Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(20)

Heaven forbid he should ask if she wanted to be rescued. She dug in her heels. “Where are you taking me, Robert?”

When he tried to keep dragging her instead of answering her, she shifted her weight down over her heels to make it harder for him.

With an explicative, he gave in and turned to stare at her.

It was then that she read the uneasiness in his eyes. He didn’t actually want to face the rock giant when he came back from 'hunting'.

“Back to the village of course.” He said to her as if she had gone simple.

Claira shook her head. “They will kill me, Robert. Why would you want to bring me back there? Do you want to see me burn at the stake?”

He smiled at her. “Trust me, you will be fine. You have my promise.”

“I thought I could trust you earlier, but you told the village about the giant.”

“It wasn’t safe for you to have a rock giant in your cottage. You’re so gentle, Claira. You have no idea what one of those beasts could do to you.”

“He was injured. He wasn’t about to do anything to me.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me. This is what I do. I heal people, whether or not they are humans.” Claira kept her heels dug in, as her jade eyes glared at Robert.

“It was an accident. I had a few too many, when I was at the tavern.” Robert explained.

Claira rolled her eyes, likely story, and even if it was true, it didn’t excuse him from what he did.

“He kidnapped you, after all you did for him.” Robert tried to point out, without knowing all the facts.

“He saved me. In case you don't remember, the villagers were going to burn me, and he rescued me.” She couldn't resist adding on, “Unlike you.”

His face turned beet red, and she gave him a smirk. Robert had always been a pain in her side, and she was tired of him pestering her about marriage. She was tempted to give out a scream to wake Kaeldar, but she had no idea if he was feeling well enough to take on a sword fight.

Dare she risk it?

Even though Robert wasn’t a skilled swordsman, he was still well built. Claira didn't feel like testing Kaeldar’s strength out, so she decided she would go with Robert. She was sure she could slip away with ease, and then she and Kaeldar could get move out of range for anyone else who wanted to follow them.

Giving up she allowed Robert to pull her towards the edge of camp, where he had a horse tied to a tree.

“Let's get going before the giant gets back. I want as much space between us, just in case he still wants you.” Robert explained to her, as he was about to mount the horse. Then he stopped and looked at her. “If I let go of your arm, will you run?”

With all honesty she said, “I will not run.”

And she wouldn't. She didn't want Kaeldar to wake and come to her rescue in his condition. Even if he did have the strength, his wound would never heal, if he kept opening it.

Robert slid his sword back into its scabbard, and then offered his hand down to her, and he swung her up before him on the horse.




Robert wanted to stay and lie in wait for the rock giant to return from hunting, but then he remembered the way the rock giant had rampaged through the town to take Claira, and he decided it might not be such a wise idea.

Instead, he would take Claira back to the village where she would then have to wed him. She would have no choice. The mayor would only accept her back if she married him.

He smiled, as he felt her body riding in front of his. He could imagine her in his bed. The things he would do to her. She didn’t know how long he’d thought about this moment. Finally, he was seeing his dream come true. She would be his for the rest of time!

He stifled a groan. Robert wasn't sure he could wait until they got to the village to have her. How many years had he craved her? She’d always given him a stiff shoulder, but now she had no choice. It was death or marriage for her.

“I would’ve remained at the camp to fight the rock giant, but I didn’t want to risk your life. I mean, after all, you were the reason I came all the way out here. To put your life in danger again would’ve been foolish.”

When Claira said nothing, he knew she must be in awe of him. Any man who was willing to go up against a rock giant on her behalf must be quite the specimen. His chest puffed out a little more, as his ego soared among the clouds.




Claira stopped herself from snorting at the ridiculousness of his statement. She knew he wouldn't be pleased, if she doubted his ability to take on the rock giant. He might even turn around just to prove he could, and Claira didn’t want that.

So she tried her best to make conversation with him, while trying not to piss him off as well. Which was easier said than done. His ego was bigger than she had ever guessed.




As mid-day hit, Robert stopped the horse for a break, since Claira couldn’t stop complaining about a sore butt.

Claira sighed with relief, the moment her feet touched solid ground. She needed to stretch her legs. Riding a horse day after day was not something she found fantastic. Her butt and back ached from it all.

As she walked away to get some much needed space, Robert’s fingers wrapped around her arm in a bruising grip. He whipped her around and brought her against his chest. The air rushed out of her lungs, as she smashed into his chest.