Fearless (Nameless #3)(77)
He nodded, speechless.
Zo bent down to pick up his shirt. She gathered the material around the collar and pushed up to her toes to drape it over his head. She lost balance and his warm hands took her waist, wrapping most of the way around her middle to support her. His touch made it impossible to think of anything beyond the warmth of his body. She wanted to drop the shirt to the ground and melt into him.
“Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “You’re too tall. Bend a bit.”
A smile flirted with the corner of his mouth. He released her and obliged, bending at the waist in something of a bow so Zo could drape the shirt over his head. Zo grabbed a leather jerkin from the pile of armor as he threaded his arms into the sleeves of his white shirt.
She held up the jerkin vest and he slowly slipped his arms inside. The action turned him around. She let her hands slide along his waist as he moved back to face her. Zo’s fingers fumbled over the buckles of his vest. Gryphon’s chin found the top of her head. He exhaled deeply and lifted her thick midnight hair, pulling and twisting the thousands of dark strands until his fingertips knotted to her scalp at the base of her neck.
Zo’s shaking fingers slipped on the buckle again. It took all her focus not to abandon the task. Properly appreciating Gryphon’s touch required almost all her concentration.
She cupped the back of his knee for support as she fastened greaves to both shins. His hamstrings were pillars of rock, unmoving as she completed the task. His forearm braces came last. Zo fitted the braces into place then tightened the laces on the insides of his arms. She could feel his eyes boring into her, but didn’t trust herself to meet his gaze.
The Ram horn would soon sound, calling him away. Gryphon had to be ready.
She brushed away the tears that managed to get past her defenses and stepped back to appreciate her handiwork. Mixed emotions coursed through her at the sight of Gryphon in Ram armor. Too similar to the armor worn by the men who killed her parents so many years ago. It inspired fear and pain. Hopelessness in its most acute form.
But when Zo looked past the boiled leather and metal, an entirely different feeling swept over her. Peace. Protection. Compassion. Gryphon was the embodiment of goodness.
The conflicting emotions were a tempestuous tide where hot and cold water collided to form a deadly current.
Zo belted on his sword, wrapping her arms around his middle. He bent down and pressed her body into his, freezing the task in a most delicious way. “How have we come to this, Gryph?” She spoke into his chest, “It seems impossible. Like a dream.”
When she pulled back, his expression seemed heavy. “No matter what happens, Zo—”
“Stop.” She didn’t mean to raise her voice, but she didn’t want to hear those words. They were the words her mother and father said to her as they prepared to defend their home. She hated those words.
She handed him his shield. “What is it your women say?”
Gryphon reached out to caress her cheek. “Come back with your shield, or on it.”
Zo adamantly shook her head, grabbed his wrist, and kissed his palm. “That’s a terrible saying.”
Gryphon exhaled a painful sort of laugh. “It really is.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Zo.”
Breathe. I have to keep breathing.
“I love you, too.”
The deep grays and blues of early morning still shrouded the camp as the Allies came to life, preparing for battle. Clinking metal did little to distract him from his weighted thoughts. He received several sympathetic glances from his men making it clear that his fate was now public information. There was nothing like sympathy to help a man feel bad for himself.
Commander Laden materialized as an extra shadow among the trees. Gryphon soundlessly gathered his pack and rolled up his blanket before weaving through the men he’d grown to respect.
Gryphon hadn’t slept the night before. After a few hours spent talking with Joshua, the boy had finally fallen asleep. Gryphon had left the tent and wandered the trail that led through the long pass to the Valley of Wolves. It had been dark, but the moon cast enough light on the Valley for him to see how vast and flat it was. Perfect for farming.
Runners confirmed the Ram army camped on the other side of the two rivers. The meeting for this morning was scheduled at dawn. Gryphon looked over his shoulder at the line of guards trailing them by twenty yards. The rest of the Allies wouldn’t be far behind.
“Zo did a good job with that shield,” said Laden matter-of-factly as they walked.
“How did you know?”
“She asked for your things.” He looked over at Gryphon with pity, like he was already on the chopping block. “She loves you. It’s a lot to give up.”
Gryphon grumbled under his breath. He didn’t want to talk to Laden about Zo. Even the thought of her made his legs turn liquid.
Laden went on, “She understands the tradition, Gryphon. With that one gesture she all but asked you to marry her.”
“I know what it symbolizes,” hissed Gryphon.
“And you’re still ready to give her up?” Laden shook his head. “Sad.”
A hot fire burned within Gryphon. His jaw clamped tightly, his teeth ground together. Every word that escaped was clipped with heat. “What kind of man would I be without my honor?” Gryphon rubbed his face in his hands to loosen the tension stored there. He wanted to rip out his hair. “She deserves better.”