Page 65 of Grounded By Love
When the servants took Claira away, he made sure not to look after her, as she left. There was no need to give his parents any reason to wonder what she meant to him. She needed to be a war prize and nothing more in the eyes of his parents.
After all, if any one could read him, it would be them. He’d have to watch himself, because he didn't need his parents trying to get rid of the human that captured their son’s heart.
They were the king and queen of the rock giants, and they would loathe her existence for making their only child want to have a human by his side.
He still didn't know, quite yet, what he felt for her. His life style wouldn’t be easy for her, but he wanted her by his side anyways. Kaeldar enjoyed her presence beside him, but he wasn't sure if that meant anything was going to come of it. Claira wouldn't be able to stand up for herself, and he wouldn't expect her to. For now, distance was best when they were in public.
While she was here at the castle, he planned on keeping her safe from his own people. Though the current person he should worry about was his own father. His father was the king, and if his father wanted her gone, no other rock giant would disobey.
Once Claira disappeared from sight, his mother, instantly, turned to him with wide eyes. "Why in heaven would you have a human female with you? Why, my dear, did you send her to your rooms?"
His father turned his dark eyes on Kaeldar as well. "I demand to know why my son and heir is fooling around with a human female. Leave prizes of war to the soldiers. You’re a prince!"
"I owe her my life. Actually, you owe her the life of your precious son and heir. Without her, I would be a lifeless corpse rotting on the battlefield, and I decided she would be my prize.”
His father gave a large scoff. "I doubt I will ever owe or will ever need to owe a human female for anything."
"You weren't there, father, you wouldn't know what happened."
His father gave a growl and took a step towards his son. His intimidation may have worked, when Kaeldar was just a child, but now Kaeldar was both taller and older. He was more than able to handle himself with his father, and now he had a reason to stand up to his father.
Claira. She was his reason to stand up to his lifetime foe.
Knowing his father would just growl, grumble, and try to force another answer from between Kaeldar's lips, he decided to leave.
"I will see you later for the evening meal. I am exhausted and will retire now to my rooms. Please, do not disturb me."
"Of course, you will be wanting to relax. I can only imagine what you’ve gone through, while out on the battlefield." His mother interjected, before his father could pick another squabble with his son.
Kaeldar looked down to see the restraining hand on his father's arm, as his mother flashed Kaeldar a sheepish grin. She always tried to play the referee in their little spats, but she would never go so far as to stop his father, when he had his mind made up.
Spinning on his heels he left his mother and father to stare after him. What he should’ve done was incline his head to show respect to them, but how could Kaeldar, when he held no high opinion about these people in his life?
Claira was glad when the rock giant servants left her alone in the room, but at the same time she felt abandoned. She was in an intimidating fortress, with no idea of what she’d got herself into.
She could only hope Kaeldar wouldn't take too long. At least, she was assuming he would be following after her in just a little while. Unless, of course, he wasn't planning on meeting up with her in this room.
Her heart rate spiked. She didn't think she would get any sleep, if she was left by herself for the night. She’d fear her throat getting slit, while she was slumbering.
Claira had seen affection shining in the black eyes of the older rock giant woman, when she looked at Kaeldar. Perhaps she was on the right track thinking they were relatives.
Thankfully, she wasn't left alone with her thoughts for too much longer.
A knock sounded on the wooden door, and as she swiveled to look at the door, Kaeldar came in closing the door softly behind him. His helmet was under one of his arms, and he set it down on a chair, before he stripped off his armor.
She watched, as he peeled each layer of metal off of himself. Then he worked on his clothing. She watched with rapt attention, as he started with his shirt, exposing his pectoral muscles to her hungry gaze. Next he worked on his socks, and after he was done with that, he worked on the ties on his trousers.
With wide eyes, she gently sat upon the bed, not wanting to make any noise lest she disturb him and he stop.
Yet he did stop. Either he wanted to tease her or he had decided not to get undressed and both reasons disappointed her.
Kaeldar laid his large frame down on the other side of the bed across from where she was sitting. Her hands fiddled away in her lap, until she sprung up from where she was sitting and took a few quick steps away from the bed.
Wondering what to do next, she stood by herself awkwardly. She had no idea what to do now that she was standing up, but she had wanted to move. He was laying on the bed, relaxed as could be.
Spinning around, slowly but surely, she glanced down at Kaeldar.
He had a soft white pillow propped up behind his back. She appreciated the sight of his chest, which was made of strong muscle honed by war and sword practice, his long legs stretched down the length of the bed, and his ankles were crossed.
