Clanless (Nameless #2)(75)

“She is my family,” said Gryphon.

“A sister? That’s impossible. You’re a Ram. She’s a Wolf.”

Gryphon smiled at the thought of being compared to Zo as a brother. If Ikatou looked between them for some sign of similarity, he wouldn’t find it. Zo was a Wolf and stunning, all long lines and grace. He was built like a boulder, with too much nose and temper.

Gryphon shook his head. “I’d do anything to keep her safe. We are not the same blood. But she is my family.”

“Would her father agree?” Ikatou raised an eyebrow.

Gryphon bristled. What right did this Bear have to question him? He had far less claim on Zo than even Gryphon had. “Her parents are gone from this world.”

Ikatou nodded. “How do I know you aren’t a spy sent by Barnabas to learn the location of the Allied Camp?”

Gryphon’s face burned hot. “Is that what this is about?”

“A lone Ram? A deserter? Your kind doesn’t leave the Gate without a purpose.”

“I had a purpose,” Gryphon snarled. The constant throb in his arm only added to his anger—a reminder of his losses. He was lucky he still had an arm after Zander’s strike.

“If you’re not a spy, why did you leave?”

He decided the simple truth was better than throwing his last good fist into the man’s face. He lowered his voice. “Because I’m in love with her.” He glanced back to see if Zo heard, but her attention was all for Joshua.

“She and the boy are all I have left.” His Adam’s apple leapt up and down.

Ikatou eyed Gryphon from the side. “If she were my daughter, I would kill you and not take the chance.”

“You could certainly try.” Gryphon’s good hand hovered over the hilt of his sword.

Ikatou shook his head and looked out across the horizon. They’d been walking downhill all day with a clear view of the lower portions of the mountain range. “It’s not my place to interfere.” They walked a few more steps. “But I’ve lived among Clanless men. I know what that honorless breed is like. She deserves more than a man without a banner.”

Gryphon had battled that same reasoning since he left the Gate. But having her here with him. Seeing her smile, as though some of the momentous weight that once sat upon her shoulders was lifted, feeling like he had something to do with that … it mattered. He mattered, to her and to Joshua.

“She is my clan now,” he said.

Ikatou narrowed his eyes. “If you hurt her, I swear on all the jewels of my homeland, I’ll kill you.”

“If I hurt her, I’ll deserve it.”





After evening meal, most of the men fell asleep around the fire. Zo, Gryphon, and Joshua sat awake watching the flames. The fire cast every angle of Gryphon’s face in a different light and shadow. His thoughts were completely lost to Zo, as unpredictable and blurred as the shadowed planes of his face. Light or shadow, Zo loved it all with such frightening adoration that it brought about as much agony as it did pleasure. Nothing in life lasted forever. The death of her parents taught her as much. The more a person gained, the more they had to lose.

Joshua threw a piece of bark into the fire; his eyes glued to the hypnotic movement of the flames. “Will the Allies like us?”

“People of the Allies are highly secretive. They won’t appreciate your presence.” Zo squeezed Gryphon’s good hand. “Not until they understand what you’ve done for them.” She looked up into his piercing gaze and melted. “What you’ve done for me.”

“And Gabe will be there too,” said Joshua, matter-of-factly.

Gryphon looked away and the moment soured into something different. Something forced. She waited a minute before pulling her hand free of Gryphon’s to throw another log on the already healthy fire. She folded her arms around her legs when she sat back down, considering Gabe and his betrayal.

“Will you take a walk with me?” she said to Gryphon.

“I’ll come.” Joshua hopped up and dusted leaves and grass from his pants. “Where are we going?”

Gryphon kept his expression guarded. He hadn’t moved from his position on the ground.

She looked away from the fire to hide her blush. “I actually need to speak with Gryphon.” She cleared her throat. “Alone.”

Despite his injury, Gryphon was standing almost before she had time to turn back and face them. She smiled, her cheeks even hotter than they were before, and reached for his good hand. “We won’t be long, Ginger.”

“I’ll just wait here, alone, by myself then,” Joshua grumbled as they headed into the darkness.

The moon above reminded Zo of the symbol of the Allies. Something growing, waxing, and beautiful. The small light it afforded made their walk perilous but also gave the stars a chance to really shine.

Zo didn’t immediately speak, didn’t trust herself to say what needed to be said without sounding like a complete fool. Gryphon cared for her, she knew that much, but did he crave her the way she did him?

“If you need time to sort things out with Gabe, I’ll understand.”

Zo’s head shot up and she tripped on a low hanging branch. Gryphon saved her from falling by wrapping his uninjured arm around her waist. She clung to him as he righted her, desperate to absorb his strength for just a little longer. She turned and looked up into his handsome face, past the gentle curve of his lips, until their eyes met. He cleared his throat and Zo turned back to the trail.