by Lily Thomas
“Feels good to be back in my own bed again.”
She let the dress slip from her shoulders, and then took off all the jewelry, as Stryme watched on. There was lust filling his eyes, but he did nothing except lie under the covers and watch her.
Feeling excitement, Elizabeth rocked her hips a little, as she made her way over to the bed to join him under the covers.
She was confident in her body, and he had changed her for the best. He had broadened her views on the world around them, and she was grateful for it.
She put her head down on the pillow and watched him. Her heart beat against her chest, as she thought of what pleasures they might share together.
“I’m glad you’ve decided to spend the night here.” She said barely above a whisper. Elizabeth's eyes skimmed over his face, his finely cut cheekbones and jawline. Not being able to contain a smile, she peered up at him from under her lashes.
It had been sometime since she had been in bed with him. It set her a little on the jitters, as she imagined what he might want to do this night, but she was also excited for what might come.
When he turned onto his back to just look up at the ceiling, Elizabeth decided to scoot towards him and press her body against his.
He turned his head towards her. “Are you ready to sleep?”
Without waiting for her response, he turned his back to her. Within a few minutes, she could hear his heavy breathing.
A little piece of Elizabeth's heart broke. For quite some time, she just laid there staring at his well-muscled back hoping he would turn back around.
Eventually, she turned her back to him, as a few small tears fell from her eyes, silently. She must have ruined anything that had been between them. Clearly, he had just wanted to sleep in his own bed again.
The shaking of her shoulder woke her, and she glanced up to find Stryme staring down at her.
“I was thinking we could go down to the hall to eat a meal before the day started.” He stated kindly enough, yet there was something in his eyes. She couldn’t place her finger on what it was though.
She nodded, as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Allowing him to take her arm, he escorted her to the great hall.
Stryme guided her over to the table, helped her sit, before he sat down.
As Elizabeth rubbed her eyes, she saw Sarah approaching with a smile on her face. Elizabeth grumbled a little more. No one had the right to be this happy in the morning. She had never been a morning person and she never would be.
“Good morning, Sarah.” Elizabeth said, as Sarah took a seat beside her.
“Good morning, Elizabeth. How are you this fine morning?”
“Not as well, as you apparently.” Elizabeth grumbled some more.
“You never were a morning person.” Sarah saw Kiyla enter the great hall. “I’d better get out of her seat. See you later today, at some point?”
“Of course. I promise to be in a better mood, once I have eaten something.”
With that said Sarah made her way to where all the other human women were seated and started on her breakfast.
Kiyla greeted her with a smile and an enthusiastic good morning. Here was another morning person.
Elizabeth nodded, giving her a weak smile. “Sorry, I’m still trying to wake.”
“I can understand. I find myself having trouble waking, sometimes.” Kiyla said a morning greeting to Stryme as well. “A warm comfortable bed can be so much more appealing then getting the day started.”
Breakfast went by as usual, though Stryme seemed to be a little on edge. He wasn't exactly jumpy, but he did seem to be anticipating something. It was the best Elizabeth could do at describing his behavior. It made her a little weary, not knowing what was going on.
After they were done eating, Stryme looked over at his mother, then at Kiyla, as if telling them something, and then looked Elizabeth in the eyes.
“If you would like, you can accompany me on a ride into the mountains today.” Stryme suggested.
Elizabeth was stunned. He was going to let her on a horse, after her last attempt at escaping? “You would like me to come along?” It was the only response she could come up with.
“Yes. It’s why I asked you to join me.”
Elizabeth smiled up at him. Her sapphire eyes sparkled, as she thought about going into the mountains with him. She offered her hand to him, and he helped her out of her seat. This might be the moment where she was forgiven, and she couldn't be happier.
“I never thought I’d be allowed to ride another horse.”
Stryme didn't acknowledge her comment. Or she hadn’t been forgiven quite yet.
When they made their way out to the courtyard, Elizabeth looked at all the tacked up horses. Most of the horses already had a fire giant rider, leaving only two empty saddles.
A little confused, Elizabeth looked around at the men who were on the horses. They looked like they had packed for a ride through the mountains rather than just a ride into the mountains.
Stryme helped her onto the back of her horse.
She felt like this trip into the mountains was going to last awhile. She wondered what had been planned. Maybe it was a surprise get-away?
Though Elizabeth was curious and wanted to ask questions, she decided to wait. Eventually, it would all come to light. For now, she would just enjoy the moment.
Stryme led the procession, with her following beside him. Out through the castle gates they went, through the town and around the castle. The fire giants were going about their morning rituals, while children ran around playing.
Elizabeth smiled to herself. This place could seem like such a paradise, at times. Sometimes, she wished with all her heart she could remain here with Stryme and start her own family.
A sudden thought brought her back to reality. She’d been sharing his bed enough that it could be possible she might be carrying his child. Then again she had no idea if a fire giant and a human could have children.
