Nameless (Nameless #1)(28)

Gryphon frowned at the memory of the young boy trying to string an arrow. The slight adjustment he had made to alter his aim that cost him the kill. “Yes, it did.”

“You spared him. Why?”

The healer stopped cleaning the prisoner’s hand. She peeked at Gryphon from the corner of her blue eyes.

“Tell me about your tattoo, Wolf. The one on your arm.”

“Will you tell me why you spared the boy?”

Gryphon pounded his fists into his forehead. “Why do you think? Do you find pleasure in killing children?”

“I’m not a Ram.”

Gryphon growled under his breath. He didn’t have time for this. There was really only one way to confirm his suspicion that the Wolf and healer were working together. Gryphon had hoped it wouldn’t come to this …

He yanked the healer to his chest, whipped her around, and wrapped two hands around her neck. She kicked and bucked, using both of her hands to pull apart his deadly grip. The girl was stronger than she looked.

“What are you doing?” Like a swift change in the wind, the arrogance of the Wolf evaporated into fear. More fear than he’d shown when he stood alone to face Gryphon the day he was captured. More fear than he’d likely shown the interrogators.

Gryphon’s hands closed around her neck. He was careful to put pressure in key areas. The girl struggled, using her sharp nails to claw at his flesh. She gasped and whined.

The worst sound Gryphon had ever heard.

Gryphon’s hands overlapped her delicate neck. She stopped fighting, her hands resting on his, her piercing eyes looking directly into his. Acceptance. She must have never really believed he’d spare her.

Gryphon wanted to comfort her. To explain that he wasn’t really killing her. His stomach rolled. He tasted bile.

“I’ll tell you what you want to know!” the Wolf yelled.

The girl passed out. Gryphon gently laid her on the damp floor, keeping her head in his lap. She wouldn’t be unconscious for long, but the Wolf didn’t know that.

“What have you done!” The Wolf jumped up and fought against his chains. A vein in his forehead bulged with fury. “I’ll kill you, Ram! I swear I’ll kill you!”

Gryphon raised his hands. “She’s not dead.”

The Wolf yanked on his chains like a rabid beast. When he finally sank to the floor in exhaustion, the blood drained from his face. His chest rose and fell with exaggerated effort. “What have I done?” He pushed his palms to his eyes, as if to block tears. “I’ve killed her.” Leaning forward, he rocked back and forth on his elbows and knees, openly weeping.

Gryphon should have felt proud. He had the key to breaking the Wolf. Somehow, the victory soured at the sight of this man before him. Brave enough to give his life to defend his own men, but too weak to put his cause before a woman.

Holding her now, Gryphon felt he understood.

“I will not harm this girl if you answer my questions.”

The Wolf snorted, biting his fist in agony. “How can I trust you? When you have what you want, you’ll kill her.”

Gryphon stared at him for a long while until the Wolf’s wild eyes focused on his. He took out a long dagger from a hidden sheath at his calf and sliced his own hand. “On my honor, the girl will live if you help me.” Gryphon stretched out his bloodied hand.

The Wolf eyed it with contempt. Then his gaze rested on the healer, and he broke. “There is no hell hot enough for me after this.” He took Gryphon’s hand and shook it. “What do you want to know?”





Chapter 15





Zo’s head weighed too heavy for her neck to support. The gentle rocking motion made her want to sleep forever. Light brushed her eyelids in abrupt patches. The brightness teased her awake until she blinked away the sun.

“You’re going to have a headache.” Gryphon cradled her in his arms as he walked. His chest warmed her side, while her free side numbed from the cold.

Startling recollection rushed through Zo’s mind. The cave. Gabe’s horrific injuries. Gryphon wringing the air out of her lungs. She looked up at him and instinctively moved her hands to protect her throat. “Put me down.”

Gryphon looked at her hands and frowned. “I’m sorry about that. It was the only way to know for sure.”

“I said, put me down!”

Gryphon stopped walking and let her slide out of his arms.

Zo couldn’t get hold of her nerve. There was no chance that Gabe hadn’t reacted to Gryphon’s attack. He was a classic hothead. Especially when she was involved. She straightened her clothes and yanked her headscarf from Gryphon’s shoulder. “Are you going to kill me?”

He folded his arms and leaned back onto the trunk of a tree. “Do you want me to?”

She sneered. “I don’t care what you do, just don’t stand there acting superior.” The words rolled out of her mouth before she could harness them.

Gryphon’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t have to. Your tongue will get you killed soon enough.”

They locked eyes for several minutes, until realization hit Zo like a brick to the face. “Wait. You’re going to let me go?”

Gryphon shrugged. “I took you to the cave to make sure I could trust you. I thought the Wolf would recognize you, or at least make a move to save you when I grabbed you.” He shook his head. “Even if you do have some Wolf in your veins, you must not be that important.”