Page 19 of God Touched

"It won't happen again. I'll find out how these creatures got in undetected once you are safe." Arawan climbed up on the back of the hound, and before she could protest, he lifted her up in front of him.

"You know I can ride on my own."

"I am aware." Arawan clicked his tongue, and the hound began to move.

Imogen gripped the fur on the hound's neck and tried not to rub her ass up against Arawan without meaning to. She was still rattled that he had kissed her. Twice.

"Your wards are so strong even I can feel them, and I have fuck all magic," she said, her eyes scanning the darkening forest for anything else ready to jump out and attack them. "If you didn't feel the intrusion of these creatures, then it means someone let them in. Someone who is good enough to fuck with wards without the owner knowing. You got some bold fucking bastards in your court."

She wobbled as the hound leaped over a log, and Arawan's hands went to her hips to steady her.

"I know. They never would've dared, but I left them alone for too long. There is insubordination amongst them, but I don't know who," he replied, breath tickling her ear.

"You think they are working with Hafgan?" she asked.

"They could be. He was always a lot more persuasive than I was. The charming one. He could have made them promises, and they would believe him." Arawan hadn't moved his hands, and she pretended not to notice.

"I've been thinking about this whole liaison thing," she said, reaching for her own charming side. "I think I can help with your rat problem."

"Enlighten me."

"You can't be seen snooping about like you don't trust anyone because it will make you look weak in front of your court. There are no such restrictions on me. They don't evenknowme, and from Duncan's attitude, they are confused as to why I'm here at all. We can use that to our advantage."

"I like how you say we," Arawan said, and Imogen tried really hard not to get turned on by his deep voice rumbling in her ear.

"Yeah, well, we are in this together, right? I'm not posh enough to sit in on meetings and pretend to care about court gossip. I'm a hunter, so let me hunt. I'll find your spies, and we can get out of them where Hafgan is. You can go kill him, and I can get out of your pretty hair," Imogen replied.

"And what if I like you in my pretty hair?" Arawan asked.

Imogen contemplated the merits of falling off the hound and running away. His hands tightened on her as if guessing her thoughts.

"Why would you? As you pointed out, I'm living. What possible reason could you have for keeping me around?"

"My reasons are my own," he replied cryptically. "You find me Hafgan's spies, and I'll try and be open to negotiation."

Imogen snorted. "You will be so sick of me in a week, you're going to boot me out of your castle without an argument."

Arawan laughed softly, the sound sending goosebumps down her body. "I suppose we will find out in a week, darling, won't we?"

Imogen tried to focus on the wildland around her and not on the voice in her head that kept chanting,Don't fuck, Arawan. Don't fuck, Arawan.

Imogen almost sighed in relief when the castle's lights came back into view. If the warriors were concerned to see their lord and master riding with a human, none of them were game enough to bat an eyelid.

Arawan slid off the hound and helped her down, lifting her like she was one of those posh skinny chicks in fantasy movies.

Imogen wasnota skinny chick. She was also soaked in fucking gunk from the swamp Sasquatches and stank like rotting ass.

"Go up to your rooms and stay there. I'll let you know when it's safe to come out again," Arawan said.

Imogen leaned her ax against her shoulder. "Sounds good to me. You can climb about the freezing woods, and I'll go soak in a tub. Excellent teamwork."

Arawan's lips curved into a smile. "Does said bath have an open invitation for when I'm done?"

"Absolutely fucking not," Imogen said before walking inside.

10

Arawan waited until Imogen was safely inside before turning to his warriors, his grin vanishing.

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