Vex looked at her like she had just asked why water was wet.
"How else?" he asked, gesturing to the unconscious mass of muscle on the ground. "Did you expect me to ask him nicely to walk to my den?"
Before Ren could argue, Vex bent his knees and grabbed Kael's arm. With a grunt of exertion that quickly turned into a show of impressive strength, he hoisted the massive Tiger King onto his shoulder.
Ren's eyes widened. Vex was lean—wiry, even—compared to Kael's hulking frame. But as he adjusted the weight, the muscles in his back and legs flexed and bulged under his skin, corded like steel cables.
"Ugh," Vex groaned, shifting Kael's weight. "He is a lot heavier than he looks. Does he eat rocks for breakfast?"
Ren frowned, crossing her arms. "You didn't have to shoot him! We could have carried him together. Or... or Syris and Viper would have helped!"
The amused, flirtatious expression instantly vanished from Vex's face. His orange eyes turned cold and serious.
