Ashes of War (Sons of War) Read online

  His wings caught an updraft and he was yanked out of his freefall. Leaning into his left side, he turned and flew over the mansion. From there, he spotted the ruins where Ashlynn had last been seen, about a quarter mile away.

  He touched down about fifteen feet from the stone remains of Garrick’s lab based on the backpack full of shit Gwen brought back. Actually, Ashlynn stuffed random items, from a laptop to flash drives and other devices Ty didn’t recognize, in the bag the day the lab exploded, not Gwen. Z was still searching through the computer files and breaking codes. They all hoped the information in the files would give them a one up on Garrick’s grand plan to take over Olympus.

  Shifting back to his human form and willing clothes to cover his body, he walked to the fallen building. He and Markus combed the area for anything useful to locate their quarries with no luck. It was as if they both disappeared from Earth. Gwen said the building blew up a moment after she was teleported out by Ashlynn, but she didn’t know anything else about how it exploded.

  He clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. His blood heated in his veins, intensifying his dragon’s rage. They needed to find Ashlynn because they refused to believe she was dead. Taking deep, calming breaths, Ty tried to rein in his dragon. “We’ll find her.”

  A twig snapped and he whirled to face the intruder. As soon as the redheaded goddess came into to full view, he froze and his heart pounded. Her hair hung in silky waves around her shoulders and her green eyes sparkled like emeralds. He let his gaze travel down her body. A tight black V-neck sweater and black jeans clung to her modest curves and his palms itched to touch her, to see if she was real.

  “Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day?” Ashlynn stepped toward him, her expression a mysterious blend of coyness and invitation.

  The dragon snapped his teeth and paced beneath his skin. A hot, dizzying rush of desire filled him. Ashlynn’s strawberry scent called to the beast, stirring a fiery need only she could calm. Every day and night she’d been gone, the dragon grew more impatient. Seeing her, being close enough they could touch in two long strides didn’t ease some of the darkness he succumbed to over the past weeks. No, being close to her raised a need within him that drove his dragon insane with lust.

  The man had no intentions on claiming the female. Not yet, anyway. How did he know she could be trusted?

  With a low growl to warn the dragon to back the fuck off, Ty watched her pass him to stare at the ruins. “Where have you been?” he gritted out.

  She took a deep breath before answering. “At my mother’s. Healing.”

  “Sounds like she lives nearby.”

  She turned to look at him, brows raised. “What if she did?”

  He growled and took one step forward, wrapped an arm around her waist to jerk her against him. Her body meshed into his, electrifying each nerve ending, and he tried to ignore how perfectly she fit against him. “Don’t play with me, female.”

  A sensual smile lifted her full, kissable lips. “Oh, believe me, I haven’t begun to play. Yet.”

  His dick jerked at the purr in her voice. He inhaled deeply, taking the scents of earth and forest around them. Ashlynn’s natural strawberry fragrance intensified, drowning out the other smells, silently telling him she was as turned on as him. With another low growl, he released her and stepped away.

  Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he gave her his back, not wanting her to see just how much she affected him. No, he couldn’t allow her to ever see his weakness, or any others he hid from the world. He needed to stay away from her or he might do something stupid—like fuck her and claim her as his dragon wanted.

  “Why are you here?” he bit out.

  “Same reason as you. I was looking for you.”

  He glared at her over his shoulder. “What makes you think I was looking for you?”

  She stared back at him, arms folded over her chest, and shrugged, but a smile lifted one corner of her lips. “I’m a goddess, remember?”

  Like he needed a reminder. The otherworldly glow of her skin told him she wasn’t lying about healing. “Artemis pull you out?” He nodded to the pile of stone.

  Her gaze flicked to the ruins. “Yes. She said I wounded Garrick pretty badly, although I don’t remember much after I teleported Gwen to safety. How is she?”

  He turned to face her fully, thrown off slightly by her short ramblings. “Gwen is well and safe with her mate.”

