Nameless (Nameless #1)(47)

Joshua ran off and was back a moment later with both Mrs. Drea and a furious-looking Gryphon. “All she did was explain how to care for his arm and ask that he come back in a week to have it looked at. That’s it!”

Mrs. Drea pushed both boys aside. Zo flinched under her hands as Mrs. Drea peeled away the remains of the ruined dress. “We’ve never had a Nameless healer. Ram women don’t like being told what to do,” said Mrs. Drea.

“This isn’t her fault,” Joshua protested. “She was only doing what you asked.”

Mrs. Drea shook her head. “No. This is my fault. I should have warned the girl.” It was the first time Zo had heard an admission of guilt from a Ram.

Gryphon picked up Zo’s kit and started gathering oils. He motioned to Joshua. “Use your knife to cut the back out of the dress.”

Mrs. Drea walked toward the door. “I’m going to pay a little visit. I’ll come with another one of my old dresses later. I have a feeling the Nameless won’t want anything touching her back any time soon.”

She was giving Zo some of her own clothes. Something that she’d actually worn. The simple offering made Zo’s eyes sting. She sniffled, confused by the kindness that contradicted what she knew to be true about the Ram. “You’ll want to cut one inch strips out of the cloth,” Zo said to Joshua as he gently cut a giant square into the fabric on her back. With every tiny movement a new wave of pain prickled throughout her body.

But all she could think about was Tess, the Ram woman Stone loved whose fate she now carried, and the red brand of hatred burning a hole in her chest.





Chapter 24





“Tell me what to do.” Gryphon felt like they had just done this. Probably because they had.

“Soak the cloth in this, this, and this.” She pointed to three different oddly shaped bottles. “Then lay them along the cuts.”

Gryphon obeyed. She flinched every time he touched her. Every time.

And how could he blame her when nearly every experience she’d had with Ram ended violently? Beatings from Gate Master Leon, the pitchfork, and now this. Even he had handled her roughly in the forest and practically strangled her in the cave. He placed another strip. The oils ran down her back like tears.

“I’m so sorry, Zo.” Joshua gave voice to the way Gryphon felt.

“It’s not your fault, Ginger.”

She shivered under Gryphon’s touch as he placed another strip of cloth on her back. “I’ll start a fire,” he offered.

Zo nodded, but her eyes stayed frozen on the ground. Her dark hair fell in layers around her face.

“I’ll do it!” Joshua rushed outside to gather wood, leaving Gryphon alone with Zo.

“I really am sorry, Zo.” Gryphon soaked another strip of cloth before gently placing it on her back. It was becoming easier to say her name.

The girl blinked hard, as if awakening from a serious train of thought. “For what? My back? For murdering the Wolf? For taking me away from … ” She wiped fresh tears and dropped her head. “You warned me about my tongue.”

Gryphon wished he could explain. Wished he could make some of this—any of this—right. But how could he tell her about the Wolf in the barn without ruining all of his plans? The Wolves were making alliances with the other clans. This was bigger than his unfathomable desire to please Zo. His enemy.

It just was.

Fresh lyrics came to his mind. The melody carrying them was ragged and slow. Pathetic like he was. A song about midnight hair and hypnotizing blue eyes.

Ajax was right. He was weak.





Zo spent two long nights sitting on a bench with her head resting on a table for support. She fell in and out of sleep, usually waking to the sound of her own screams. Nightmares of Tess and the Gate Master filled her mind. Sometimes the Seer, with her dark beady eyes, would stare down at her and say, “I can still see you, Wolf.” At other times her dreams took her to a room without doors or windows. Just her and her guilt filling up every inch of space.

She knew it wasn’t reasonable to take blame for what had happened to her parents, or Tess, or even Gabe. They had all made their decisions or been affected by the hatred of others. While her waking brain comprehended such logic, her subconscious disagreed. Then there was the added pressure of trying to escape. Plus the confusion that accompanied trying to help the mysterious Ram carrying a Nameless babe.

Zo closed her eyes to attempt sleep when the door to the Nameless quarters flew open and banged against the wall. “Zo, we need you!” Gryphon stood with his mess brother, Ajax, bouncing impatiently at his side.

“What is it?” she stammered, raising one hand to block out the blinding light of Gryphon’s torch.

“Just bring your kit and come.”

The fresh scabs on her back tugged and split as she obeyed the order. Once outside, Gryphon grabbed Zo’s hand and raced after Ajax into the darkness. Every footstep sparked fire to her back, but Zo didn’t bother complaining.

“Not much farther.” Gryphon seemed to read her mind. She wanted to collapse from pain.

They approached a farm set back in the trees. The flicker of candlelight pulsed from the windows of the small house, making it seem alive from a distance. By the time they reached the porch, warm trails of blood rolled down Zo’s back. She swayed and Gryphon had to catch her before she fell walking up the wooden steps.