Page 5 of God Touched

Her cheeks didn't flush like he expected, and she didn't look away. Her lip curled into a sneer that begged him to try.

So fucking bold. She wasn't afraid or impressed by him. He would need to change that.

"It would be in your best interest to let me go before my brothers find out," she said calmly.

"Is that so? And who are your brothers that I should be afraid of them, Imogen Ironwood?" he demanded, crossing his arms. He liked her name. It felt good on his tongue and suited the prickly, dangerous flower in front of him.

"They are the three most powerful living fae princes, and if I don't check in with them soon, they are going to worry about me."

Arawan's frown deepened. His spies had said that the fae and humans were on good terms again, the former being governed by the Blood Prince. Now,therewas a male who had sent legions of souls to Arawan in his time.

He studied her ears. "You are not fae."

Imogen rolled her pretty gray eyes. "Excellent deduction, Sherlock. They married into the family, but they take their new roles seriously. They aren't going to like that you've taken me prisoner without any reason."

"I saved your life on that beach. I took you because I needed to talk to you."

"And you couldn't just do it without kidnapping me? What the hell is wrong with you, immortals?" Imogen pulled at the manacles again. "What do you want to know? I need to get out of here. Wherever here is."

Arawan didn't like that idea. He wanted to keep her close and figure out what it was about her that bothered him so much.

"Do you know where Hafgan is?" he asked.

Imogen shook her head. "No. We only know that he and Vili have escaped Tir Na Nog. We aren't even sure if they have crossed over yet. Aneirin is dead. My sister killed him."

"Good."

"Is that it? You're going to let me go now?"

Arawan undid one manacle but left the other untouched. She glared up at him, and he realized he liked to tease her. "Why do you keep dying?"

"I live dangerously. Why do you keep healing me?" she threw back at him.

Arawan would have liked to know the answer to that himself. "It's not your time to die."

Imogen laughed, a big, loud sound that had never been heard in his dungeons before. "Oh, honey, it was my time to die eighteen years ago. I've been waiting for it to stick ever since."

3

Imogen had wet sand in all the places wet sand shouldn't be. She was tied to a chair, which should only happen in sexy scenarios, and wondered if today was the day she would die. The god of the dead in front of her made her think it was a good possibility. Damn, he was something, though.

Unlike the past few times she had seen him in Annwn, Arawan wore a mortal guise that didn't do much to hide the supernatural creature within. His epic bone crown was nowhere to be seen either. He was still kick-in-the-ovaries hot, and it messed with her brain and lowered her self-preservation instincts.

"Stop staring at me and let me go. I told you I don't know where Hafgan is," she argued.

His black eyes bored into her like she was a strange thing he couldn't figure out. She supposed she should be flattered, considering the mess she was in from the fight.

"Why were you fighting on the beach alone?" he asked, his voice like deep gravel. It made her back straighten and nerve endings spark.

"I didn't plan it. I was on my way to visit Bayn, the Winter Prince, and I stopped to see the sights. The creatures attacked me, and I was lucky I had my ax… Oh, fuck, my ax! Where is it?"

Arwan smiled. "I have it, don't fret."

"Good. It's a family heirloom, and I'd be showing up in Annwn for a third time if I lost it because my mother would kill me." Imogen leaned back in the chair. God, if Kenna found out where she was right now, she would probably kill her anyway.

"Look, your godliness, if you want more information, ask Kian. He will tell you everything you want to know. He'd probably be thrilled to know that you have set up here in Wales. Hell, if you let me go, I'll call him and let him know," Imogen said quickly. She didn't want to panic, but keeping her locked up was never a good idea. She hated small spaces and too much time to think.

Arawan's eyes narrowed, but he smiled, and his warm fingers unlocked the other manacle. Imogen rubbed at her wrists, but he stood too close for her to get up.

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