OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: OF HANDS THAT HELD, CHILDREN WHO KNEW, AND A LOVE

And the rest of the student body? Laughing over lunch. Preparing for the upcoming holiday fair. Whispering about who KD yelled at last. Trying to guess which school will join the School Academic Fest

They didn't know.

They didn't see.

That the boy they called Ice President wasn't just angry today. He was bleeding in silence. Fighting memories that didn't yet belong to him. Fighting ghosts coded into his veins. Fighting a war only we could see.

Up here, though—the wind brushing my hair, the sun warming the concrete beneath us, KD's steady presence at my side—we could feel it all without words. The rooftop didn't demand anything, didn't judge. It let us exist in the quiet between storms.

And we would fight it with him.
Every second. Every shadow. Every breath.

Because we were the Ardent Court.
And we would not let him lose.

When it was almost sunset, I pulled him off the rooftop. He did not resist. He did not complain. He just let me drag him.

I brought him to the parking lot.

"You got your keys with you?"

He raised his eyebrow. "Why?"

I grinned. "Let's visit the kids."

His eyes widened—but he didn't argue. He just pulled out the keys and started driving.

I don't really understand why Supreme Allievo Academy got a huge parking lot wherein the students can't really use it that much because hello it's a dorm school. Always in lockdown too.

The drive to the Home for Angels is quiet. Not awkward quiet. Safe quiet.

When we arrived there, mom was surprised to see us. She didn't ask first but when KD was surrounded already with the little monsters—kids—who missed him. Laughing. Getting pulled into games. Smiling like he belonged here.

Then she pulled me aside.

"Why are you two here?" she asked, her concern sharp in her voice. "You're not supposed to be here. You have school and curfew."

"Curfew doesn't apply to me," I said evenly, letting my gaze settle on her. "And there was a breach in SAA. They targeted him."

Her eyes widened, worry twisting her features, but I didn't flinch. Not now. Not ever when it came to him.

"Does he know?"

I shook my head. "No. I disabled them before they could reach him."

And then I told her about KD's dream—what I thought was his Echo-9 slip.

She didn't look surprised.
Didn't even flinch.

She already knew. Like she had anticipated this all along.

I also told Mom about the Veilfall system that Alexie's parents set, now fracturing. She nodded, precise and unshaken. "I know. The same instability is affecting the orphanage's cloaking. Predictable."

"I've re-established a link to Cassiel and Celia. Let's hope they'll come in no time," she added, her voice measured, deliberate—every word calculated, leaving no room for panic.

My jaw dropped. "How the hell can you contact them, Mom? Tofer and Keryn are having a hard time. Alexie's freaking out about it too."

"Perks of being an original Court member, sweetheart," Mom grinned, precise and confident even in her teasing.

Before I could react, KD appeared—surrounded by kids, their laughter and energy spilling around him like sunlight.

"I need help, love," he said helplessly, shifting slightly as kids clambered over his legs, tugging at his sleeves.

The kids giggled, bouncing with excitement.

"Kuya Khai called you love, Ate Ree-Ree," Brixter teased, poking my arm.

I smirked, leaning closer to KD. "Because your Kuya Khai loves me very much."

KD's shoulders relaxed, a faint, almost shy smile tugging at his lips, as if he couldn't quite hide how much he enjoyed it.

"Thought you said he's annoying," Angela asked, tilting her head in genuine confusion.

I leaned back, crossing my arms, grinning. "He is still annoying. But that doesn't mean I don't love him."

KD let out a low, quiet chuckle, the kind that only ever reached me, and the kids erupted into another round of laughter.

The teasing spread. Brixter wiggled his fingers in front of KD's face. "Ate Ree-Ree loves you!"

Angela chimed in, poking KD's side. "See? He's blushing!"

Other staff and volunteers—and even Mom—joined, their laughter bubbling up, filling the room with warmth.

And KD—the boy who wore frost like armor—was laughing. Truly laughing. Blushing. Alive. His usual calm, unreadable aura replaced with light and softness.

He had never been warmer than he was here.

And maybe... this was the real him.

Later that night, I found him in the guest room. Lights dim. Sheets rumpled. His breathing steady, slow, grounding.

I climbed onto the bed, feeling the soft mattress dip beneath us. Crawled beside him. Hugged him close, letting his warmth seep into me, steady and reassuring.

"Feel better?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, nuzzling slightly against me. "Yeah. Especially with you here. You make it feel better."

He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "Thank you, love."

I held him tighter, letting the quiet of the room, the softness of the sheets, and the steady rise and fall of his chest anchor us.

"You don't need to thank me. I'll always do everything to make you feel okay again."

His hand found mine, fingers curling around mine with a gentle, grounding pressure.

"I'm sleeping here tonight."

"I like the idea," he whispered, then blinked, hesitation flickering across his face. "Wait. Does Tita Dana—?"

"She won't mind. She knows her daughter's obsessed with a walking blizzard from Supreme Allievo."

His eyes widened. "Wha—?"

I kissed him. Quick. Certain. Soft. My lips lingered for just a heartbeat longer than necessary, letting him feel the steadiness behind the words I couldn't quite say aloud.

"You're not alone, KD," I whispered. "I love you. Khaizer Dylan Dela Vega."

He exhaled slowly, a tremor of relief passing through him. His grip on my hand tightened, as if anchoring himself to me. For the first time in a long while, the weight in his chest seemed to lift, replaced by something warmer, steadier... by us.