OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER TEN : OF SUMMER BOYS, SHARP SHOOTERS, AND THE HUG

CHAPTER TEN : OF SUMMER BOYS, SHARP SHOOTERS, AND THE HUG THEY DIDN'T LET GO

RIYEE'S POV

11:18 AM - Solencia Courtyard | Day 3 of Sports Week

All I can say is... that was chaos. Like, certified, tournament-approved, sensor-triggering, emotionally-compromising chaos.

Yesterday's Phantom Cross Relay might've been a stealth game on paper, but it felt more like psychological warfare-with me as the blindfolded grenade. And sure, I cleared the run. Survived. Got a new nickname that sounds like a rejected fantasy novel title. (Thanks, Keryn.)

But today? Today was supposed to be normal. Relaxing. A chill before the next storm.

Hunter's Line: Archery Showdown wouldn't start until 2 PM. That gave me hours. I could've gone back to my dorm. Maybe stole Tofer's gummy stash. Climbed onto the west balcony and watched clouds. Or I don't know–-taken a nap like a human.

But no.

Because the universe hates peace. And apparently, so does my boyfriend.

I had barely stepped into Solencia Courtyard—the one spot not swarmed by student—-when I spotted it:

That summer look.

KD. In a light button-down. Sleeves rolled up. Hair a little tousled by the wind. Looking like someone fresh off a beach photoshoot.

Except...

The air around him felt like ice.

His back was to me, posture sharp, jaw tight, arms folded like he was seconds away from freezing the entire campus solid. It was the kind of presence that made students walking by drop their volume and look the other way.

Summer wardrobe. Ice President aura.

Deadly combo.

And not the usual version of him I get when he's near me. No teasing smile. No warmth in his gaze. Just silence-and tension like a tripwire. I approached anyway.

Of course I did.

"Why do you look like you're about to freeze an entire school... dressed in summer?"

He didn't flinch. His eyes flicked toward me. Controlled. Polished. Dead calm.

But I knew better.

"Just some High Chamber stuff," he said, voice even.

I didn't say anything. Instead, I walked straight up to him. And without warning-

I hugged him. Arms wrapped around his torso. Tight. Steady. Certain.

Then, softly—"I'm just here."

He froze. Didn't speak. Didn't move.

For a full second, he just stood there like he hadn't processed it. Like someone had pulled the power from his core processor and rebooted him.

Then–-slowly—he hugged me back. His arms came around me with a force that made my chest ache. Not desperate. Not fragile.

Just... real.

Solid.

Like someone who hadn't realized how much weight he'd been holding until I picked some of it up.

I didn't let go. And apparently, I should've timed that better.

"Hugging," a voice called out from behind us, dry as ever, "in front of the Courtyard? Bold move."

Xythe.

Right on cue.

Lyle's voice followed, deadpan and precise: "Must be a strategy. Emotional distraction before the archery match. Risky."