  “That’s good. I like her.”

  Ty’s lips twitched again and he decided he really needed to get the muscle spasms looked at. “Gwen kind of grows on you the more you’re near her.”

  Ash blinked at him and for a moment he thought she was about to give some kind of smart-assed response. Instead she looked away after a few moments to scan the area. “Look, I need to talk with you, but not here.”

  She pulled a slip of paper from her front jeans pocket and handed it to him. “That’s the address to my townhouse in Serenity Cove.”

  Then she dematerialized.

  Ty read the address and growled. How long had she lived in the same town as they while she worked for Garrick?

  ****

  Ash materialized inside her townhouse, her heart still stuttering and her body flushed from being so close to Ty. Gods, he looked good, and his scent… It clung to her, seeping into her mind and skin. Tamping down rising desire, she walked to the fridge and jerked it open to grab a bottle of water.

  What she was about to do went against all logic of being Ty’s judge and jury, however, Ash couldn’t see any other way to prove his innocence in regard to Elizabeth’s death. No one in Olympus could tell her anything other than he had done it. Yet, Ash’s gut told her there was more to the story, secrets the gods didn’t want to reveal.

  Her mother’s words rang inside her head. Seduce the dragon if you must. Either way, he will face judgment in seven days.

  A heavy knock sounded on the door, making her jump. Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a deep breath then pushed off the counter. She yanked the door open and strode to the living room, allowing Ty to follow her inside the townhouse. Her hands shook, but it wasn’t from fear. No, she didn’t fear him. She wanted him so badly it hurt to be close to him.

  Her only explanation for the reaction was she’d lost her edge, or perhaps she was just losing her mind. “Would you like a beer?” she asked, peeking over her shoulder.

  He shook his head and crossed his arms over his broad chest, pulling his long sleeved shirt tighter against his muscles. “What do you need to talk to me about?”

  She held her tongue like she’d done at the ruins of Garrick’s lab. Fighting with Ty would only make her job more difficult. She needed his trust and cooperation.

  Even though she could sense the darkness within him, she also picked up on his light—the little inner peace he clung to. Meeting his stare, she said, “I need your help, but I know you don’t trust me.”

  The muscles in his temples flexed. “I trust no one but my brothers.”

  Yes, she’d known that. Steeling her back, she stared into the dark lenses of the shades he always wore. “My true mission is to find Elizabeth’s killer and pass judgment.”

  He didn’t move, just stood there staring at her through those damned shades. “Why are you telling me?”

  She closed her eyes briefly before she sat on the sofa facing him. “I need you to trust me and help me. Lying to you about my true purpose would give you more reason not to trust me. I also need you to believe I’m on your side.”

  He let out a humorless laugh and unfolded his arms. “So coming clean is supposed to make me trust you? You have to earn my trust, female.”

  She didn’t need this shit. She stood, stepped into his space, and glared into the lenses of his shades. “Fine, then. You can leave. I’ll get my answers from Garrick instead.”

  She pushed past him, but he stopped her by grabbing her upper arm. Then he leaned close, his lips barely brushing her ear. “I didn’t say I wou
ldn’t help you.”

  “I can’t work with someone who doesn’t trust me.”

  She swore she saw the corner of his lips twitch before he said, “I learned a long time ago that the people closest to you can screw you, so don’t take it personally.”

  Jerking her arm free from his grasp, she walked to the refrigerator and pulled out two beers. She rounded the corner and ran into Ty. He slid his hands up her arms and held her in place. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. The intensity of his sage scent and the power surrounding him made her weak in the knees and heat pooled between her legs.

  A dark brow rose over the top rim of his shades. “We have to take care of one small issue first.”

  She swallowed, hating the weakness this man and his damn dragon created in her. “What’s that?”

  He pressed his cheek to hers, bit lightly on her ear lobe, and whispered. “I want to fuck you until you scream.”

  Well, damn.

