Page 28 of God Touched

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Imogen always expected to have nightmares when she went to bed and shut her eyes. They had been with her for as long as she could remember, and after drowning, they had only gotten worse.

Every time Imogen was in a stressed or emotional situation, she would go to bed and dream of the river. Her sisters would be paddling in the shallower spot, David playing with them and keeping them from wandering off.

Imogen had snuck away and had climbed up on a log to look at the trout swimming in the deeper waters. She had slipped and tumbled face-first into the cold depths.

Panicked thrashing. Weeds around her feet. Rocks smashed into her side. Then euphoria. Peace.

Dying was okay after all…

Imogen woke with firm hands on her shoulders. Someone was talking to her, but her head was still underwater.

"Imogen, wake the fuck up!" Arawan growled. "You dream so fuckingloud."

"Go 'way," she grumbled.

"I would, but your shade literally spluttered, and I thought someone was killing you."

Imogen opened her eyes. She could barely make him out in the dark room. Arawan was beside her bed and still had a hand on her.

"Just dreaming of when I died. I'm okay," she said, pushing her hand over her damp face. Had she been crying in her sleep?

"When you died? You mean the Kraken?" Arawan asked, voice soft. She should tell him to get out, but her sleep-addled brain didn't want him to go.

"No, when I was little. I drowned," Imogen replied, telling him the story. "I always dream of it when I'm stressed out."

Arawan's hand brushed over her forehead. "You're safe here. You know that, don't you?"

"I know," Imogen admitted. She was still drowsy enough that all of her defenses were down, and his hand stroking her head was so relaxing. "I always dream of drowning because of the feeling I got when I died. I only felt that one other time since."

"When?"

"When you kissed me in the forest," she whispered and then regretted it. She shouldn't have told him anything.

"I see. So it's me that's bothering you?" he said, his hand moving away. Imogen reached out in the darkness and grabbed warm skin. With some mild groping, she realized it was his chest.

"Not in a bad way. You frustrate the hell out of me, but I'm not scared of you."

Arawan's hand closed over hers, trapping it against him. "It would be better for you if you were."

"Why? What am I even doing here, Arawan? What possible use could you have for a mortal?" Imogen asked. She still hadn't been able to figure that out.

"A mortal? Not a damn thing," Arawan admitted. "But you? You existed and were perfection. You were seared into my brain the night I first saw you, and until I figure out why, I can't let you go."

"You know that makes no sense."

Arawan's soft chuckle made goosebumps rise along her arms. "Does it need to? Neither one of us is interested in doing what makes sense. If you had any good sense, you wouldn't provoke me so much."

"Don't pretend you don't like it," Imogen teased. "I'm probably the funniest thing that's ever happened to you in the last millennia."

"You are certainly the most infuriating. Your shade literally fluttered just now when you died in your dream. I thought you were gone, and I'd never be able to…"

"Able to do what? Kill me yourself?" Imogen asked. She was so glad he couldn't see how hot her face was at that minute. Why was talking to him in the dark so much easier?

"Figure you out. I don't know why I need you at the moment. I just know that I feel better when you are close by. You are disobedient and loud and provoke me every chance you get. But still, I feel better," Arawan replied, his long fingers stroking the back of her hand.

"Yeah, I like you too." Imogen's fingers tightened around his. "We will find out who is plotting against you, I promise. You won't have to worry about them for much longer. We will get Hafgan. It's only a matter of time."

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