cares for the human kittens like a good father would. Dreamfyre makes a wonderful decision. (On Patreon) - 7th of May on Tumblr/AO3
the five fundamental steps a valyrian cat must follow to seduce a mate (10)
Chapter Summary: The second part of building the nest begins: now, Vermax must make it comfortable, with all the pillows, duvets, covers and plushes Dreamfyre would ever want.
2.8k words
Masterlist
Chapter 1
Previous chapter: Chapter 9
Jacaerys and Helaena had travelled after the wedding.
Travelled!
As if there were any places in the whole world better than home — better than being right here where they belonged!
But they travelled anyway, and so Aemond was the one taking care of everyone at home. And yes, he was good to Vhagar — very good — but Vermax still missed his scratches and cuddles and kisses on the head.
Aemond only fed them and took them on walks. He did none of the nice things. And Odette only did it sometimes!
Well, at least Jacaerys and Helaena being gone meant he had plenty of time with Dreamfyre. They played, they napped in the cave and up on their beds — and Jacaerys had even been nice enough to push their beds together before leaving, so there was lots of space for both of them to stretch and curl and cuddle.
And after a few days, Aemond had finally let Dreamfyre into Helaena’s room, too, after she spent an entire day waiting faithfully by the door. He’d opened it because he knew she was sad and missing her human, and didn’t even mind that Vermax followed, too.
And Vermax… Yes, Vermax missed Jacaerys as well. Jacaerys was his human. He wanted him home!
Sure, they talked sometimes through that little glowing screen the humans loved so much. Jacaerys said his name and showed him things, smiling like it meant something.
But that didn’t count! How was he supposed to know it was really Jacaerys?
Vermax couldn’t smell him. He couldn’t touch him. He couldn’t lick his face or rub against him!
So how was that supposed to help anything?
Vermax sighed on his spot, resting his chin on the warm stone floor, watching as Dreamfyre climbed onto Jacaerys and Helaena’s bed, chirping at him before walking up to the pillows.
He tilted his head, curious, as she pressed her face into one of them — slowly rubbing her head across the fabric, then her whole body, possessively marking it with her scent.
She stopped, then, looking at him and waiting.
Oh.
Oh!
She wanted it!
For their nest.
Vermax scrambled to his feet and chirped back, and Dreamfyre nudged her head against the pillow again before hopping down from the bed, sitting neatly on the floor to watch him.
Aemond and Odette weren’t home — they were at school. Or class. One of those human places they disappeared to every day at this hour.
Dreamfyre had chosen her moment well. The humans would never let them keep a pillow if they saw them dragging it off.
Vermax stood on his hind legs, clamped his teeth around the pillow, and tugged while she supervised like the clever queen she was.
It was a very big pillow — soft, plush, absolutely perfect. It would be very comfortable.
Vermax grunted, pushing more of it into his mouth as he tightened his grip on it to carry it away.
The floor was dusty and full of human crumbs; he could not let it touch the ground and get dirty!
Dreamfyre trotted before him as they left the room, her tail flicking proudly, and they made their way down the caves. Vermax was carrying the pillow up and out of the dirt the whole time like the good mate he was.
He set it down gently in their nest, nudging it into place and stepped back to let her inspect it, and Dreamfyre nudged it right to where she wanted it before purring, settling on it and giving him a happy look.
Vermax slipped right beside her, very proud.
That was how he entered the second part of building their nest.
After all, a nest wasn’t only meant to keep them safe — it had to be comfortable! Their kittens would need a soft, perfect place to rest.
When the humans came back, everything became much easier.
They were helping!
It was very kind of them, though really, it only made sense. They were their humans, after all, and helpfulness was what humans were supposed to do. And with their own human kittens on the way, of course they would want Vermax and Dreamfyre’s nest to be perfect and ready for their future kittens, too.
They left covers in little piles for them to sniff and choose from, and small pillows, and even those plush animal toys that made Dreamfyre chirp. They even brought down more blankets every other day — soft ones, fluffy ones — for him to pick from.
Of course, Vermax still had to use stealth, especially when he ventured to take the couch pillows… but only because he knew Aemond and Odette liked that couch, and he didn’t want them to complain. He could dodge humans just fine; he simply preferred to avoid the scolding. Humans were very dramatic when their pillows wandered off.
Besides, it was all for the nest. And surely even humans understood that.
“It’s a ladybug!” Helaena exclaimed as she opened the brightly coloured box. “Oh, that is lovely!”
Jacaerys’ face lit up, and he immediately reached out to rest his hand over her belly.
“I knew you’d like it,” he smiled.
She kissed him, holding the ladybug right to her body before flopping back on the bed, the bump making her shirt stretch adorably over it.
Helaena had a belly now. Her human kittens were growing!
“Do you think they’ll like bugs?” she asked, hopeful. “Or... one of them?”
Jacaerys gave her that look — the one where his whole face turned into soft mush — before brushing his fingers over the curve of her stomach.
