Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(28)

But Kaeldar wasn’t about to let her stop him, he grabbed his sword and left the camp site. She was under no delusion she’d be able to control a rock giant.

Instead, she collected wood and started a campfire. If he did find something for them to eat, then they were going to need a fire to cook with.




It wasn't long until Kaeldar showed up with a couple rabbits. Claira shook her head in amazement. She had no idea how he was managing to catch these animals, but she was glad he was.

She knew that without him she wouldn't be here. He was the one guiding them, providing them with food, and not to mention saving her when she needed it.

After they ate their meal, she once again addressed him. “I think it best you get some sleep this night. Rest should help your wound.”

“I will.” Kaeldar said, not even looking up from the flames of the fire.

“Kaeldar, you said I could take care of you when we made camp. This is me taking care of you right now.”

He finally looked up at her with his black eyes.

Claira gulped. She still didn’t know him. Robert’s death had shown her that much, but she pressed on. “I really do believe some rest will help with your recovery. It needs time, and you aren’t giving it any. And don’t tell me we aren’t far enough, because we are. The villagers will never reach us here.”

His cold eyes focused on her for another second, and then he rose. “Then I will get some sleep, as you have requested.” He took her by the arm and dragged her to the tent with him.

Her heart spiked a bit, but when they entered the tent he let go of her arm and stripped his armor and clothing off.

Claira’s eyes were glued to his chest, as he threw his armor and clothing into one of the tent’s corners. The sight before her made her tingle with excitement.

“Will you stare at me, or take a look at my infected wound?” Kaeldar’s voice broke into her thoughts.

Shaking her head, she felt a blush creep up her neck and face. He’d caught her staring! Claira rushed to grab some new cloth for a bandage.

After wrapping his wound with a new piece of cloth with fresh leaf paste, they both settled in for the evening. Claira made sure there was some space between them, as they slept. She didn't want to touch him, after how intimate the previous night had felt to her, and after he caught her eyeing his chest again.





Chapter 11


Claira’s eyes popped open, and she laid still, while trying to figure out why she had woken up in the middle of night. Was she never to get any sleep?

Turning over she checked on the rock giant. It was hard to see in the pitch-black dark, but her ears were able to pick up on his shallow breathing. Fear spiked through her, almost instantly.

She reached out a gentle hand to touch his forehead. His skin was slick with sweat and burning to the touch. Her heart rate spiked, as she felt her healing instinct kick into gear.

She ran out of the tent to collect some cool river water and returned to give it to him to drink. He sputtered, but she was insistent. She didn't want him to sweat so much that he became dehydrated.

Claira kept a watchful eye on him, until the early morning. When the fever still persisted, she went to grab more water to wash his skin. She would try anything to cool him down.

As the morning light spread through the forest, she whispered down to him. “I’ll be right back, but I need to find some herbs now that the sun has come up. I promise to be back as soon as possible.”

With that said she strode out to search the surrounding forest. She was looking for something to reduce his fever. Maybe even a plant to help numb any pain he might still be feeling.

Her luck was good. She soon found two of the three herbs she’d been searching for. But now she had to decide whether or not to search for the allusive third herb.

Claira decided it would be worth it, if she could find the last one. She made her way over the terrain of the forest. Head down as she searched the area.

Suddenly, a snort sounded through the brisk air. Claira’s head shot up, as she looked around with wide eyes. There in the distance were riders. She froze like a rabbit that spotted a hunter. It took her a few seconds to move her muscles again.

In a flash, she ducked behind a thick tree trunk. Her breathing shallow, she prayed with all her heart that her moment of freezing hadn't given them time to see her.

The sound of hooves approached, but they weren't galloping towards her so she hoped that meant they hadn't seen her.

Her heart beat against her rib cage. From the glance she’d caught of the riders, she knew they were rock giants. She feared the rock giants would be able to hear the beating of her heart. How could they not? It seemed so very loud to her own ears and her blood was pumping through her so quickly.

Claira peeked around the trunk, and then ducked back behind it. They were almost on top of her. Maybe they had seen her, and they were just toying with her.

Different scenarios played through her head, and she looked around frantically. She wanted to see if there was anything she could use to defend herself. She wasn't about to go down without a fight, even if it might be a losing battle.

She’d survived a burning, after all! Claira had a lot to live for.

But there was nothing around. There were no large branches she could use as a weapon. Instead, she was only able to stand there and wait as she listened to the rock giants approach.