We thought it was over.
That the worst was behind us.
But in stories like ours, peace is a fragile thing.
And someone always wants to break it.
It started with a call.
Kyler answered it in the other room, his voice low and cold.
I couldn't hear the words.
But I felt the shift.
When he came back, his expression was carved from stone.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
He sat down, running a hand through his hair.
"Someone new is moving in on my territory. Fast. Ruthless. He's taking everything. People who used to answer to me… they're disappearing."
"Who?"
He hesitated.
Then said a name that made the air turn to ice.
"Dimitri Solanov."
I didn't know him.
But from the way Kyler said it…
This man was worse than anything I'd faced.
Kyler looked at me then.
"If he finds out about you…"
I nodded, already knowing.
"I need to leave," I whispered.
But Kyler's hand shot out, grabbing mine.
"No. Never again. I'm not letting you run because of my enemies. If he wants a war, I'll give him one."
That night, Kyler made calls.
Spoke in a voice I hadn't heard in weeks—the voice of a king.
But beneath the power, I saw the worry.
And I hated it.
So I asked him one thing.
"Teach me."
He looked at me, confused. "Teach you what?"
"To protect myself. If this world is mine now too… I want to survive it."
He stared at me for a long time.
Then nodded.
And I saw something flicker in his eyes.
Pride.
Over the next few days, Kyler taught me everything he could.
How to shoot.
How to fight.
How to read danger before it speaks.
It wasn't easy.
But every time I fell, he picked me up.
And every time I wanted to quit…
He looked at me like I was already stronger than anything trying to break me.
And slowly…
I was.
But just as I started to find my strength—
A package arrived at our doorstep.
No return address.
Inside was a single black rose.
And a photograph.
Me and Kyler.
Taken from a distance.
On the back, written in red ink:
"I see you, little queen. And I'm coming for your king."