“Both, probably,” he said. “You’ll talk about them so much they won’t stand a chance.”
Helaena glared at him for that, but she didn’t move his hand away. If anything, she nudged it even closer.
“Did you find the cushions?”
Vermax’s ears perked sharply.
Oh, no.
“No,” he sighed. “I’m gonna ask Odette if they maybe moved it when we were away and just forgot.”
Helaena pouted.
“Did the cleaners say anything about the spider kit?”
He shook his head again.
“Nothing,” Jacaerys groaned. “They didn’t find anything with our names left behind or forgotten. And I know I brought them home with the rest of the baby stuff. I swear I did.”
Spider covers for the human kittens, too?
Well, that made sense. It was nice. Dreamfyre liked them very much when he put them in the nest.
… covering those cushions they were looking for.
It was not his fault. Dreamfyre liked those couch cushions.
He turned his head at the scent of Dreamfyre and the sound of her steps, and she stepped into the room quietly, absolutely ignoring Jacaerys as she rubbed her head along Helaena’s arm, taking her attention.
“Dreamfyre,” Helaena greeted warmly, immediately reaching out to scratch her head. “Hello, baby.”
Dreamfyre leaned into the touch with a pleased purr, brushing herself against Helaena again for good measure.
“Look,” Helaena showed her the plush. “Jacaerys got me a ladybug.”
Dreamfyre paused, sniffing the toy, and Vermax watched closely, waiting to see if she’d claim it for the nest, but she merely gave it a polite inspection before returning her attention to Helaena. She rubbed her head along Helaena’s side, then lowered it to rest gently over her belly, purring deep and steady for the human kittens growing there.
“Good kitty,” Helaena praised softly.
Jace smiled, staying right on his spot, and Dreamfyre didn’t mind at all that his hand was on her belly first.
“What do you think?” Helaena asked, looking between him and her magnificent cat. “Should we bring them with us?”
Dreamfyre raised her head at the question, interested.
“To the festival?” Jacaerys asked, eyebrows raised.
Helaena nodded, still stroking Dreamfyre’s fur.
“It is the Festival of Draxtar,” she reminded him. “Aren’t cats supposed to be… I don’t know, Draxtar’s favourite creatures or something?”
Jacaerys scoffed.
“All creatures are Draxtar’s favourites,” he said. “That’s the whole ‘god of life’ thing.”
Vermax waited, listening.
Did that mean… a walk? Going somewhere?
“Vermax,” Jacaerys called, turning to look at him with a half-smile. “Do you want to go to the festival with us?”
He perked up.
A new place? A festival? He’d never been to one before, but if it meant leaving the house and being with his humans—
Vermax leapt onto him without hesitation, rubbing his head against Jacaerys’ chest, purring.
Of course he wanted to go!
Jacaerys chuckled, petting his head.
“Alright, alright,” he pushed him gently. “Let’s get you two ready, and we can go.”
“I’ll get dressed,” Helaena told him. “We need sunscreen.”
She hopped off, and Jacaerys walked off to grab their harnesses, and Vermax tried to stay still as Jacaerys wrapped his around his chest and neck, clicking everything into place.
He still didn’t know why humans insisted on these things. What did Jacaerys think he would do — run away? And go where? He lived here. Jacaerys was his human.
But if it made his human happy, then fine. He would wear the silly thing.
Dreamfyre side-eyed him quietly when he approached her, but sat still anyway, allowing him to secure her with her harness and collar, and didn’t even move when he adjusted the pendant on her neck with her name.
“Alright,” he spoke slowly, at last. “You’re ready.”
It took a little while — humans always took a little while, with all the things they carried around — but eventually they were leaving the castle, stepping into the golden warmth of the island air. Jacaerys guided both of them into the car, buckled their harnesses into the seats, then opened the passenger door for Helaena before rolling down the windows.
The moment the air rushed in, Vermax’s nose went wild with all the smells — familiar and new all at once!
Oh, the smells outside were all new and old at once! Salt from the sea, fruit stands and trees, an earthy smell from the volcano, baked bread and the warm sand under the sun… Vermax’s nose twitched nonstop; he couldn’t sniff fast enough!
And the beach! The beach was beautiful! The sand was dark and shiny, there were many banners all around, with wooden stalls and painted colours!
Jacaerys stopped the car, and Helaena left first, taking Dreamfyre with her leash.
“Remember, stay by my side,” she told her firmly. “Behave. I’ll see if there are any nice snacks for you. And don’t poop on the beach.”
“All of that,” Jacaerys echoed as he opened Vermax’s door. “And please don’t scare people and get us kicked out.”
Vermax puffed.
He would never intentionally frighten a human!
But… well… if they happened to be overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of his presence — his size, his beauty, his noble posture — what exactly was he supposed to do about that?
Still, he stepped out of the car with utmost dignity and trotted right beside Jacaerys, tail high, and ears alert. The beach was buzzing with people, colours, smells, and sounds, and he had to force his steps to stay composed.
He was a responsible mate, a future father.
And a very good kitty.