Elizabeth looked over at Stryme. She would definitely welcome a child from him, but would he welcome a child from her?
A half human child would be smaller and weaker than the rest of the fire giant children. Surely, Stryme wouldn't hate it. She just couldn't see him being that insensitive. She frowned. With the attitude he had been in for the past few days, she couldn't be sure of anything though.
As they made their way into the mountains, Elizabeth let herself enjoy the scenery around them.
She wondered if anyone back home thought she and the other young women were still alive. By this time Sardarn would have sent a messenger to her parents to inform them she had never arrived.
Her parents probably sent a search party out to find her, if they’d been able to spare anyone. At this point, they had to have their hands full with fighting the rock giants.
“This is such a lovely day.”
“It does seem as though today will be a most pleasant day. I hope you are enjoying our ride through the mountains, so far.”
Elizabeth didn't miss the word he used. They were going through the mountains. Did that mean they wouldn’t be going back to the castle? Or was she just being a bit picky of his word choice?
These questions were going to frustrate her all day, if she kept thinking about them. She distracted herself with the view. She would have to wait on her questions. Stryme seemed tense, and she didn’t want to bother him.
There was no reason to pester him with her curious nature. Though he was being pleasant, she could still sense he was tense about something.
The day passed quickly, but Elizabeth had to ask Stryme for a rest from riding. She was sore from the pace he was setting through the steep terrain.
After finding a spot, Stryme called for a stop to Elizabeth's great relief.
He helped her down from her horse, and she sighed as her feet touched the ground. “Thank you.” She said to Stryme, as she turned to face him.
“Sit and rest. I’d like to continue our ride, as soon as possibl
e.”
Did he seem a little rushed? She wondered where they might be going. Maybe he had hoped to spend a few nights in the mountains with her or maybe he was trying to help them clear their minds.
She shrugged it off. “I prefer to stand, but thank you.” She wanted stretch out her limbs, after having to sit for such an extended period of time.
She relaxed against a tree, though she stayed near to where the fire giants were. She still remembered how angry Stryme had been, when the fairies had mesmerized her. Not to mention she had no wish to run into the mountain cats that roamed these mountains.
She found her eyes closing, as sleep called to her. She still hadn’t recovered from waking up so early this morning.
“Are you well rested? It’s time for us to get going.” Stryme's voice woke Elizabeth.
He shook her shoulder, and she jerked awake until she realized who it was.
“Sorry.” She raised a hand to her head. “This ride into the mountains is turning out to be a lot longer than I thought it would be.” She threw in the last bit, to see if he would say where they were going.
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Of course.” She said, a little disappointed he didn't seem to want to let her know what was going on. She feared asking though. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know where they might be going.
Maybe he was finally going to release her, and she wasn’t sure she wanted that. She had her people to save, but she knew her heart now belonged to Stryme.
Elizabeth pushed herself up and followed Stryme back to the horses that were ready and waiting for them.
Again, they were off heading through the forest.
As the day went by, Elizabeth wondered if they had started to go back to the giant castle. There really was no way for her to know. The forest just looked like a forest to her.
Elizabeth tried to keep up a conversation with Stryme, but it was more than just difficult. It was impossible. He would only give her brisk answers.
Finally, as night stretched it's dark fingers into the sky and the stars started to glitter with glee, Elizabeth decided to press him for some answers.
“Stryme,” She said as she pushed her horse up beside his, “are we going back to the castle anytime soon?”
He didn't answer her, so she pulled her horse to a stop.
“I’m not going anywhere, until you tell me something. This tight lipped act is rubbing on my nerves.” She stated stubbornly with a slight pout around her mouth. She had tried being patient, but now she just wanted answers.
Seeming frustrated at her out burst, he whipped his horse around and stopped. They stared at each other for a couple of minutes. The fire giants around them gave them some space.
“Trust me, Elizabeth. You’ll enjoy our final destination.”
“I do trust you, but I want to be included on where we are going. I know it isn't the castle. We would have been there before now.” Elizabeth pressed him.
“You want to know where we are going?” There was a flare of displeasure in his dark eyes. “So be it. We are going to the human kingdom, so you can finally help your people.” He growled at her. He seemed to want to take back the words, once they were out.
Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. He was finally doing what she had always wanted. So why was her heart breaking in her chest? She felt like screaming no, but she kept herself in check.
“Why?” She asked under her breath, but just loud enough for him to hear her question.
“Because you want to go and save your people. I finally realized, you’d never be happy with me, if I keep you against your will.”
When she just stared at him, he burst out hotly, “If you are upset, we can always head back to my castle.”
Elizabeth was tempted to say yes, but this was the chance she and Sarah had been hoping for. He was delivering her to the other kingdom himself. She would finally have the chance to save her people from the rock giants.
“Thank you.” She smiled at him, but he didn't return it.
