Free Ashes of War (Sons of War) by Lia Davis

I once was. You know, before Elizabeth’s torture.”
    Ash raised her head to gaze into his eyes, tugging the curl out of his grasp. With a finger, she traced the scars over his right brow. “I like you the way you are. Damaged and feral. Who else could handle me?”
    His lips twitched. “Damaged and feral?”
    She nibbled her bottom lip, making her look slightly vulnerable. Damn if he didn’t want to be the one biting that lip. “Yep.” Dipping her head, she caught his lower lip in her teeth, then said, “I like my men a little wild.”
    Within quick efficiency, he flipped her to her back and pinned her to the mattress with his body. “I can’t get enough of you.”
    Her emerald eyes darkened a few shades. “What are you saying?”
    A growl escaped him before he could rein it in. “You know what I mean.”
    “Say it, Ty. I want to hear it from you.”
    He studied her for several moments before forcing the words out. “You’re my mate.”
    Her reaction wasn’t what he expected. He’d guessed she already knew they were mates before he said it, but he didn’t expect her to appear relieved he admitted it. Damn female. Before he could roll off her and make his escape like a coward, she cupped his face between her hands and gave him a quick kiss.
    “I will do everything I can to clear you name. Eros will not get away with executing you for something his daughter provoked.”
    Searching her green gaze, he saw only truth. She believed what she said, that she could save his life. “What if I’m not worth saving? I’m not sure what the weaver will unlock.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “You have to believe with me and trust in me. I can’t let you go.”
    His heart ached. The undertone of her words cut deep and was a little too close to a commitment. Yet, for once he didn’t want to run. He wanted to believe. “That is a big request to make.”
    “I know. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
    Mischief and stubbornness sparked in her gaze, so he decided to change the subject. They would deal with the mating thing later. Like after his life was spared. “Why are you here?”
    All the humor faded from her face and she averted her gaze. She remained silent for several long moments. His patience grew thin. When he let a low growl rumble from his chest, she snapped her gaze back to his. Annoyance lit up her emerald eyes, but there was an undercurrent of sadness hidden in the depths.
    The sadness made his dragon long to hold her, protect her. Gently, he caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Tell me, please.”
    “I found my father.”
    He jerked his head back, surprised. Parents weren’t the kind of thing Ty or his brothers thought about. Their existence just was. The only true parent they had—Ares’s son, Drakon Ismenios—died before they were created. All their lives, they’d called Ares father and never gave a thought otherwise. Times like this Ty had to remember that others had parents—a mother and father.
    Of course Ash had a father.
    “Why haven’t you mentioned him? Was he missing?”
    She pressed her palms against his chest and shoved. Rolling to his side, he allowed her to sit up. All the while concern rippled through him, making him feel uneasy and unsure for the first time since Elizabeth.
    Ash glanced at him from over her shoulder. “My mother always told me my father was mortal and he died. Even as a child, I knew the loss of him pained her, so I never brought it up.”
    “But something changed?”
    Nodding, she rose and walked bathroom where she slipped a black silk robe on. “When I was told to spy on the Sons of War, the oracle pointed me to a group of archives to aid in my research.” She paused and faced him, holding his gaze as she continued. “There was a ledger that didn’t belong. When I asked her about it, she just rambled on about everything is as it should be.”
    Ty rolled to his back and placed his hands behind his head. “Oracles don’t make mistakes. Do you