Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(61)

Slowly, she let her gaze roam around the hall. Claira saw some of the rock giants whispering behind their hands. Their eyes roamed up and down her, as they took her in.

She wondered what they were thinking about her. Claira wanted to make a good impression, not only for Kaeldar, but for humans in general. Not all humans were the same, and she wanted to show them the softer side of humanity, the accepting side.

Kaeldar seemed unphased with the stares sent their way, and that made her feel better. She needed a strong force beside her, if she ever planned on making it through this terrifying night.

Finally, after what felt like forever they stopped in front of a table.

“This is where you will be staying for dinner.”

“I will be staying? Are you going somewhere else?” Claira’s voice escalated.

“I will be sitting just over there.” Kaeldar pointed to a table just a few feet away. “I will be able to keep a close eye on you. Do not fret.”

“I really don’t think it will be fine.”

Every rock giant in the hall was staring at them, by this moment.

“Sit, Claira.”

Claira plopped down. Kaeldar had never used such a strict tone with her before. When she gained her voice, he’d already headed over to the other table.

There he sat with the two older rock giants she’d seen before, the same rock giants she suspected of being Kaeldar’s relations.

Kaeldar bowed deeply to them and, at that moment, everything came together for her. He was bowing to the king and queen and Kaeldar was their son. She had been sleeping with the prince of the rock giants.

Claira was floored by it.

It would explain why they were sitting at a table with the best vantage point in the room and why the servants were at their beck and call.

Who would have guessed Claira would be the one to set eyes on them? She was sure her king had never even seen the rock giant king, and here she was sitting only a few feet away.

She caught glances from the king and queen and knew they had to be wondering about her. Perhaps they would make Kaeldar get rid of her or maybe they would just get rid of her themselves.

She gulped for she felt like she was intruding upon their lives. If there was one thing she didn't want to do it would be stirring up trouble. Claira was still getting some looks thrown her way. Some seemed intrigued, while others seemed to be casting glares her way.

Thankfully, there were only a few rock giants sitting at her table, which meant she had some space.

They were surely whispering about Kaeldar as well. The rocks giants weren’t only casting her looks, but they were also casting Kaeldar some curious glances. How could they not puzzle over why their prince was toating around a human woman?

A servant came over to the table and set down some food before her.

Claira tried her best to keep focused on anything but the stares directed towards her.

She nibbled on some of the food through out the night and wondered what was being said around her. The rocks giants were speaking in their own language, and she was left to her own thoughts. It was as if Kaeldar had forgotten about her presence altogether.

He was speaking with his mother and father. Every once in a while, it seemed as if their conversation would get more than a little heated. Their facial expressions said it all, they weren’t too thrilled with him, and she thought it might have something to do with her.

She wondered if it would be possible for her to ever learn any of their language, since it was just a bunch of growling and grumbling that she doubted her throat would ever be able to make. She might learn how to understand it, but she might not ever speak it.

How was she going to keep herself safe, if she didn’t know what was going on around her?

As the evening continued on, Claira was amazed by the amount of food the servants kept bringing to each of the tables. In her life, things had been hard and there had never been this much fare in front of her before.

The village she came from wasn’t wealthy by any means. Life on or near the border could be strenuous. Before the war began, random bands of looters from both sides would raid the other one. Usually, there wasn’t death, just burning of farms and stolen farm animals.

Every time something new was brought to the table she would grab a bit of it. Claira had to face the reality that someone here might try to kill her at some point, and she wasn't about to sugar coat it for herself. Before that time came she needed to enjoy everything she could.

Sadly, the night kept going, and Kaeldar never looked in her direction and never spoke a word to her. She was starting to feel abandoned at her table. If Kaeldar was going to abandon her, she would’ve preferred he’d done it while she was still on the human side of the border.

Maybe he’d already tired of her, but just didn’t know what to do with her. It could be a possibility. She’d have to think about plans of escape, if that was true.

The rock giants cast her fewer and fewer glances, but she could tell that several drunk rock giants couldn't keep her from their mind. They kept casting glances her way, actually they were more like glares.

She felt so uncomfortable having to endure their hate filled gazes. Claira wished she’d been able to bath and get some new clothing. She had an image to present here, and she was doing a horrible job of it. Not to mention, it would give her some self confidence, which she dearly needed.




Kaeldar glanced over at Claira. She was holding her own, even with all the glares cast in her direction. He only hoped he could change their opinions. Claira wasn’t like the rest of the humans, there was only a good heart beating in her chest.