Read Clanless for Free Online

heart. Her vision tilted to the right and then the left, as if she were on a rocking ship. Meanwhile Eva began rolling blankets and securing packs. “What are you doing?” said Zo as she pinched the skin on the back of Joshua’s hand to check his hydration level.
    “The boy’s awake. We’ll be leaving soon,” said Eva.
    Joshua raised a hand in question. “Did she just call me a boy?”
    “He just woke up. He needs more time.” What Zo really meant was, I need more time . This tree was special. Under these boughs Gryphon had held her. Kissed her. It was her last connection to him and she didn’t want to give it up.
    Lock your heart, Zo.
    “I don’t need more time,” said Joshua. “I actually feel kind of amazing.”
    “You’re sure?”
    Joshua turned over and did a quick set of push-ups on his fists to illustrate his point. “I just hope you ladies can keep up.” His grin spread the length of his face.
    Joshua had endured so much. Zo needed to protect him from learning the truth about Gryphon. At least for a time.
    Eva shook her head in disappointment, and crawled out from under the tree with the others, leaving Zo with only her deception for company.

Chapter 5

     
     
    Gryphon should have killed Zander before making his escape. Revenge demanded it. But his vengeance wouldn’t end there. Zo was so innocent, and so much better than Zander, that the old adage of a life for a life didn’t apply.
    Ajax. His brother. His best friend in this world. The man who’d helped him escape death. He needed to die as well for following Zander’s orders.
    How quickly adoration turned to hatred.
    As soon as he kept his promise to Zo and helped the Raven evacuate their hidden home, he’d track Zander and Ajax down. The hunter would become the hunted and justice would be served.
    Gryphon kept pace with the rest of the men, barely aware of his surroundings. He followed, but his desire to save these savages who hated him didn’t seem to mean as much without Zo. With her death, he realized something disappointing about himself: he was selfish.
    Zo’s mere existence made him challenge everything he believed about people outside Ram’s Gate. One look from her and he wanted to be better than he was. He wanted to prove that his people weren’t the monsters she believed them to be. Not all of them. Not him. Now he didn’t know what to believe.
    They ran for the better part of three days. Gabe and the Raven didn’t seem to ever tire. By the time they stopped at the base of an enormous tree, Gryphon nearly collapsed at their feet.
    “These Birds know how to travel,” Gryphon wheezed beside Gabe. They hadn’t spoken since Gryphon had learned about Zo. Neither wanted to discuss their loss. Or their future.
    “They’re smaller than you. Lighter. Faster. You might beat them in a fight, but you have to catch them first,” Gabe said, panting
    Gryphon nodded because it used less air to do so. He pointed at the line the Raven had formed to climb a tree using man-made pegs spiraling up its thick trunk.
    “What’s up there?” Gryphon gestured to dense canopy above.
    Gabe smiled. “You’ll see.”
    Gryphon climbed the tree last. The pegs were made of sturdy wood and so natural looking he doubted he would have spotted them on one of his routine excursions with his mess unit. The curling climb went slowly. The higher he ascended the more the ground seemed to spin, jumping up and back with nauseating inconsistency. His legs shook by the time he broke through the thick canopy high above the ground and dropped to a platform made of wooden planks. Branches of the monstrous tree jutted through the floor. “I think I might be sick,” said Gryphon.
    Around him, nearly fifty Raven smirked at his condition, and even Gabe nudged him with a stupid grin on his face. “You’re sort of pathetic,” he said. “I think it does everyone good to see you this way. The mighty Ram as green-faced as a tree nymph.”
    “Remind me again why