OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

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

I groaned. Loudly. But I didn't move.

"What?" I shot back, chin still on KD's shoulder. "Hugging not allowed now?"

"Depends." Lyle tilted his head. "Is it part of your warm-up routine? Because if so, we should schedule those hugs more systematically. Stretch. Hug. Shoot."

"Careful, Pres," Xythe added with a grin. "She hugs like she stabs. Deep. Sudden. Fatal."

"Take one to know one," I muttered, finally pulling away just enough to glance at them.

KD didn't say a word. He just adjusted the fold of my jacket at the shoulder like nothing happened.

Lyle gave a short nod. Almost imperceptible. Then turned to Xythe. "Prep starts in one hour. You and Alexie are on gear check. Riyee, you're with me for final strategy."

"Copy that." Xythe gave me a wink. "Try not to kill any targets before the actual countdown."

I saluted mockingly. "No promises."

As they walked off toward the west wing, Lyle glanced back only once. Just enough for KD to catch it. Just enough for me to know:

They weren't just watching over me anymore. They were watching over him, too. And for the first time since the sports week began, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Because now? It wasn't just me and him against the chaos. It was all of us.

And someone was about to find out what that really meant.

KD's POV

2:00 PM - Solstice Range | Eastern Field Sector

If Phantom Cross was a shadow game—this was war under full sun. No shadows. No cover. Just raw skill under pressure and nowhere to hide.

The Hunter's Line Archery Showdown had always been my least favorite event to watch. It wasn't clean. It wasn't organized. It was moving chaos. Wind tunnels twisting trajectory. Floating platforms shifting with every step. Unstable terrain, active drones, sensor-triggered light fields. Every part of it was designed to break focus.

Targets didn't stay still. Neither did the shooters.

And yet...

They looked like they belonged there.

The second the buzzer sounded, I heard it—Lyle's voice over the speakers, sharp and surgical as always.

"Team Ardent. Wind tunnels active. Formation Delta. Don't blink."

The words echoed into the Aureum Gymnasium, where the entire school sat watching, live-feed synced.

🎙️ "And we're off! Ardent Court's command has dropped and we are instantly in motion-three arrows up, three shots fired—WAIT—THREE DIRECT HITS RIGHT OFF THE BAT!"

I froze.

Riyee. Xythe. Alexie.

Their arrows had flown before the platforms even locked into position. They didn't hesitate. Not once.

"Two degrees left. Alexie, you're high. Adjust."

"Copy. Wind split detected. Compensating."

"Riyee, storm drift incoming. Hold. Wait. FIRE-"

Thwip.

I didn't need the monitors to tell me it landed. I felt it.

🎙️ "Another clean bullseye from Del Rio! That's four confirmed hits from her in under ninety seconds-are they wired into the map?!"