But oh, it was difficult.
There were so many smells, and sounds, and humans pointing and waving at them!
They walked past children running through the sand, past vendors selling sweet bread and roasted nuts, and musicians with instruments, and Vermax tried very, very hard not to sniff every single person they passed, but sometimes he dipped his head in their direction anyway.
He was polite about it
Mostly.
A little human was just ahead of him, and the moment she spotted him, she clapped her tiny hands together.
“Kitten!” she squealed.
Vermax squinted at her.
Kitten?
Kitten!
He was a big cat! A mate! Big and strong and a future father of kittens!
But the little human was beaming up at him with such wide, delighted eyes and running at him with all the wobbling chaos of a newly walking creature, that he resigned himself to her fate.
He sat down, curling his tail neatly around his paws, and allowed her to touch him, and only winced a little when she grabbed a handful of skin instead of fur. Poor little human… they never knew how to pet properly. Mama had shown him that. She had shown him her human kittens when Jacaerys lived with her and Kepa, and how clumsy they were with their tiny grabby hands, and that they weren’t supposed to nip them, because human kittens didn’t learn like that.
“Alright, alright,” an older human hurried over. “The kitten got his pets. Come on now.”
The little human was scooped away, still squealing, and Jacaerys let out a chuckle right by his side.
“Look at you, heartbreaker,” he teased, scratching behind Vermax’s ears.
He puffed out his chest. He was a very remarkable cat, yes.
They wandered over the warm, fluffy sand together, weaving between colourful stalls and banners. Jacaerys and Helaena eventually picked a table shaded by bright cloth, and there was even one bench available.
Of course, he let Dreamfyre have it; he could sit on the ground.
They walked around together over the fluffy sand, and Jacaerys and Helaena got a table, and they even got a bench — but it was just one, so Vermax let Dreamfyre have it. He could sit on the floor.
The sun was deliciously warm, sinking into his fur like a nice purr, and Jacaerys had just left the table for one of the stalls when Vermax heard a soft chirp and raised his head.
Dreamfyre was staring at something a few feet away. A stall, just beside where Jacaerys was, was talking to a human and holding some stiff board thing in his hand.
Her eyes were right on a stall overflowing with plushes, big and fluffy, or dragons in every colour.
Oh! One of them looked exactly like her, silver and blue, with big wings and a long neck.
“Do you think you can make the pup cup the size of a big cup?” Jacaerys asked the vendor. “Because I think they would both eat the whole cup in that one lick if they tried.”
Dreamfyre chirped again, sharper this time, her eyes flicking from Vermax to the plush stall.
She wanted it.
Well, of course she wanted it; it was beautiful.
And he was a good mate, he needed to get it.
Vermax stood slowly, paws sinking into the warm sand, and Dreamfyre’s eyes fixed on him without blinking, expectant.
He moved slowly toward the stall, low and stealthy.
Humans were everywhere, laughing, talking, smelling like sunscreen and fruit… and none of them were paying attention to him.
Good.
The plush stall was crowded with toys, their soft scents mingling together. The silver-and-blue dragon plush sat right at the edge, almost too easy, almost begging for Dreamfyre’s paws.
Vermax looked at Jacaerys before hiding behind the stall.
He was still talking with the vendor. Good.
A human walked too close, and Vermax slipped aside like a shadow, tail tucked low. The vendor rearranged a row of plushes, then wandered a few steps away.
Almost!
He went completely still, reading the wind, the footsteps, the shifting shadows.
And then…
Snatch.
His jaws closed around the plush in one quick, perfectly silent bite. It squished softly between his teeth — no noise, no struggle. Ideal prey.
He sank low again, plush hidden beneath his chest, his eyes studying the territory.
No one had seen anything. His hunt was a triumph.
Vermax slipped back to their table with the same care and stealth, sliding beneath Dreamfyre’s bench and dropping the plush gently onto the sand. Then he sprawled over it, covering it with his body, protecting the treasure.
Dreamfyre hopped down, lowering her head, and rubbed her forehead against his, slow and pleased, her purr deep and approving.
He adjusted it and walked right back to his spot under Dreamfyre, dropping it onto the floor and lying on the toy, hiding in, and looked up at her when his queen lowered herself from the bench and rubbed her head on his, purring.
Oh, yes, this would make a magnificent addition to their nest.
Jacaerys returned a moment later, carefully balancing a tray of cups overflowing with tall, colourful cream. He handed one to Helaena, set another down on the table, and then crossed over to them on the benches.
“Fruit pup cup for you,” he placed one in front of Dreamfyre carefully and moved to Vermax. “And fruit pup cup for you.”
Vermax’s eyes widened the moment he sniffed it, and he leaned in, licking it up.
Oh!
Blackberries! Bananas! Peaches! And sweets!
Delicious!
“And I should probably go pay for that robbery before the vendor comes to yell at us.”
…
Next Chapter: Chapter 11: Vermax continues working on making the nest comfortable. After months of preparing, the human kittens come home.
