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Only Korrick could turn a heroic rescue into an annoying inconvenience.

Tharion flashes his teeth with a growl, and I’m both shocked and a little more turned on when I see the pointed tips of his canines.

“It’s okay, Korrick,” I quickly say, putting my hand on the beast’s warm chest to hold him back. I can feel his heart thundering under my palm. “I’m okay. You can just go now. Close the door behind you, please.”

This dude doesn’t know how to take a hint. He steps into the room, holding the glowing red sword up.

“I said, let her go, you ugly monster,” Korrick shouts.

“Really, Korrick,” I say, starting to ramble. “I got this covered. I’m totally fine. You can show yourself out. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but this is⁠—”

Tharion’s tail shoots out in a blur and slaps Korrick across the face. He drops the sword and stumbles into the wall, his eyes rolling back in his head for a second. Tharion smacks the sword away with his tail, then lifts me off my feet and carries me out the back door.

He’s so large that he has to force his way through the doorway, cracking the heavy wooden beams around it. Father won’t be happy about that.

“Some fresh air,” I say as he carries me outside. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. If you let me go, I’ll get us some cool drinks and maybe we can talk about—oh, okay!”

I squeal as his giant wings spread out and he suddenly crouches down and then leaps into the air.

His giant clawed feet never hit the ground. Those wings start flapping and he starts going up, carrying me with him.

I just clench my jaw, squeeze my eyes shut, and let him take me wherever this big sexy beast wants to take me.

I mean, what choice do I have?