OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FORTY: OF LATTES, LOVE TRIANGLES, AND THE PRESIDENT

CHAPTER FORTY: OF LATTES, LOVE TRIANGLES, AND THE PRESIDENT WHO CAN'T SIP IN PEACE

RIYEE'S POV

When the general assembly ended, I lingered outside Arista Dome. The rest of the Ardent Court had already dispersed—though Xythe and Saichel were probably somewhere nearby, lurking like shadows. Not close enough to interfere, but close enough to make sure KD and I stayed... safe.

"You waited," KD said the moment he saw me.

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you... prefer that I didn't?"

He chuckled—low, easy, the kind of sound that shrinks the space between us without touching it. "No. Just surprised. Figured you'd have bolted to the Allievo Commons for caffeine by now."

"I was about to," I admitted, shrugging, "but my mood says... 'I need my boyfriend with me to do that.'"

He let that sink in for a beat, his eyes locking with mine—calm, sharp, unreadable. Then a small, approving smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good. I like that mood."

I clung to his arm. "And since you're already here, let's go," I said, tugging him along.

He didn't protest. Of course not. He should've. I might strangle him if he didn't.

As we walked through the hallways, KD stayed silent. But I knew better. His pulse wasn't calm or steady like usual—I felt it through my necklace, a subtle thrum against my chest. This wasn't just about Lucem slipping past us. No. This was personal. Probably the weight of yesterday... and the echoes of the general assembly lingering in his mind.

When we reached the Allievo Commons, he went to grab our lunch while I headed straight to Café Callisto for our caffeine fix—Iced Americano for him, Iced Spanish Latte for me.

Sitting down, I took a slow sip, letting the heat and sweetness settle in. My latte always calmed me—but not KD's gaze. He didn't speak. He just... watched. Light hazel eyes locked onto mine, unreadable as ever, but layered with something I couldn't quite name. Concern? Possessiveness? Something else entirely.

I tried to ignore it, focusing on my latte, but let's be honest—I wasn't fooled. KD's silence was never casual.

I sipped my latte slowly, eyebrow raised, letting him stew. "You're staring. Makes me wonder... are you admiring me? Or regretting falling in love with me?"

He laughed. "The former." Then his expression shifted, a shadow passing over his features. "He held your hand."

I didn't need to ask who he was talking about. My comm earrings transmitted two reactions almost instantly—Xythe's sharp hiss and Saichel's low, amused chuckle.

I also didn't need to glance at the other Ardent Court members. I know them too well. They're probably staring our way, watching like we're trapped in some triangle-love-story novel, complete with dramatic tension and conveniently bad timing.

"What about it?" I asked KD, pretending this was just a normal conversation.

He took a slow sip of his Iced Americano, eyes never leaving mine. "Nothing," he said, calm as ever—but the faint lift of his eyebrow betrayed him.

I leaned back slightly, letting the silence stretch. "Hmm... sure about that? Because it looks a lot like jealousy to me."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips. "Jealous? Hardly." But the way he held my gaze dared me to push further.

I grinned, heart beating just a little faster. "Right. Sure."

He just looked at me, one eyebrow raised—silent, unyielding, and challenging. But I knew he was. He's just not admitting it right now.