Page 25 of God Touched

Imogen enjoyed flirting and sex and not getting emotionally attached. Maybe she would get away with doing the first with Arawan, but the second and third? That was getting too complicated.

Did Arawan even have sex? There was a thought. A thought she really didn't need when she was trying to go back to sleep.

"Stupid, sexy goth gods," she grumbled out loud. She had a feeling it was going to be another long-ass day.

* * *

Imogen was glad of the heavy black coat that Freya had forced her to pack. It was snowing and way too miserable to be walking around outside. A beanie was pulled down over her braid, but her ears were still cold.

Arawan and Aisling were checking the wards around his borders, and Imogen, who had no idea about magic, was almost praying for something to attack them so she would have something to do. At least the massive hound she was riding kept her butt warm.

"This was where those creatures came through yesterday," Aisling said, bringing Imogen out of her daydreaming.

They had been riding for over an hour. Imogen was happy to let her hound follow the other two. She needed to get proper sleep because she was starting to turn into a zombie.

Imogen slid off her hound and checked over the frozen tracks. There really had only been three of the swamp Sasquatches. But where had they come from? She had taken one step through the wards before a hand closed around her bicep.

"And where are you going?" Arawan asked.

"Those horde creatures came from somewhere. They didn't just appear on your borders out of thin air. There might be more close by."

"They aren't on my property, so they aren't my concern."

"They could be preying on humans hiking in these mountains, which makes itmyconcern." Imogen looked down at his hand. "Remove that, or I will."

Arawan's eyes narrowed, but he let his hand drop. "Aisling? You keep going and make a note of any tampering. I'll fix it on my return."

Aisling looked at Imogen curiously but quickly nodded to Arawan and rode on.

"You don't have to come if you're busy. I can track on my own," Imogen insisted. Being alone with him was starting to feel more and more dangerous.

"What did I say yesterday? You can hunt horde creatures, but you aren't doing it alone. There will be no arguments," Arawan replied.

"Oh, there will be arguments," she muttered under her breath as she walked away.

"I heard that."

"Like I care. I'm not one of your subjects or your prisoner, remember?" Imogen called back without turning around.

Despite the snow falling around them, there was no mistaking the horde creatures' tracks that had chewed up the moss and mud.

"How did you bastards get all the way up here?" Imogen ignored the dark shadow following her. He wanted to trail after her in some misguided need to protect her. That was just fine with her.

The tracks led to a frozen lake and a rank-smelling cave. Imogen put a hand over her nose.

"Yeah, they were definitely here," she said, staring at the black opening of the cave. She took some deep breaths of clean air. "Fuck it, I'm going in."

"Let me go in first." Arawan moved ahead of her before she could argue.

"Fine with me. You can step in horde creature crap and warn me where it is," she said cheerily.

Arawan conjured a torch, lighting it with a snap of his fingers. Okay, maybe he could be helpful after all. Imogen followed him into the damp cave, careful to watch where she was putting her feet.

"Is your life always like this?" he asked, looking at the cave around him.

"Pretty much. I'd still prefer it to castles and courtiers," Imogen replied. "Which reminds me, where is everyone? I thought your castle would be packed with snobby people."

"They are in Annwn. I needed the castle so when I summon them, they have places to stay far from me."

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