STRINGS BETWEEN US

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE OF MARRIAGE POLLS, SUSPICIOUS SMILES, AND THE KISS THAT SET

He knew.

He knew this would happen. That the vote wasn't just a joke. That this would be ammunition.

He's going to report this to the Court.

And the fact that I knew that—and still didn't run—terrified me more than anything else. I didn't even get a chance to process it before I was dragged to the altar beside KD.

"Bride and groom, please step forward!" Errol bellowed, shaking a plastic wand like it was a scepter.

KD's hand brushed mine.

Warm. Steady. Smug.

"Do you, Arielle Rylancen Del Rio," Errol recited grandly, "take this emotionally unavailable dictator to be your festival husband?"

"I do," I muttered under my breath, cheeks burning.

"And do you, Khaizer Dylan Dela Vega, take this clipboard-wielding menace to be your lawfully chaotic wife?"

"I do."

No hesitation.

No teasing.

Just... him.

And when Errol screamed—

"YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE!"

—I barely had time to scream "Don't you dare—" before it happened.

He kissed me.

Soft. Barely there. Infuriating.

"You stole a kiss," I hissed, eyes blazing.

"Fine," he smirked. "I'll return it."

And he did.

Longer this time.

And the crowd lost its mind.

Phones flashed. Jodie fainted dramatically into Mico's arms. Someone yelled "THIS IS BETTER THAN THE SERIES FINALE!"

And for just a second—while his lips were on mine, while the crowd was a hurricane—I felt it.
The cost.
The Court was watching. And this kiss wasn't just a kiss.
It was a declaration.

—The Ardent Court POV—

Sovereign Suites, Second Floor — Private Line 0413

The dorm room was silent—except for the looping footage of KD's lips on Riyee's.

"There it is," Xythe said flatly, clicking pause. "Told you he'd do it."

"You called it to the second," Seb muttered, arms crossed. "Should we be scared or impressed?"

"Impressed," Tofer replied quietly from the corner, typing into his monitor. "I already tracked the social media reaction. Three new fan threads opened in the last seven minutes."

"Let me say it again," Saichel said dramatically, flopping across Lyle's couch. "Option C should have won. The people were robbed."

Alexie rolled her eyes. "You submitted that vote, you narcissist."

"And I stand by it."

"Focus," Lyle said firmly. He was seated by the window, arms folded, a line between his brows. "What does this move mean?"

"It means Bianchi's going to light a match," Thres said. He was still watching the video loop, voice low. "And this time, she'll aim it at both of them."

"Do we intercept?" Keryn asked, leaning against the desk. "If she's planning something, we don't wait, right?"

"We wait," Xythe said calmly. "We need to know what she's willing to do. The Ice President has his own game. Let him play it. We watch the pieces move."

"Agree," Lyle nodded. "But she makes one step toward Ari, we move."

"Can I just say," Alexie interrupted, flicking her lollipop, "this is still an open festival, right?"

Xythe raised a brow. "Yeah. Why?"

"Then the Ardent Court shall visit." Her grin was wicked.

"No," Lyle replied sharply. "Not yet. Not all of us. That makes us a target. Let her move first."

"We'll be ready," Thres said.

"Always," Seb and Tofer echoed at once.

Saichel leaned back, eyes on the footage.

"Still. That kiss?" He gave a mock sigh. "Canon confirmed."

Xythe said nothing. He just pressed play again.

And watched Bianchi's glare freeze on the screen.

The Court moved slowly.

But when it did?

It never missed.