OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: OF ICE, BLOOD, AND THE TACTICIAN WHO MOVED FIRST

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: OF ICE, BLOOD, AND THE TACTICIAN WHO MOVED FIRST

RIYEE's POV

KD was gone.

I blinked into the morning light, half-expecting to feel his arm still draped over me. But the space beside me was cold, empty — and instead, there was a small folded note resting on the pillow.

I'll see you in The Commons, love.

– KD

I stared at the last word for a second longer than I meant to.

Love.

And now he's calling me love.

I smiled to myself, just for a heartbeat. And then I looked at the clock.

10:03 AM.

Damn it.

I overslept — probably because of the revelations last night from Mom and Dad. The kind of truths that don't just change what you know, but shift the ground beneath your feet.

I dragged myself out of bed, took a long, scalding shower, and got dressed. Uniform. Again. Black and crimson — Ardent Court colors. Xythe has returned my bracelet so I'm wearing it today.

I rolled my eyes at my reflection. This was supposed to be our break. But no — we're playing Academy Theater, parading around in uniforms just to sit inside The Commons full of Christmas decorations. It doesn't feel like Christmas season though.

By the time I got there, the place was buzzing. Students chatting, teasing, laughing. Some were buried in datapads. Others were sharing pastries. To a stranger, it looked like peace.

But I knew better.

I scanned the upper floor. The High Chamber sat in their usual seats.

Except this time, Bianchi Madriaga was with them again.

The Council hadn't removed her. KD chose to honor the Court's verdict — keep her in place. But he didn't trust her anymore. In fact, he barely trusted his council at all — not since the betrayal. He really shouldn't because we know better. Our investigation about them is leading to possible Halcyon Pact infiltration.

Three names.

Bianchi Madriaga. Rowan Lopez. Lucian Ortega.

And now, everything was different.

My Ardent Court was here too. Loud, alive, laughing at something chaotic, as usual. But beneath the noise... I could see it. I could feel it through our network.

They were still haunted.

Same as me.

I had received a secure message earlier that morning — encrypted through the Court's private line:

The Tri-Havoc shall keep their eyes on the Frost Monarch.

Translation? Xythe, Saichel and I are on KD duty.

But I couldn't feel his icy aura anywhere.

Where the hell is he?

"ARIII!" There it is. Drama alert.

"You look like a storm in slow motion. Join us! Your loyal chaos court awaits!" Saichel's voice cut through the Commons like a spotlight.

"We saved you a seat. Between drama and dysfunction," Alexie grinned, clearly mid-PDA.

"Nope. I'm staying with the peace table today."

"You think we're not peace?" Saichel called, acting offended. But his pulse pattern says otherwise.