OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: OF BLEEDING THREADS, STOLEN NAMES,

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: OF BLEEDING THREADS, STOLEN NAMES, AND THE ECHO THAT REMEMBERED WITHOUT ASKING

Riyee's POV

KD and I arrived at school—not too early, just early enough to get changed into our P.E. uniforms before the merged class started.

Of course, fate had other plans. Before we even reached Aureum Gymnasium, Headmaster Antonio flagged KD to his office. Something "important" to discuss, he said. And just like that, I was left alone. Fabulous.

As soon as I reached Aureum Gymnasium, Alexie suddenly threw herself at me, hugging tightly. Saichel trailed behind her.

I blinked. Stunned. Honestly, who sees that coming at this hour?

"What happened?" I asked, frowning. Alexie like this—quiet, trembling—it was rare. She was usually all volume and fire, like Saichel.

Her shoulders shook. "It's my fault. If only I could reach Mommy and Daddy... we could hide Khaizer from them." Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with guilt.

I stepped closer, keeping my tone firm but soft enough to steady her. "It's not your fault. And neither is theirs. No one wanted this to happen." I paused, forcing a small edge of reassurance into my voice. "Besides... Mom said she's re-establishing a link to them. You don't need to carry this alone."

I saw her exhale, a fraction lighter, though the weight hadn't fully lifted.

She didn't answer, but I felt her body tense against me. That guilt... it was like a weight I could almost touch. She'd grown up thinking her parents had retired somewhere safe, far away. The truth—that they were trapped in something darker—had hit her like a punch straight to the chest.

When she finally pulled back, I barely had a moment to breathe before Saichel slid in, looping his arm around my waist and tugging me close.

"Saichel," I said sharply, giving him the warning tone.

But it was Saichel. He never listened.

Instantly, the entire gym went still. Eyes widened. Phones discreetly lifted. Whispers stirred like static in the air.

And of course, Bianchi appeared—perfectly timed with her council shadows trailing behind her.

"Cheating with the Pres, Del Rio?"

"Assuming that I am, Madriaga?" I shot back smoothly, letting the calm edge in my voice do the work.

I lifted a brow.

"You and your council seem to enjoy hurting KD," I said, letting each word land like a hit. "Not tired of that yet?"

Gasps rippled through the gym. Good. She wasn't expecting me to be this blunt.

"What?!" Bianchi snapped, her voice sharp and angry, her composure cracking just enough to be satisfying.

"Didn't three council members get tied to illegal ops recently?" I said, smirking, letting the words drip with just enough challenge. "Are you one of them?"

Her eyes widened. Perfect. Not because I believed she was guilty—she wasn't—but because Lyle had asked me to push her buttons. To see how far her bitterness ran after the recent Disciplinary Hearing. He wanted to know how far Bianchi could go.

And I was happy to oblige.

"How dare you accuse me of something like that? I'm the Vice President," Bianchi snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

"So you're just mad at Ari because Khaizer Dylan chose her instead of you," Alexie chimed in, stepping forward, all bright and unbothered like she owned the spotlight.