On the Move Read Free

you something better to think about than to listen to your leader?”
    “Yes. I do. I have the well-being of the clans to think about.” He bit his tongue, but the words were already hanging in the air, heard by Xavier, and the rest of the leaders.
    Xavier snorted and an uneasy ripple of whispers passed among the seated leaders. All eyes turned to Griffin and Xavier.
    “Rise then and give us your wisdom.” Xavier’s mocking voice rang out. “What have you to say about the well-being of the clans? That well-being is my responsibility, not yours.”
    Griffin rose, noting the position of Xavier’s guards, watching as they all took a step toward the two men. He turned his eyes back to Xavier.
    “This ritual isn’t just for mating with…the woman. You have an ulterior motive. You want us—make us—fight among ourselves for the chance to breed. At the last ritual, Ramos was almost killed. We should be fighting for our success, not fighting against each other in the name of that success.”
    Xavier’s eyes narrowed and he stared at Griffin. “You have been warned before, Griffin, about speaking out against my rules. And now you dare to speak out in front of all the clan leaders.” He swept his arm around the circle of men, then stabbed his index finger into Griffin’s chest.
    “You have challenged me one time to many, Griffin. For this, you are banned from the ritual. You are to be held under guard, and then you and I will fight for the leadership of these clans once and for all.”
    Xavier stepped closer, the firelight catching the smirk on his face. “Unless you refuse to fight, on grounds we would be fighting against each other?”
    Griffin drew a breath. “In your case, I would make the exception.” His words echoed in the still air, and there was another ripple among the men.
    “I will fight you, one on one, for the chance to lead these men and protect our clans.”
    “You are insane, Griffin. You’ve given up your precious woman for the greater good? For your ideals?” Xavier spat on the ground between them. “You are a fool. And no one wants a fool for a leader.”
    He spun away from Griffin as his guards stepped forward. They grabbed his upper arms, dragging him away from the circle. In the flickering light of the fire, Griffin watched Ramos rise, slipping silently into the jungle. Glancing at Xavier, he saw the man was too engrossed in conversation with Kade to notice.
    The guards dragged him to a small hut, took his knife, and pushed him inside. He stood in the dark, listening as they set the wooden gate over the opening, driving pegs through vine loops to secure it in place. He knew he could easily break through, but he also knew two guards would be waiting for him, knives drawn. And he’d be killed for escaping, just as quickly.
    He walked carefully across the room, and stood at the edge of the pallet that lay on the floor. The pelts smelled bad and were probably full of vermin. With his foot, he swept them off the pallet, then sat down. It wasn’t much cleaner, but he lay down anyway.
    Addison’s face rose in his memory, the sound of her voice, the scent of her skin after he’d lain with her. She would be sleeping on a bed tonight, a better one than this, he knew. And tomorrow she would be treated like a queen, bathed and pampered, anointed with oil, and dressed with care.
    He smiled in the dark; she’d finally have her bath. Then his smile faded.
    It had been foolish to challenge Xavier in front of the leaders, simply because Xavier would not—could not—back down from that kind of challenge. In his heart of hearts, Griffin knew that. But he could not hold back, could not resist speaking out.
    And now he’d lost his chance to fight for Addison. The only thing she’d asked him to do, it was now the only thing he could not do.
    Rolling over, he pulled his cape over his shoulders and tried to sleep. He’d need his strength when it came time to fight Xavier.
    But he was wide awake when he