Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(56)

The gathering group of rock giants just kept growing. Claira wondered how many rock giants there were within this town. They never seemed to stop flowing out of street allies and homes.

Claira saw the hatred and scorn within their dark black eyes. She scrunched back against Kaeldar's chest, as the rock giants pressed closer and closer. The rock giants were starting to intimidate her, when they yelled out at her. She knew they had to be saying horrible things. No translation was needed.

Kaeldar wrapped an armored arm around her waist and drew her closer to him, if that was even possible.

She wished dearly he would whisper some sort of encouragement into her ear, but he never did. It appeared as though he wasn't going to be making any public shows of affection towards her.

It seemed like they would never get to the castle, since every single moment dragged on endlessly. Until, finally, they broke away from the large crowds of the town and into the castle court yard where guards held back the crowd.

It was just as large, but almost vacant of people. She let out a breath she’d been holding the whole time they’d been going through the village. She’d seen her life flash before her eyes out there.

It seemed as though the few rock giants that were in the castle courtyard had been awaiting the arrival of the men.

Claira took a look behind them, as the castle curtain wall doors closed, and the villagers were cut from her sight.

She finally felt like she was safe again with Kaeldar. Now all she could pray for was that the people within the castle would treat her better. She hoped she wasn't asking for too much, because she didn't believe she was, but who knew.

She turned her eyes back to the formidable castle in front of them. It was terrifying for her to see such an impressive building standing before her very eyes for the first time.

Was he ever going to leave her alone, while they were here? Would he be gone for days on end? These were questions she should’ve asked, before arriving at the castle. Now was a little too late to be asking him to turn his horse around and take her back to her people.

At least, she knew how to conduct herself with her own people. Here she had no idea about any of the customs. Claira could only hope Kaeldar would be kind enough to explain anything, before she made a major blunder.

A few rock giants rushed forward, and she couldn't help but cringe. After that one rock giant made a grab for her, she was more aware of her surroundings, but the rock giants only grabbed the reins of each of the riders’ horses.

She let out a sigh. Maybe she was just being unneccassarily jumpy.

Without any delay, Kaeldar dismounted from his fine stallion.

She automatically felt the loss of his presence from behind her back. It was intense and made her yearn to be by his side once again. How the tables had turned from him being dependent on her to her relying on him. Now she knew how her patients felt, because she wasn’t keen on being reliant upon another.

She was in survival mode and survive she would.

The other men around them dismounted from their horses, and Kaeldar made what appeared to be a small speech to them. After they dispersed into the castle or went to take care of their horses, Kaeldar finally turned his attention back to her.

Claira accepted his helpful assistance on dismounting the ginormous stallion. He gently slid her down his tall frame. His eyes lighted up with lust, and she had to admit she also got a thrill from it.

When her feet, eventually, touched the ground, her mouth popped open on a gasp. He was being attentive to her once again. Would she ever be able to understand this rock giant she had fallen head over heels for?

That one specific thought gave her a moment of pause and reflection.

If she was being truthful to herself, then yes she had indeed fallen in love with the man standing before her. Would she be asking too much, if she wanted him to feel the same way about her?

Her jade eyes looked up to meet his ebony ones. Claira was unable to read any of his current emotions. It was like he put up a shield, so she wouldn't see what he was thinking. He took a step back from her.

She felt a frown form on her face, but he ignored her, as he looked over her head. Turning around she found there were still some rock giants waiting and watching them with intense gazes.

Putting a strong hand to the small of her back he led her away from the stallion and steered her in the direction of the two older rock giants. As they pulled up in front of them, the rock giants greeted Kaeldar with what appeared to be fondness.

Mother and father? Either way she knew these would be a pair of people she should try her best to charm. Assuming, of course, her charms would work on them. Her charms had never got her anywhere with her own kinsfolk.

The two rock giants barely even glanced her way, but it allowed her a chance to openly observe them. There was something about them that made her a little nervous. The way they carried themselves was different from the other rock giants, like they deserved respect from anything and everything around them. Then again she didn’t have much to base her feelings on.

It was her first look at a female rock giant. She was smaller than Kaeldar and the other man, but she was still much taller than Claira. Her black tresses were long and done in a braid, which ran down her back.

So it wasn't just the men who had such deep black hair. Though if Claira squinted she was able to catch sight of a few white or grey hairs among the thick mass of ebony hair.

This was her first time to see and observe them up close. For now, she was enjoying the opportunity.