Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(86)

At first, she thought he may not answer her, but then he whispered, "Because I love you, and I have loved you for so very long now."

Her breath caught in her throat. She had waited so long to hear those words come from his lips.

"It might be too late to say that." She couldn't stop herself from uttering the sentence, because he had put her through so much.

"I’m hoping I can regain your love, and that I haven’t waited too long." He took a deep breath and continued on. "I have taken the kingship from my father, and my people stand behind me. It wasn’t safe before, but now, I can take you back with me.”

After she said nothing he stated, "I will take you back to the village or where ever you wish to go. I am truly sorry for what I have put you through. Tell me never to see you again, and you will never have to lay eyes on me, but tell me you love me, and I will never let you regret it.”

“Except for when you kill innocent villagers.”

“That is all in the past. I haven’t killed a villager since meeting you, well, there was the one male who attacked you.”

“The male has a name, Robert.”

“He attacked you, Claira. Was I to stand by and let him?”

“No, and I’ve come to accept that you thought it was the only way, but that doesn’t explain the other villagers.”

“What other villagers?” He threw his hands in the air.

“When we split from a group, after I saved your life. You just let your men march off to a human village.”

Kaeldar shook his head.

“Right before we came to the castle?”

Then he nodded. “I remember now, but they did not kill any civilians.”

“How do you know?”

“Your village was one of the few that still has villagers on the border. The one they marched to was vacant, except for some human troops.”

“Oh.”

“Now that my father is out of power, I can help put a stop to innocent deaths. He would not have cared, but I do. I care because I love you, but the war must go on. Either the humans win, we win or we come to a standstill.”

Closing her eyes she whispered, "I love you, Kaeldar, but I’ve started a life here.”

“Tell me to leave, and I will. I will even promise to never return.”

Claira bit her lip. Wasn’t this what she wanted? A life with him could be dangerous, but a life with Christopher wouldn’t be fair. She didn’t love him, she only liked him. Kaeldar had stolen her heart, a long time ago.

“If I come with you, will you promise to let me go, if I should ever chose to leave you?”

“I won’t give you a reason to leave.”

“Still.”

She wanted, no, she needed the promise, just in case he did do something she didn’t like. He was the kind of man she could trust to honor a promise, even if he was a rock giant. Just because she was going back with him didn’t mean she was going to let him off easily.

There would be wooing, when they got back to the castle. There would definitely be some wooing on his part.

"I can tell you that you will never regret this."

She smiled up at him and held out her arms. There would be problems, but she would face them when they came.

Stepping forward he grabbed her waist and swung her around in a circle. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a deep kiss. It had been too long since they last kissed.

"They will accept me?" She worried her lip, as she broke off the kiss.

"I have already talked with my people. You will be accepted, and I will be by your side. There will be challenges to get through, but in the end I believe you can win them all over."

Claira smiled. If someone had told her her life would work out this well, she would’ve told them they were insane, but she was glad she was wrong. From simple healer to future queen of the rock giants.