OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FIFTY: OF LAUGHTER, LIGHTS, AND LINGERING SHADOWS

CHAPTER FIFTY: OF LAUGHTER, LIGHTS, AND LINGERING SHADOWS

RIYEE'S POV

Dating at an amusement park is the most mundane thing we could ever do. At least, that's what KD said as he decided—without warning, permission, or any semblance of subtlety—to drag me on a "date."

Yes, drag. He didn't exactly ask first. Well... technically, he asked me to dress comfortably, then whisked me out of Eclipsa Sanctum like some overdramatic action hero and dumped me at Eterna Park—Forever City's premier amusement park.

It wasn't just any park. Eterna Park was a spectacle: a seamless fusion of holographic tech, dazzling light shows, and fantasy realms that hovered somewhere between dreams and reality. Floating castles shimmered above, dragons curled through neon clouds, and rides whirred with whispers of artificial wind that somehow felt real.

I blinked, taking it all in. KD's usual Ice President composure was softened today; a spark danced in his eyes, his lips lifted in a rare, easy grin, and he moved with a relaxed ease almost foreign to him. Every subtle glance, every tilt of his head, every smirk lingering just a second too long said it clearly: this was about us. Or at least... about him, enjoying the rare thrill of being with me—free from council duties, free from the weight of the world. Just KD, summer KD, in full effect.

I crossed my arms, pretending annoyance. "You could've asked first, you know. I don't think 'dragged unwillingly' counts as a date plan."

KD smirked, that infuriating half-grin he always wore when he knew he was right. "And ruin the surprise? Not a chance. Besides, I knew you'd follow anyway."

His gaze flicked to the other Ardent Court members trailing behind us, a faint crease forming between his brows. "But do they really have to follow, too?"

It wasn't loud or dramatic—just that quiet edge of irritation he tried so hard to hide, the kind that made me want to smirk even as I understood exactly how he felt.

I shrugged. "Well... you do know what just happened. Kidnapping. You really expect them to sit back in the dorms like it's a normal Saturday? And let me go on a date completely unsupervised?"

KD's frown deepened, the quiet crease between his brows giving away more than he'd ever admit. "But this is supposed to be our date. Not a field trip with security detail."

Then Saichel and Alexie chimed in.

"Don't worry, Pres. Pretend we're not here—the park's huge. We won't run into each other much," Saichel said, all smiles.

"Yeah, and if anyone tries to ruin your 'date,' just scream really loud—we'll swoop in," Alexie added, smirking, her voice light and teasing, full of mischief that matched Saichel's chaos.

With that, the Ardent Court members scattered. Alexie and Saichel headed toward Whimsy Woods—the enchanted fairy-tale forest. Keryn and Lyle walked toward Legacy Isle, the park's cultural zone. Seb, Tofer, and Thres went to the Celestia Dome, the Space & Sci-Fi zone. Only Xythe remained in the Dreamscape Plaza at the entrance.

I caught him staring. His eyes met mine for a fraction of a second before sliding away, and without a word, he drifted off, deliberate and distant.

It wasn't just his stare that I caught—his pulse pattern too: still steady, but muted, as if someone had turned down the volume. The ring pressed heavier, almost anchoring something slipping away. A faint static hum throbbed against my skin—restless silence stretching between beats.

He accidentally leaked it... or maybe on purpose.

I could feel Saichel catching it too. The pulse pattern—sudden, jagged spikes followed by long, irregular silences—like a drum kit dropped mid-beat. Unpredictable. Chaotic.