  Beers forgotten, she dropped them, the bottles bounced on the carpet and rolled to clink against the coffee table leg. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she fisted her hands in his hair and kissed him.

  Chapter Three

  Ash bit down on Ty’s lower lip, drawing a low, husky half-growl, half-groan from him. He pressed his hard, jean covered erection into her abdomen. “Are you sure you want to play with a dragon?”

  She drew back to study the dark shades, desperately wanting to snatch them off his face so she could see his eyes. Yet she couldn’t do it, couldn’t take the sense of security or whatever he clung to away from him. He’d have to be ready to allow her access to all of him. “I’ve been ready to play with you.”

  “I’m not a gentle lover.”

  “I don’t need gentle right now.”

  A slight glow flickered from behind the lenses as he walked her backward until he pinned her against the wall. She tugged at his shirt until he backed away then yanked the thing over his head and let it fall to the ground. Following her lead, he had her sweater removed in a flash. Whether it was by magic or not, she didn’t care. Then, he ripped her pants off.

  She bit his ear and snarled. “I liked those jeans.”

  He sucked in a breath and pressed his still clothed lower body into her. “That’s too bad.”

  A shudder rippled through her at the sound of his arrogant, yet sexy, husky tone. She scored his shoulder blades with her nails and rotated her hips against him, drawing another growl from him.

  When she slid one hand down his back to the waistband of his jean, he gripped her wrist and jerked it over her head, pinning it to the wall. Scorching desire raced in her veins, making it impossible to think of anything beyond having him inside her.

  With his free hand, he tore her panties off then undid his jeans. She stifled a cry as he freed his cock and teased her clit. Her skin was on fire and way too sensitive to his every touch. Removing his shades, he tossed them on the coffee table behind him and dipped his head to trail kisses down her neck. When he reached the bend where it connected to her shoulder, he bit down. Sharp pain turned to intense pleasure, making her come on the spot.

  He slid inside her, filling her, stretching her. She lifted her legs, wrapping them around him and allowing him to go deeper. Gasping, she laid her head against the wall and arched her back.

  Ty thrust into her slowly at first, then faster, building until she screamed as her climax slammed into her. His body went taut right before he roared his own release.

  ****

  Ty rested his head against Ashlynn’s shoulder, every muscle relaxed and his dragon fully sated for the first time since before his capture. That alone should’ve been enough to make him leave. All he had to do was back away, put his cock back in his pants and grab his shirt then leave. Yet, he couldn’t find the mental strength to do it.

  Pulling out of Ashlynn’s tight pussy, he lowered her to her feet and turned his back to grab his sunglasses from the coffee table. The rustling of clothes told him she was dressing, but he didn’t dare look at her because his damn dragon wanted to bond with her, claim her as his mate. The damn beast.

  “I killed Elizabeth,” he said to break the awkward silence.

  “I don’t believe you did.”

  He whirled around, glad she was fully dressed as she sat on the sofa and watched him. The jeans he’d ripped off her still a pile of denim where he discarded them. “How can you be sure?”

  She averted her gaze and studied the carpet for a few moments before answering. “Remember, I gave my word not to lie to you because I need your trust in order to find out what happened to Eros’s daughter.” She inhaled, then exhaled slowly. “I’m a minor goddess of the hunt, but you already know that. Did you know I have the ability to connect with the animal world?”

  His pulse slowed and a sick feeling of dread churned in his gut. “I guess it comes with the title. I sense a ‘but’ in there.”

  She lifted her green gaze to his. “I can sense your dragon. I’m guessing I could connect with him like I can with other animal species.”

  “You guess?”

  “I haven’t tried. It’d be a violation of your free will.”

  He would have laughed, but the way she held eye contact and remained relaxed told him she spoke the truth. “Your gift tells you I’m innocent, even though you haven’t used it on me?”

  Her eyes narrowed and she worked her jaw as if choosing the right words. Ty suppressed his amusement. “It’s hard to explain. I just know. I’ve known since seeing you at the mansion.”

