Page 13 of God Touched

"Me and my ax can be extremely diplomatic."

"Exactly my point, Imogen. Some snooty courtier will piss you off, and you'll go at them. Do you have any dresses or anything with you?"

Imogen picked at her chipped black nail polish. "What the fuck would I need dresses for?"

"Because you'll probably be required to go to formal events? God, you really didn't think it through, did you?" Layla scolded.

"I didn't have a choice! Arawan just demanded it, and it had to happen. I owe him a life debt. If he's dumb enough to waste that on trying to get me to play some meek and mild court suck up, he's got another thing coming!"

"Woah, woah, calm down. I'm sure Freya can send you something if it's super important. You two are about the same size, so she can help in a pinch." Layla hummed thoughtfully. "You know, you're right?"

"About what?"

"Why does Arawan want you as a liaison? Like, you're clearly not fit for that kind of job."

"No shit. Who knows what he wants? I don't even think he knows."

"Want my opinion?"

"Sure, because I have no clue what he's thinking." Imogen really didn't. She was going to be a terrible courtier. What the hell was she even meant to do?

"I think that Arawan wants your company, and this was the easiest way to get it," Layla replied. Imogen laughed loudly.

"Come on! Why the fuck would a god want my company?"

"I didn't say it made sense, sis. You said he asked you to stay the night at the castle, yeah? I think he wants someone to talk to."

Imogen pinched the bridge of her nose. "He's got a whole castle of people to talk to."

"Not really. If he's worried about who is going to betray him to Hafgan, there's probably no one he trusts right now. You're an outsider that he obviously likes, and you owe him. Maybe you could help him find out who the spies are?"

"That is an idea. I mean, I'm not going to be sitting in boring fucking meetings all day. I need to be doing something useful." Imogen thought harder about it and then smiled. "You know what? You're the best. I'm going to find his spy for him, and then he will let me go."

"Wait, he hasn't agreed to that."

"I'll make him agree. Love you, Layla, and thanks for agreeing to tell Mom where I have gone. Okay, bye."

"I never said—" Layla began, but Imogen hung up on her too quickly for her to argue.

Imogen tapped her phone against her palm thoughtfully. If Hafgan had spies hanging around Arawan, she would hunt them down and rat them out. She was good at hunting, and she wasn't going to stay tied up in a bargain with Arawan longer than she needed to.

* * *

By the time Imogen left the following day, she had been lectured so extensively by all three of her brothers and Freya that she was almost regretting not going with Arawan the day before.

"Remember, make no more bargains with Arawan or anyone else," Kian said and hugged her goodbye. "You can't trust anyone."

"Noted."

"Kill anyone that fucks with you," Bayn said and gave her one of his daggers. "This one has a charm on it, so if you get stripped of your weapons, this blade will get overlooked. I'm not about to let you go unarmed."

Imogen grinned at him. "And this is why you're my favorite."

Killian pulled her away. "Don't lie to them, Imogen. Everyone knows I'm your favorite. Now, remember to be your charming, delightful self. Courtiers love nothing more than a new toy, and they will tell you all sorts of things if you keep them talking. Learn everything you can, write none of it down, and use it against them if you need to. Don't use weapons when words will do."

"I'll try to be on my best behavior," she said, crossing her eyes at him.

Killian kissed her forehead. "Dork. Get out of here. Go get some dirt on the God of the dead. No fucking him unless it gets you out of the bargain."

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