Evaline:
"River!" I yelped as he lifted me, effortlessly, and slung me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing more than a bag of flour. The shock froze me for a full two seconds before mortification caught up. "Put me down! Right now!"
I could hear Oscar trying, and failing, not to laugh. Kieran had his head lowered, probably to hide whatever expression was fighting to break free.
"River, I swear, if you don't put me down this instant-!" I started kicking, pounding my fists against his back.
He didn't even flinch. His only response was a low, restrained, "You can scream all you want once we are upstairs, little star."
That nickname - soft, teasing, infuriating - made my face burn hotter than the sun.
"This is humiliating!" I shouted.
"Noted," he said dryly, climbing the stairs like he wasn't carrying a furious woman flailing on his shoulder.
