OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: OF INTRUDERS, MARIONETTES, AND THE ICE PRESIDENT'S BLISSFUL

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: OF INTRUDERS, MARIONETTES, AND THE ICE PRESIDENT'S BLISSFUL IGNORANCE

RIYEE'S POV

Supreme Allievo Academy is back to its usual chaos, like nothing ever happened. And of course, the school's already drowning in Christmas decorations. September's barely over. Halloween hasn't even had a chance to show up, and we're already living in a glitter-and-lights fever dream.

Half the student body is pretending last Monday's hostage situation never happened. The other half? Don't care—they're too busy burying themselves in academic hell. Meanwhile, the High Chamber Council is buried under a mountain of work—KD, naturally, at the very center of it all. I haven't seen him since Tuesday. Tuesday! Ugh. I actually miss him. His annoyingly perfect face, his smug little "I've got this" attitude... Why does he have to be so frustratingly untouchable?

Today was Friday, which meant PE merged class. Only PE was on the schedule; the rest of the day was "free period"—free for me, anyway. Jodie, Xylia, and the others were still lining up for therapy sessions, but mine—and the rest of the Ardent Court's—wasn't until next week. Lucky me. Lucky us.

KD's already done with his; he texted me about it yesterday. Apparently, it "doesn't make sense" because it doesn't help him cope. Which part? I still don't know—was it the hostage-taking, or his precious council betraying him? Honestly, with KD, it could be both.

Of course, he didn't bother telling Dr. Elara; she'd probably schedule him for another therapy session anyway. And like he has the time—being President doesn't exactly leave room for extra therapy when you're busy running a school, managing chaos, and somehow still looking annoyingly perfect while doing it. If perfection were a crime, KD would be serving life without parole. And of course, he'd file the appeal himself—with perfect handwriting.

"Why do I have a feeling you're plotting a kidnapping mission?"

Thres suddenly appeared in front of me, his brow furrowed just slightly, that calm, watchful expression plastered across his face.

"How can you say it's a kidnapping? Can't it be arson?" I asked, arching an eyebrow, trying to sound innocent while knowing full well Thres was already judging me with that calm, unreadable stare.

"You've been glaring at the Imperial Wing. I assume you want to kidnap the Ice President." He chuckled softly and slid down to sit beside me, the air around him steady and unshakable, like chaos just didn't exist in his world.

"If I'm planning on kidnapping him, will you help me?" I asked, letting the teasing linger in my voice.

He let out a small, amused laugh. "I will. Do you wanna start moving now?"

I didn't answer right away. I let the silence stretch, just long enough to make him wonder what was going on in my head—because for once, I wanted him to wonder.

We were in Solencia Courtyard—two buildings from the Imperial Wing, aka the High Chamber Office. I was here because, surprise, I still had no idea what to do with my free period. So I sat, thinking.

The other chaos ch weren't here. Saichel was off having his "babe time" with Alexie. Xythe? Probably bored, wandering the school hunting for puzzles—or trouble.

"They are going to your mom right now," he said, voice low, deliberate—like every word was carefully weighed before it left his lips.

"What do you mean?" I asked, brow furrowing. "Who's 'they'?"

"Lyle, Keryn, and Seb," he said, calm and measured as always.

I froze for a moment, my mind racing. Why would they be going to my mom? My stomach twisted in that familiar mix of worry and suspicion.