'He's… he's carrying me…'
Eli's face burned, heat rushing all the way to his ears. Kairo's grip was firm and unyielding, one muscled arm hooked beneath his thighs like Eli weighed nothing, his broad shoulder bracing Eli's back.
It wasn't the awkward "princess carry" he dreaded—it was worse.
With Kairo's sheer strength, Eli was seated against his arm like a child perched on a parent's hip, his legs dangling, his hands instinctively clutching onto the hard lines of Kairo's shoulders for balance.
The familiarity only made it worse. 'Just like last time. When the ogres surrounded us…'
"Woah. Kai, what are you…" Mio's voice trailed as he stepped closer, brows raised.
Kairo cut him off before the question finished. "Eli's abilities can benefit those who are near him. Don't you remember the ogre fight? I carried him then too."
The explanation was simple, clinical, but the way Kairo's eyes flicked down to Eli made it feel… personal. "He needs to stay close. To me."
