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“This is typically how people ask for hugs.”

I groaned. “Please tell me this isn’t your leeway into becoming a ‘where’s my hug’guy.”

Nick chucked.

Cade looked down at me, amused. “Do I look like someone who asks chicks for hugs?”

“I try not to think about what you ask women for, Cade,” I retorted. I set my book down and then stepped into his waiting arms. He hugged me firmly.

“This is you agreeing to stop ignoring all of us,” he murmured into my hair.

I nodded, letting myself have the moment.

When Cade stepped away, Nick started toward me with a grin. Cloe watched on with thinly veiled amusement.

Cade turned to her. “You want one too?”

“I don’t pass out hugs,” she replied smoothly, reaching for her highlighter. “And I definitely don’t want one from you.”

Cade clutched his chest. “Ouch. Critical hit.”

Nick peeled off with a low laugh. Xander followed with a wink. Then Rook stepped up, wordless as always, with just a touch more pressure.

Dougie shuffled up last, giving me a quick side squeeze. “I would give you a real one, but I don’t want them to beat my ass later,” he whispered, making me laugh.

I watched them go, then settled in to try and get something done.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

SANJANA

I managed to get a decent chunk of work done. Cloe was killing it beside me with perfect posture and unwavering focus. I set Ari’s tablet aside, unable to stare at the screen any longer, and fished my phone from my bag to check what I’d missed, expecting a couple of missed texts.

What I got instead was more chaos.

Dozens of messages were waiting. I wasn’t even sure where to start until I saw the text thread for 1031 had something unread. I hadblocked, reported as junk, and deleted their previous messages three times, and theykeptcoming back. I looked over at Cloe. “1031 text me again.”

She paused mid-keystroke, shut her laptop without a word, and moved to sit beside me. “Let’s see it.”

I opened up the thread.

1031

So many eyes.

So many lies.

Hope you’re faster than the others when it all comes out.

I stared, frowning. Faster than the others? What the hell did that mean? The urge to text back was powerful. I shoved it down. Antagonizing the Huntsmen or feeding into their taunts before the Hunt even started didn’t seem like the strategy that would keep me from losing. The texting dots danced across the screen now that they could see I had read the previous one.

1031

You've been studying so hard.

When you're done, how about you and your friend give me a smile?

A chill slid down my spine. “Are we being watched right now?”

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