OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FIVE: OF BALCONY INVASIONS, HEARTBEAT SPIKES, AND A STOLEN BED

"But I didn't."

And that was the problem. He said it so casually, like gravity didn't apply to him. Like my heart hadn't just ricocheted against my ribs at the thought of him slipping. He made it sound simple—safe—even when nothing about him ever was.

Then he stepped inside like he owned the place.

I forced a breath, just enough to steady my pulse—enough to calm the other two eavesdropping through the link. The last thing I needed was a Saichel-shaped missile crashing through my door, dragging Xythe along for backup.

"Your room's just like you," KD said, scanning the walls, the shadows, the balcony.

"Rebellious?" I asked dryly.

"No." He turned then, his voice losing the teasing edge. "Power disguised in calm."

The words sank heavier than I expected, leaving no space for my sarcasm to breathe.

Then his eyes dropped to my hand. A beat.
"So... he gave you a ring."

I knew it. Back in the Commons, I could already feel him choking on that question, holding it back while pretending not to. He'd been staring—calculated, waiting.

"Keryn did," I said, crossing my arms like armor. "Not him."

"But... can you really hear his heartbeat?" He dragged out the word like it was a blade.

I rolled my eyes. "Didn't you hear what Lyle said? It was a Court joke—Saichel made it up. We just play along."

Lyle cleared the Pulse Link fast after Saichel blurted it out. Said it wasn't the right time to reveal it—and he's right. We don't even reveal who we really are.

Good thing it was Saichel. Everyone just assumed he was narrating another Netflix-tier sci-fi drama we accidentally starred in.

He didn't laugh this time. Just stepped closer, the air tightening with him.

"I was jealous," he said, voice low.

For a second, my brain stalled. KD—jealous. The Ice President actually admitting it out loud.

I blinked at him. "So the Khaizer freaking Dylan actually knows how to get jealous?"

"I'm human, Riyee."

I tilted my head, letting the corner of my mouth curl. "Supreme Allievo would disagree. You were their emotionally-detached crown jewel. Their Ice Prince—slash Ice President."

"Well," he said, calm as ever, "looks like you ruined their branding."

I glanced down at the ring on my finger and held it up between us. "This is it. Nothing dramatic. Just an obsidian band. Not a diamond, in case you were worried."

He chuckled. "I was worried. Honestly, I thought it was a proposal ring."

My eyes flew wide. "Why would Xythe give me a diamond ring? What are we—thirty and divorced already?"

He smirked. "Because you two were together before." Were. He really pressed on that word.

"We were too young for a diamond ring," I said flatly. "Still are. Even now."

I let out a sigh. "Are you mad?"

"No." His gaze met mine, steady. "Just a jealous boyfriend."

And before I could fire back, he kissed me.

Quick. Soft. Real.

It caught me off guard—not because he kissed me, but because of how he did. No dare in it, no teasing edge, no fight for the last word. Just a kiss. Like he needed to, like breathing.