OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

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

Thres, calm as ever beside me, didn't flinch—not even a hint—but I could feel the weight of his eyes, steady and unblinking, like he was trying to hold me together before the panic could take over.

I swallowed hard. "Did... something happen to her?"

There was a flicker of hesitation—subtle, almost invisible—but I caught it. Still, he gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"Tofer's feed flagged movement near Home for Angels," he said, voice low, unshaken. "Not just any movement—patterns suggesting surveillance. Deliberate. Coordinated."

The words sank into me like ice water, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

"Halcyon Pact," I said through gritted teeth, letting the anger coil tight in my chest.

Thres didn't say anything. He just nodded.

"Lyle didn't say anything to me. He moved without telling me." The words came out sharper than I intended, edged with betrayal.

"Tita Dana will be safe, Ari." Xythe's voice cut through the comm line—calm and clear. "My dad and your dad are making sure they will be safe and...it's the Tri-Sigil who deployed. They knew what they were doing."

"I know," I muttered, biting down on my lower lip until it stung. "I just hate that I got to know it last. She's my mom. And the kids. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to them."

Thres's hand landed on my shoulder, firm, grounding. "Nothing will happen to them. Lyle will not let that happen."

Before I could even breathe, Tofer's voice cut through the comm line—clipped, low, urgent. "Movement at quadrant east-three. Five meters off the wall. Too deliberate."

The words snapped through me like static. Instantly, Thres and I were on full alert—my pulse spiking, his presence tightening beside me, steady as a shield.

"You're sure?" Saichel's voice followed, edged with that restless bite he could never quite hide.

"I don't flag noise," Tofer replied. No hesitation. No wasted syllables. That was him—cutting everything down to signal, no static. The kind of certainty that left no room for doubt, only movement.

"They're here too?"

The silence that followed was worse than any confirmation. Tofer was watching. Calculating. Waiting. Then—

"Yes. Multiple infiltration points. East quadrant—two, maybe three figures. Four near the Imperial Wing. Three inside Crownspine Library. Coordinated. They know the layout."

The words hit like a hammer.

"This isn't probing anymore. It's a staged entry." Thres muttered, tone low, solid. His hand flexed slightly, like he was already gripping an invisible weapon.

"Confirmed," Tofer said, voice steadying, flattening back into that signal-cut precision.

"It's Halcyon Pact and they are after KD." I breathed.

A pause. The Academy seemed to hold its breath. Then Xythe's calm, commanding voice cut through:

"Okay then let's move. Thres and Saichel—east quadrant. Tofer and Alexie—Crownspine Library. Ari and I—Imperial Wing. Nobody lets the Sovereign Court breach."

I squared my shoulders. Whatever came next, we were ready. Thres rose in one fluid motion, already scanning east. He gave me a solid nod before sprinting off.

"Copy," Saichel crackled through the comm, his voice cocky but tense. "Showtime."

I sprinted across the Solencia Courtyard toward the marble tiles of the Imperial Wing.. Artemis humming softly along its twin blades, electricity faintly sparking in the marble-reflected light. Every step reverberated through me, pulse matching the rhythm of danger closing in on KD.