Chapter 409: I Am Going To Be The One You All Fear.

Kiara opened her eyes to see Bambi smiling down at her, already wide awake.

Kiara glanced over at the digital clock sitting on the side table. Red numbers glowed back at her: 7:00 AM.

She turned her head back to the girl lying next to her on the mattress.

"What are you doing in my room?" Kiara asked, her voice raspy from sleep.

"You said last night I could sleep by your side if I didn’t make any noise while sleeping. I woke up first, and I just wanted to look at your beautiful face," Bambi said, her smile broadening as she rested her cheek against her palm.

Kiara let out a slow breath, staring up at the white ceiling. "Okay, are you done?"

"Can I kiss you?"

"If you kiss me, will you get out of my room?" Kiara said. Her eyelids were heavy, weighed down by the lingering haze of sleep.

Last night had been surprisingly amazing for her. She had managed to get Bambi to laugh and drop her guard, and the girl had proven to be shockingly good company when she wasn’t sad.

Bambi nodded without a second thought. Kiara shifted slightly on the sheets, allowing her to press her lips against hers, letting the kiss stretch out for as long as Bambi wanted to take it.

When Bambi finally pulled back, Kiara tapped her shoulder once. "Okay, now go to your room," Kiara commanded.

Bambi swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her small feet hitting the floor. "Yes, and thank you for letting me stay with you and Mom. I really appreciate it."

The expression on Bambi’s face was purely, genuinely happy.

Kiara offered no reply, watching in silence as Bambi stood up from the mattress and began walking toward the bedroom exit.

Just before Bambi reached the handle, Kiara spoke up.

"Bambi."

Bambi stopped mid-step, turning on her heel. "Yes, Kiara?"

"You don’t have to have that hairstyle anymore. You can style your hair however you want. And your dressing too," Kiara said, pulling the blanket up to her waist.

Bambi’s face lit up instantly. "Thank you. And can I also keep wearing the cross?"

"Do whatever you want. Just don’t wear that cross when we’re having sex."

"Roger that girlfriend. And I love you, Kiara."

Kiara’s eyes went wide, her entire body snapping straight up against the pillows. "What the fuck?"

Taking in Kiara’s stunned, defensive reaction, Bambi instantly threw her head back and burst out laughing, the sound ringing off the walls.

"I was joking! I just wanted to see your reaction. That’s so funny! Hahaha!" Bambi doubled over, clutching her stomach as she giggled.

Kiara pulled a spare pillow onto her lap, glaring back at her. "Hahaha. Get out."

She pointed a sharp finger straight toward the open doorway. Bambi didn’t press her luck any further, walking out into the hallway and letting the door shut behind her, leaving Kiara alone in the morning quiet.

Kiara threw her head back against the mattress and lazily groaned, staring at the woodwork above.

"Dumb bitch. If you weren’t surprisingly good in bed, I would’ve dumped your ass a long time ago," she muttered under her breath.

Before she could pull the sheets back over her head, the brass knob turned, and the door swung open a second time.

"What do you want now, Bambi?" Kiara snapped, not bother turning her head right away.

When she finally pushed herself up onto her elbows and looked toward the threshold, it wasn’t Bambi standing there.

It was her sister, Silviana.

Silviana stood by the entrance, her arms tightly folded across her chest, her gaze fixed firmly on her younger sister lounging in bed.

"What are you doing in my bedroom?" Kiara asked, any softness leaving her voice instantly. She made no effort to hide how thoroughly unpleased she was to see her.

"Just checking on my little sister. I see you’ve been busy," Silviana said, her tone smooth and dry as her eyes swept over the rumpled sheets. "Mom said you only allowed the Frost girl into your bedroom, and now it’s some random girl."

Kiara sat all the way up, sliding her legs over the side of the frame. "My sex life is not your business. Leave my room. You have your own room."

She glared directly at her sister’s calm face.

"And what are you even doing here? I thought you were staying at your marital house now."

Silviana didn’t answer the question immediately. Instead, she took two steps into the room, her leather heels clicking against the floor.

"Mom said you were looking for the key card to the private vault. What do you want in the vault?"

Kiara scoffed, leaning her weight back on her palms. "I don’t need to tell you. Now that you’re taking what is supposed to be mine, enjoy it while it lasts. You and your fucking council can go to hell."

Silviana reached into the front pocket of her tailored blazer, pulling out a slim piece of plastic. She walked straight over to the side of the bed and dropped a blue card onto the pink duvet.

"That is the key to the vault," Silviana said, her eyes chilling as she looked down. "I know you, sister. You don’t want to die. You cherish your life more than anything."

She tilted her head, watching Kiara’s hand twitch toward the plastic.

"But I still don’t understand why you won’t use the method I used to save myself. Whatever it is you want to do, you have to do it before that day comes."

Silviana’s jaw set hard, her voice turning razor-sharp.

"Otherwise, I will force my method on you before the council summons you."

Kiara reached out, her fingers closing around the cold edge of the card. She picked it up, raising it to eye level to stare at the glossy surface.

"All of you are cruel to him," Kiara said, her voice dropping into a harsh, steady rhythm. "He just wants a normal life. The life that was taken from him."

The second those words cleared Kiara’s lips, Silviana moved like a striking shadow.

Before Kiara could brace herself, Silviana grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her backward, pinning her sister’s upper body flat against the mattress. She leaned down until her face was inches away, her grip digging ruthlessly into Kiara’s collarbones.

"Never listen to what he says," Silviana hissed, her eyes dark with a sudden, violent warning. "You better not try to keep him. He is a demon who wouldn’t think twice about destroying everyone his eyes fall upon."

She leaned closer, her breath hot against Kiara’s cheek.

"Do not try to merge with him."

Silviana shoved off, releasing her hold so fast that Kiara bounced slightly against the bedding. Without waiting for a response, Silviana turned her back, crossed the length of the room with long strides, and swept out the door, slamming it shut behind her.

Kiara lay there for a long moment, listening to the heavy footsteps fade down the hallway.

She simply snorted.

Slowly sitting back up, she brought the blue card up to her face, staring directly into her own reflection in the plastic.

Her lips twitched upward, twisting into a deep, cunning smile.

"I am going to use what you all fear as my greatest strength."

Her smile widened, stretching across her face until her teeth showed in the morning light.

"I am going to be the one you all fear."