OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FOUR: OF DAGGERS, HEARTBEATS, AND THE DEATH OF MY FRIES

CHAPTER FOUR: OF DAGGERS, HEARTBEATS, AND THE DEATH OF MY FRIES

RIYEE'S POV

The Allievo Commons was still in full-blown panic mode.

Written exams. Legendary puzzle doors. Heartbeat rings.

My third iced coffee was already half-dead in my hand and my fries were turning cold.
And Saichel? Still alive. Unfortunately.

Jodie, ever the curious one, tilted her head and said—too loudly, I might add, "Wait... did Xythe give you that ring?"

Oh no. There it was. The question.

The one that summoned the attention of every nosy, gossipy, tea-deprived student in the Commons. I could feel the collective breath— hold.

Season Ten of "Rielle Del Rio's School Life Saga" was officially airing. Unscripted. Unwanted. Unfiltered.

Before I could even open my mouth, Keryn—fashion terrorist and chaos co-founder—chirped from across the table. "Technically, I made the ring."

Her tone was so cheerful it gave me cavities. She was still lounging beside Lyle, who hadn't said a word. He just sipped his drink like he was watching a fire that didn't involve him. Which, in a way, he was.

The entire Commons rotated toward Keryn like sunflowers toward trouble. Half the room looked convinced. The other half looked like they were calculating conspiracy theories.

Keryn just shrugged, brushing a loose strand of hair off her shoulder. "I really did give it to Ari. Believe it or not."

She sipped her drink. Pinky raised. Elegant menace.

And then I felt it. One sharp pulse. Pause. Another. Like heartbeat-triggered spring traps clicking into place.

I didn't even look up.

"Saichel. Run. He's coming." I said flatly, picking up a fry and dipping it in ketchup like my patience wasn't on life support.

"Who?" Xylia blinked, wide-eyed and oblivious.

Thunk.

A silver dagger buried itself in the middle of our mahogany table—precise, vertical, and very personal. Right in front of Saichel.

I sighed.

"Told you," I said again, chewing slowly. "Run."

Saichel just blinked at the blade, then glanced at me. He didn't move. Because of course he didn't. He felt it, same as I did. Xythe wanted him to.

The thing about the Pulse Link? It's not just about syncing heartbeats. It's knowing what emotion hides behind a pulse. Combat readiness. Tactical alert. Rage, sharpened like a scalpel. It doesn't tell me if you're hungry. But it tells me if you're about to kill someone with a smile.

The moment the dagger landed, the Commons imploded.

Screams. Students scrambling to the exits. The High Chamber jumping to their feet upstairs like this was a terrorist threat instead of just a Thursday.

Even Bianchi froze. And then she started barking orders that didn't apply to any of us. Cute. Like her words held weight here.

Jodie, Xylia, Mico, and Errol? All pale. All stunned. Probably reconsidering every friendship decision that led them to this table.

"Can you two not fight at the table?" Alexie complained, twirling her fork through her pasta like this was just a regular lunch break. "I'm eating."