OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: OF LONGINGS, LOYALTIES, AND THE SPACE I KEEP

We were walking into a test.

Rowan slipped into one of the unused lecture rooms. The door whispered shut—too careful, too intentional. Not a student sneaking, but a soldier waiting for pursuit.

Saichel smirked, eyes glinting mischief. "Rabbit hole," he murmured. "Question is—who's the rabbit?"

I exhaled slowly. My fingers twitched for Artemis, aching for its familiar weight. But I couldn't exactly summon a glowing bow-blade in the middle of a school corridor. "We shouldn't follow him blindly."

Xythe's eyes hardened, ocean-blue like frozen steel. "We don't follow," he said, voice flat as cut glass. "We set the trap first."

Because with Rowan Lopez, it wasn't about if he'd slip. It was when.

The air behind us shifted, cold and surgical.

"Mr. Alcantara, Mr. Levesque, and Ms. Del Rio—what exactly are you three doing?".

We froze.
Dr. Elara Fenn's voice slid through the corridor like a scalpel.

"We're... looking for the Princess's hair clip. She lost it," Xythe replied smoothly, not a flicker of hesitation in his tone. The lie slid out so naturally it might have been truth.

Dr. Elara studied us for a moment, her gaze unreadable—too still, too sharp—before giving a small nod. We hadn't realized we'd wandered this close to the Guidance Office while following Rowan. Elara was kind, yes, but there was something in the way she looked at people that felt like she was peeling back thoughts layer by layer.

Her eyes shifted to me. "Ms. Del Rio, I can fit you into my schedule tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Will you be able to excuse yourself from class for your session?"

"Yes, I can," I answered quickly, forcing my voice even.

Another nod. Without another word, she turned and disappeared into her office, the door closing with a hush that felt heavier than it should.

"I swear she just read our minds," Saichel muttered, rubbing his arms theatrically as though shaking off a chill.

"I swear I need a coffee," I countered, already walking toward the Commons.

But even as I said it, I felt the weight of her stare clinging to me—like tomorrow's session had already started, and I was already losing.

When we reached the Commons, it was already packed—students weaving through lines for lunch trays and cups of coffee, the air buzzing with chatter and clattering cutlery.

Saichel immediately drifted toward the table where the rest of the Ardent Court lounged, his dramatics already in full swing. Xythe, on the other hand, peeled off in the opposite direction—straight to our usual corner. The peace table, as he liked to call it, his sanctuary from noise and eyes. But today, even there, he felt farther than the space between us. Like the chair across the table was a mile away.

Before joining either of them, I made a detour to the café counter. Two shots of Iced Spanish Latte for me, and an Iced Caramel Macchiato for Xythe. He'd been acting... off since last week and if anything could stabilize him, it was caffeine.

"We missed you!"

Jodie and Xylia pounced the second they spotted me, both hugging me so tightly I nearly spilled my drinks.

"I missed you guys too. I didn't die in the kidnapping last week, but I might die because of your hugs," I muttered, squeezing for air.

They both let go immediately, hands shooting up in mock surrender.