He saw you stumbling against the wall, quickly approaching to steady you after he knocked out the last standing curse. His arm wrapped around your waist, and the other under your legs, he lifted you as if you weighed nothing.

Looking down at you, he tried to read your face with your messy hair in the way. He could feel your body tense in his arms.

He sighed, his voice low but gentle, “Relax. Only a fool would drop a girl like you.”