"How do guests without wings get up there?" Hana asked, her voice flat as she surveyed the height.
Kulu didn't look at her. He stared straight ahead, his jaw tight. "We do not receive guests."
The answer was blunt, but the reality was unavoidable. She didn't need to fight anyway, so it didn't matter.
But if she wanted that battery, she had to get to the summit and she had just the wingman for it.
Kulu turned toward her, his large, powerful wings rustling as they unfurled. The red feathers caught the light, looking like flickering flames.
"Hold on," he muttered. It wasn't a request but a warning.
Before she could respond, Kulu stepped into her space. He didn't do it with the possessive heat of Caspian or the suggestive grace of Raiden. This was functional—and deeply uncomfortable for him. He hooked one arm under her knees and the other around her back, lifting her as if she weighed nothing.
