Page 22 of Grounded By Love
She felt overwhelmed that he had turned on her like this so unexpectedly. Sure, he’d told the villagers about the rock giant, but attempting to go farther with her than a kiss? Especially, when she wasn't returning his feelings?
“You’d have to drag me to the altar.” She spat the words at him.
He shrugged his shoulders. “If that’s what it will take to make you my wife, so be it.”
Her mouth dropped open. Who was this person standing in front of her?
“But once I am done with you here, Claira, you will be mine. I can promise you that.” Robert gave her a wicked smile, before he charged forward.
Turning on her heel Claira sprinted into the forest, trying her best to push herself to go faster. She saw the look in his eyes, before she’d taken off. If he caught up to her, he would take her.
She shivered, as she tried to let her mind go blank. Her only thought was trying to keep in front of Robert. Thankfully, she’d healed her feet before this sprint. There were only slight pinpricks of pain, as her feet pounded against the unforgiving ground.
The brisk fall air whipped around her breasts, as they did nothing but get in the way. She wished she had been more of an active person. Her breathing was beginning to thin out, and she could feel her leg muscles begging her to stop. A burning sensation spread throughout her chest, as she kept trying to gulp down air.
Claira risked a glance behind her, only to see Robert still hot on her tail. The panic started to set in. He didn't look as tired as she felt. She needed to last until he gave up on her.
Looking back in the direction she was running her eyes widen as she tried to jump over a log she hadn't seen. At first, she thought she’d made it, but her toe slightly touched it and sent her flying off balance. Tripping over herself, she landed on her side.
Claira cursed, as she pushed herself back up to her feet, but Robert was on her in seconds. Kicking her legs, she tried to get him off of her, but she couldn't budge him. So she turned in Robert's grasp and swung a closed fist. When her fist connected with his jaw, she felt a sense of satisfaction flare through her.
Grunting Robert released her for a split second, but it was long enough for her to wiggle free. Robert recovered quickly, and he was on her once again. She could tell he was desperate not to let her go.
Panic set in. Her heart raced away, as she saw the determination in his eyes. Her blood froze, as Robert climbed on top of her. There was no way out of this. She had no one to help her, and Robert had already sapped most of her strength with the run.
Chapter 9
Kaeldar woke feeling groggy and confused.
“Water! Bring me water!” He bellowed out roughly.
Looking down at his wound he was pleasantly surprised. The redness was down, and though puffy he could stretch his arm without too much pain. This human female knew what she was doing, when it came to healing.
“Claira!” He called out to her again, but received no response. Briefly, he wondered if she had wandered away from camp.
With the way she healed, like a mother goose, he would’ve thought she would come running to his side if she heard him call out to her. If she had wandered away, he was positive she would’ve stayed near enough to hear his bellowing.
She had such pride in her work that she wouldn’t want him to die on her watch. So where was his human?
Kaeldar rose quickly, and then paused as he put a hand to his head. His eyesight blacked out, and he swayed unsteadily on his feet. He needed something to drink and something to eat.
Looking around the small tent he found his shirt and shoved that over his head, and then grabbed his sword. As he left the tent, he tied the sword to his belt. There was no telling whether or not he would end up needing it.
The borders were never a safe place, for either side.
He still found it strange she would take such great care of him only to leave him. It seemed against her nature.
Everything within the campsite was in its place. The horse was still there and with her feet he highly doubted she would just decide to walk a great distance.
“Human!” He yelled at the top of his lungs.
No one responded. There was only the noise of the forest around him, and the nervous snorting of Claira’s horse. Had he rescued her only to have her get herself lost in the woods?
Kaeldar grabbed some water, while he looked to the ground for clues of where she may have gone. She would’ve left tracks of some sort.
Nothing seemed out of the normal, until he stumbled onto a pair of boot prints. They were too large for her, and they were too small to be Kaeldar’s.
Had someone from the village followed them? Those humans sure did have trouble letting go of their resentment. Or they were just completely dimwitted. He wasn’t in the mood for dealing with humans.