  “Try to explain.”

  “It’s more like a knowing. I could sense your dragon as well as your brothers’ dragons. Even though you hold onto the darkness more, I don’t feel evil within you like I do with Garrick. Your twisted brother has the capability to kill for his own enjoyment. It’s sickening. You don’t. You kill out of necessity or self-defense.” She paused and stared at him.

  He tried to think back on the day Zavier tore through the place he’d been held, but couldn’t remember. Everything played in his mind like broken pieces of a bad movie. Nothing made sense. Letting out a sigh, he turned to pace to the window and scanned the streets below. “I don’t remember much after my dragon took control of my mind. Zavier said Elizabeth was dead when he arrived.”

  Fabric sliding across the leather couch made him turn his head enough to watch Ashlynn from the corner of his eye. She stood and advanced to stand next to him. “It is possible Garrick killed her and made you believe you did it.”

  He angled his body so he faced her and leaned against the window frame. “How?”

  She watched the people mill about the busy street below. “Garrick has potion makers working for him in the Imperial Order. He also has a couple of magic weavers. He could have used one or both to erase your memories enough so you wouldn’t know if you did it or not. My guess is he counted on the fact you’d take the blame, given your state of mind.”

  He let out a low growl of annoyance. “What would you know about my state of mind?”

  She tilted her head back slightly to study him and frowned. “I was given some details before I was sent on the mission. I was told you’d submitted to your dragon and went insane, but that day at the mansion—outside your room—I didn’t sense any insanity. I felt anger, rage, and mistrust. That is when I decided I needed more information. I believe someone else killed Elizabeth and wanted you to take the fall for it.”

  He cursed low and pushed away from the window to pace the apartment. Garrick had motive to do it and blame him. “Garrick blames me for Sophia’s death.”

  Ashlynn tilted her head and watched him. “How so?”

  Ty stopped pacing and faced her. “Because her unborn child was mine.”

  She opened her mouth, closed it, and her eyes darkened slightly. “But they were mated, weren’t they?”

  Ty nodded. “Sophia and I were close friends. About a month before Garrick claimed her as his, we spent a weekend together. She said she was attracted to both
of us, but wanted to be sure which one of us was her true mate.”

  He fisted his hands and clenched his teeth. “I believe she played both Garrick and me. She wanted both of us, but neither one of us wanted to share. Plus, I didn’t love her the way Garrick did.”

  “So she got pregnant by you and mated Garrick.”

  “Exactly. She got both of us.”

  Ashlynn let out a breath. “No wonder you don’t trust women. I wouldn’t either.”

  He shrugged. “What do you suggest we do now, goddess?”

  She rolled her eyes and glanced back out the window, then her body tensed. “We have to take care of our visitors first.”

  He was about to ask what she meant when the front door blew open and daemons rushed inside, throwing energy bolts at them. His heart stopped for a brief moment when Ashlynn dropped to the floor, blood soaking her shirt.

  He roared and thrust fireballs at the daemons in rapid succession. They screamed as flames engulfed their bodies, then poofed into black ashes. Ty took a step toward Ashlynn when Eros materialized in front of him.

  The god of desire was the opposite of his mother, Aphrodite, in many ways. He had short black hair, but the same blue eyes. Ty growled, allowing his dragon to surface in case he was needed to fight the god. “What do you want, Eros?”

  “I want you to suffer like I have. Thanks for the tidbit about Amissa being your daughter, not Garrick’s. Now I know how to repay you for my loss.” Eros dematerialized.

  Fuck no. Amissa. He needed to get to her and warn her guardian.

  Ty rushed to Ashlynn, scooped her up in his arms, and flashed them to his beach house in Oregon.

  Chapter Four

  Ash opened her eyes and froze. She wasn’t in her townhouse. As she sat up, she groaned at the dull ache in her chest. Seeing the daemons entering the building, then breaking in her door flashed through her mind.