She was so excited, and it shocked him to the core. Stryme had been hoping she would show some sign of not wanting to go back to the human world. He’d been hoping she would want to go back to his castle to stay with him.
His black mood seemed like it would never lift. Again he found himself praying his mother was right.
They stopped for camp, since Elizabeth couldn’t stay awake in her saddle, and he hadn't wanted her to slip and harm herself.
Since it was warm enough, he decided they would sleep under the stars without their tents. This would also save them some time in the morning. The quicker he got her out of his sight, the easier it would be for him.
Elizabeth was already fast asleep. He wished he could join her and have her small soft body flush against his.
He changed his thoughts quickly, before he drove himself mad. Returning her to the human realm was going to be the death of him or an ultimate test of his strength.
The urge to break something flowed strongly through his veins. He didn’t want to hand her over, but they’d already made it this far. In the end, he just wanted Elizabeth to be happy.
He laid his fur on the ground, and then spread out on top of it, his hands braced under his head. Staring up at the sky allowed him to relax a little. As he heard her sleeping soundly nearby, his contentment faded away.
Rolling around so his back was towards her, he tried to tune out her heavy breathing, but was unable. At some point, in the night he rose from his position and disappeared into the dark forest. He had to walk off his frustration.
How had he been convinced into giving her to another man?
The thought of another man touching her sent him over the edge. He was far enough from the camp that no one could hear him, as he tore the branches from trees in frustration. He needed to vent, and trees were the best things he could find.
For having slept on the ground, Elizabeth had to admit she was extremely well rested. She was about to save her people, and her heart felt as light as a feather. But the thought of never being with Stryme weighed heavily on her shoulders.
She had expected to be the last one ready to go, but when she glanced around, the men were still relaxing around the camp. The horses were ready, and she wondered what might be going on.
Elizabeth stood and looked for Stryme.
When she did find him, she couldn't believe her eyes. He was fast asleep, with slight snores coming from his open mouth. Had the ride taken that much out of him or had he been up extremely late last night?
All the warriors around the camp were minding their own business, so Elizabeth decided to do the same. She went back to her spot on the ground and sat there waiting. She wasn’t going to be the one to wake Stryme, because she still wasn’t sure she wanted to go back to her life.
After some time, Stryme finally stirred. He wasn’t yet awake, but getting there. She watched, as his eyelids opened, and he sat up straight as he realized what time it must be. With a grumble, he looked at all his warriors just standing about.
Stryme stood and started yelling in their language. Elizabeth understood absolutely none of it, but understood he was irate no one had woken him.
With a shake of her head, she ignored him and rolled up her fur. They both weren’t happy about her returning to her world, but it had to be done.
A smile tried to spread across her lips, but as she turned to watch Stryme pack up, it slipped away.
He’d become her dream. With a sigh, she watched him. She was going to miss his attitude, his chiseled jaw line, crimson eyes, onyx hair, and all those well-toned muscles. Everything about him screamed man and appealed to the primitive woman inside her.
Sure, he had some flaws, but she could see them being together. She could also see them having a lot of problems to solve as well, but that would be expected. They both came from different cultures.
Turning away she wondered about the prince she would have to marry. She had never met him and didn't even know
what he was like.
Perhaps, she would feel the same way about the prince as she did about Stryme. There was doubt lingering in her mind, but she still tried to be optimistic about her future. This was what she had wanted.
A hand landed on her shoulder, stirring her from her thoughts.
“Ready?” A deep voice asked from behind her. “I want to make up for the time we’ve lost.”
She nodded, not wanting to face him. There were so many emotions running through her. She was having a hard time figuring them all out.
“Then we will be leaving.” He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her onto her horse. He gave her a brief nod and headed off to his own horse. Then led the way.
Chapter 17
The day passed quickly. When night came, they picked another spot for camp. Elizabeth was relieved. Two days of riding was wearing on her. Riding was one of her passions, but she preferred it in moderation.
Towards the evening, the clouds had turned ominous and dark, threatening to unleash rain on their traveling party. Camp was set up efficiently, like usual. Once Stryme finished putting up their tent, he guided her to the fire pit to grab something to eat.
Elizabeth was antsy about sleeping in the tent with him. With the way he was acting, she was sure he would just roll over and ignore her presence. She didn't want to deal with his aloofness.
She ate what was given to her and waited for Stryme to finish talking with his warriors.
“I’m going ahead to scout with some of my warriors. I don’t want there to be any humans in our path. We should reach the outskirts of the human kingdomearly tomorrow.” He seemed to have found a reason why he wouldn't be sleeping in the tent with her.
Elizabeth heaved a sigh and went over to the tent. She was becoming used to his aloof mood, but it still hurt that he wouldn't want to spend their last night together. Though it would make their parting easier.
She wanted to be in his arms for one last night. She wanted to be reminded what it was like to feel loved, before she met a man she’d never known.
