Nameless (Nameless #1)(22)

Joshua seemed to lose his voice. The poor kid.

Gryphon forced the girl to stand. His fingers wrapped all the way around her biceps. Breakable. Weak. His hold loosened, until he remembered his orders. It was as though Zander’s voice tumbled along the walls of his thoughts, stirring a sense of duty he felt toward his brothers and clan. “If you value the lives of your family, you will kill every Wolf on sight. No exceptions.”

But how could he kill her?

The girl looked up at him, as if reading his thoughts. Her lower lip trembled from the cold of the night, or perhaps it was fear. Fear of knowing she would soon die.





Chapter 12





“Go ahead and do it.” Zo’s legs buckled beneath her. Gryphon let her sink to her knees on the cold earth.

“You can throw my body into the river when you’re done.” The Allies watched the river. Someone would know Tess was alone. Commander Laden would send a team to retrieve her. The Ram would move south and the Wolves, with the help of the Allies, would be prepared to fight. Tess would be free before the end of this year.

She would.

Joshua joined Zo on the ground and put an arm around her. “Don’t worry, Zo. Gryphon’s not going to kill you.”

Joshua looked up at Gryphon for reassurance.

“The chief will want to question her.” Gryphon frowned. “But I’ll speak for her, Joshua.”

“You’ll speak for her?” Joshua jumped to his feet. He had to crane his neck to meet Gryphon’s cold eyes. “You’ll speak for her!” He shoved him in the chest with both hands. Gryphon didn’t even sway from the contact. Joshua pushed him again and again until his shoving turned to full-on punching. Gryphon just stood there and took it, watching Zo with a hollow expression.

They all knew what would happen if Gryphon took her back.

Zo couldn’t stand it any longer. “Joshua, stop.” She used a low tree branch to help her stand. The muscles in her back throbbed from Gryphon’s rough handling. “I can speak for myself.”

The poor kid dropped to the ground. His head hung between his knees, he grabbed two fistfuls of his own red hair.

Zo stepped toward Gryphon. “Send the boy away. For his own sake.” Zo was in no position to make demands, but the prospect of losing her life made her bold. She wouldn’t be a victim any longer.

Gryphon studied her through the curtain of his dark hair. “He has a right to stay.”

Zo stepped closer until their toes almost touched and the smoke of her breath reached his dimpled cheek. Her voice barely carried over the sound of the river. “Kill me here. Don’t hand me over to the chief’s guards.” The image of the Gate Master entered her mind. “Please.” Her bright blue eyes met his. The time for submission had passed.

Gryphon shook his head, his jaw set.

“What?” She shoved him. “Too much of a coward to do the job yourself? Aren’t you a Ram?” She had to get him angry. No one would know to help Tess if Zo’s body didn’t end up in that river.

Gryphon tensed.

Joshua got up from the ground and put a hand on his mentor’s chest while looking at Zo. “That wasn’t a great thing to say,” he forced a whisper through his teeth. “I think you should let me do the negotiating from now on.”

Gryphon pushed Joshua’s hand away. The wrap around his wounded shoulder was dark with fresh blood. The bandage needed replacing. “Why did you come to the Gate when you knew we kill your kind?” he asked.

Zo chose her words carefully. Tess’ life depended upon them. “Why are you so convinced I’m a Wolf?”

“The Wolf I captured had that same mark on his shoulder.”

Zo opened her mouth to speak but no words came. The mark of the Allies was a well-kept secret. She wouldn’t be the one to divulge it. “The waxing moon is a common symbol of hope. I’m surprised you’ve never seen it before.”

“You look like a Wolf too.” Gryphon’s face colored and he looked away.

Zo sighed inwardly. It always came back to her cursed face. “Either kill me or don’t. Nothing I say will sway you.” She folded her arms and showed him her back. It was the ultimate sign of disrespect inside the Gate. She braced herself, ready for him to strike her, but nothing happened.

A lifetime passed before she heard the crunch of his approaching footsteps.

Gryphon walked around to face her. This was it. Tonight she would join her parents on the other side of this cruel life. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Please let Tess be safe. Please let her not mourn my death. Let Commander Laden find her.

Warm hands clamped down on her tied wrists.

Zo’s eyes shot open and all of her fears raced back in one swift, agonizing moment: torture, no body for Laden’s men to find, Tess alone, the Gate Master. “No, no. Don’t take me back there. Please!” her voice slipped and cracked. “Please! I’ll do anything! Just don’t take me to the Gate Master!”

Gryphon pressed the blade of his short sword to her neck. “I don’t trust you, Wolf,” he whispered. “If you ever do anything to harm my people, I swear I will end your life in a way that will make you regret ever surviving this night.”

Joshua ran up and hugged Gryphon. “Thank you! Thank you!”