The first time someone touches their soulmate, it leaves an everlasting mark known as a soulmate mark. For Aemond, his mark is a kiss on his left eye, a mark Aegon left on him long ago. That same eye is the one Lucerys gouges out during the fight at Driftmark. Naturally, Aegon is furious when he sees Aemond missing an eye and his soulmate mark gone. He rushes to him, demanding privacy and insisting his health comes first. When his father tries to deny him, Aegon locks eyes with him, his gaze blazing with fury and hatred like Viserys has never seen, making it clear he won’t take a no for an answer, not this time. Aemond is then taken to a private chamber with their mother, where a maester tends to his injury and delivers the devastating news that his eye is lost.

Meanwhile, Aegon stays behind and loudly demands justice for Aemond, while his father stammers and tries to intervene as Rhaenyra and her bastard children attempt to speak. Aegon’s frustration boils over, and he raises his voice in anger. This prompts Viserys to shout back, ordering everyone to calm down and get along like the family they were, which quickly turns into a screaming match between him and Aegon. Eventually, the king raises his title, demanding silence from him, which shuts Aegon up immediately. Rhaenyra looks pleased and thanks their father when he declares the injury an accident, warning that anyone calling her children bastards will lose their tongues.

Aegon, disgusted and furious at the injustice done to Aemond, can’t hold back his anger. In a surge of anger, he suddenly lunges at Lucerys, throwing heavy punches, like a dragon fighting against another, before others pull them apart. The king steps in to confront Aegon about his attack, but suddenly a dragonkeeper rushes in with alarming news: Sunfyre has attacked Arrax, blinding him in one eye and inflicting severe lashings that will take a long time to heal and will leave scars once they do so. Aegon almost smiles at the news, feeling a kinship with Sunfyre, his golden dragon, who seems to understand his fury and what’s been done to Aemond. His beloved Aemond. His soulmate. His to love. His to torment. His to protect. His to make fun of. His to dote on. His. His. His.

While Rhaenyra, her children, and the Velaryons rush outside to assess the damage, Aegon turns to his father and declares he’ll take care of Sunfyre. He makes it clear that if anything happens to his dragon, he’ll know who’s responsible. After making his way to his dragon, Aegon releases Sunfyre from his chains, disliking their restraint more than ever. He thanks his dragon, praises him as magnificent, and advises him to fly to a more deserted part of the island or to an uninhabited nearby island for safety. Sunfyre obeys. Once that’s done, he makes his way to Aemond’s side, where he has wanted to be from the start. He sits beside Aemond’s bed, holding his hand through the night.