Nameless (Nameless #1)(63)

As everyone gathered shields and weapons to leave, Gryphon pulled Ajax aside. “You’re coming with me.”

“I have to get home to Sara.”

Gryphon kept hold of Ajax’s arm. “Sara and the baby are at my family home.”

Ajax outpaced Gryphon as they headed down the path that led to Gryphon’s home. “What’s going on?”

Gryphon didn’t mince words. “Would you leave the Gate to save your child?”

Ajax’s eyes doubled in size. “You can’t be serious. My family can’t survive alone outside the Gate.”

“What if I found someone to help you? Someone who could take you to another clan? Would you go?” Gryphon didn’t dare mention that Ajax’s family would be traveling with three Wolves and most likely, Joshua. Better to ease him into the idea.

Ajax’s eyes grew clouded. His grip tightened around his spear. “I … Is there no other option that you can think of?”

Gryphon put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I can’t see another course, brother.”

Ajax still couldn’t seem to answer.

“Joshua’s in trouble, Jax. I don’t have time to explain, but if you want to leave the Gate, I will help get your family outside the walls.”

“When?”

Gryphon didn’t have an answer. It seemed like his whole life was swirling faster and faster into a dangerous vortex. “Soon. Maybe tomorrow. .”

Ajax looked like Gryphon had just punched him in the face. “Would you come with us?” he gasped.

Gryphon grabbed a fistful of his own hair. “I don’t know.”

He couldn’t imagine not having Joshua in his life, but knew Zo would kill for the boy. Her face instantly came to mind: her full lips and defined cheekbones, her perfect blue eyes and defiant stare. The idea of losing both her and Joshua forever was almost as terrifying as losing his home. His honor. Everything he’d worked for.

I’m going insane.

Zo didn’t even care about Gryphon. Likely hated him. But for some ill-conceived reason, that didn’t matter. Gryphon wanted to be near her, wherever that was.

But then he thought of the Wolf. Zo would never prefer Gryphon, her enemy, to one of her own kind. And did he really want to leave everything to watch Zo commit to another man?

For the first time ever, he suddenly regretted sparing Gabe’s life.





Chapter 33





Zo ran through the thick foliage at a reckless pace. Branches and briars tugged and tore her dress as she moved. But she didn’t care. Nothing mattered until she held her little sister in her arms.

When she reached the farmland surrounding Gryphon’s home she was completely out of breath. Mrs. Drea had her back to Zo, beating out the wool rugs. Zo didn’t want to explain her frazzled state to Gryphon’s mother, so she made a large arc around the field near the edge of the woods, and approached the log house from the rear.

Gryphon must be inside, she thought.

Suddenly, a large man stepped out of the trees. His clothes were tattered rags, his messy light blond hair matched a patchy beard and mustache. Zo tensed and took a step backward.

Gabe?

He couldn’t be real. She’d seen him die with her own eyes. Gryphon had strangled him the same way he’d almost killed her in the cave.

Not strangled. Just rendered unconscious.

The trees around her began to spin. Zo dropped to her knees and gasped.

Gryphon stepped out of the trees to join Gabe. The two men walked toward her like giant sentinels. Gryphon, dark as midnight. Gabe, light in both features and aura.

Gabe rushed forward and scooped her into a spinning embrace with his good arm. His left shoulder was bandaged over the stab wound Gryphon had inflicted on the platform.

It was too much to believe possible. Zo couldn’t find her voice.

“I never thought I’d see you again!” said Gabe. His grip on her was painfully tight.

“Gabe,” she gasped. “You’re such an idiot. You should have stayed away.” Zo didn’t remember giving herself permission to cry. She wiped tears on her sleeve and searched his face to make sure it was really him. “You died. I watched you.”

But he hadn’t died. And that could mean only one thing. She turned to Gryphon. “You spared him?” Her tone was laced with accusation and awe. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Who was this Ram? Why would he risk everything to save Gabe? She shouldn’t have been angry, but all she could think about was punching Gryphon in the face.

Gryphon glanced away. Harsh shadows cast heavy lines around the strong line of his jaw and beneath the heavy hood of his brow.

“What’s wrong?” She looked at Gabe. His smile faltered then died. He rested his forehead on Zo’s, cupping the back of her head with one hand.

Zo took him by the wrists. “What happened?”

Gabe shook his head.

Zo pushed him away. “Tess. Where are Tess and Joshua?”

Gryphon kept his voice even, but the muscles in his neck jumped and contracted as he spoke. “Tess is with the Gate Master.”

Zo melted to the ground. “How … .”

“The Seer sent the Gate Master as a decoy. She guessed we’d move Tess if he warned us of her visit. Spies followed Joshua last night. I’m sure he and Tess didn’t make it more than a mile from the house before they were captured.”