Page 52 of God Touched

"Gen…" Freya reached for her, but Imogen kept walking. She didn't want Freya to see that she was hurt and pissed off. Imogen needed time to sort out why she felt like an emotional mess and get that shit under control.

Imogen reached her bedroom and was packing a bag when Arawan appeared suddenly in the center of the room.

"Imogen—"

"Don't talk. I need to go for a ride, and if you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my way," she said, pulling on a warmer jacket.

Arawan crossed his arms, looking confused. It was the clueless frown that made her want to stab him. "What's wrong? At least tell me that."

"What's wrong? Hafgan seduced and murdered your wife! You didn't think that was something I should know? That my brothers should know?" she said, rounding on him. She hadn't even known he'dhada wife. She didn't know why it made her so mad, and she was too much of a raw, emotional nerve to figure it out.

"I didn't think the information was relevant," he said.

"Of course it is! This is about revenge for you. Hafgan is going to use that against you every chance he gets. It's going to be a weak spot that will fuck all of us if you can't keep your shit together," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I wasn't keeping it from you on purpose. It happened a long time ago, and it isn't the only reason I hate Hafgan," Arawan said, taking a step towards her. Imogen moved back from him. "Talk to me. I don't understand why you are so angry about this."

"You didn't trust me enough to tell me about it, which puts me in danger. He will use your own anger and emotions against you with this, and you will walk into every trap he sets. Just like last night. He probably set that whole thing up with Owain because he knew you would charge straight in without thinking." Imogen tossed a bag over her shoulder.

"I willneverlet Hafgan hurt you," Arawan growled through his teeth.

"And you think that's all I'm worried about if he defeats you? You will be dead, and it'll be up to my family and me to stop him." Imogen headed for the door, fighting the images of him dead on the battlefield. Panic and fear fluttered in her chest.

Fuck you for making me care for you so much,she wanted to yell.

"I don't know why you decided not to trust me enough to tell me about this, and I don't give a shit," she lied through her teeth. "But if you are keeping anything else strategically important from us, you can tell Bayn. I'm out of here."

Arawan didn't stop her from leaving, and Imogen didn't know why that pissed her off even more.

Fuck it. Ride, find a party, kiss a boy you don't give a shit about. Let the world burn for the night.

Imogen gritted her teeth and forced her lips in her fuck-the-devil smile. She was Imogen Ironwood, and she didn't have time to deal with clueless fucking gods and all the messy emotions they dredged up inside of her.

24

Arawan still didn't fully understand what he had done. He waited all day for Imogen to return to the castle so he could try and make some sense out of her. He hoped she would come and fight it out with him so he could get to the bottom of what had upset her so much.

Imogen had been withdrawn since the previous night, and he had assumed it was from the battle and their intense fucking afterward. He had been shaken after that himself. How could she go from accepting him in that monstrous form to storming out because she found out Hafgan had killed Brangwen?

He was a god and was not used to having to explain himself or his personal history to anyone. What had happened with his wife was known through all the court. It wasn't like it was a secret, so why did she care about it so much?

He needed someone to help him unravel the mystery of Imogen, and luckily for him, Bayn and Freya were still in the castle.

The fae prince and his mate were chatting and drinking with Aisling in their guest suite. They seemed to be having a good time when he walked in, and he almost felt bad for breaking it up. All three of them rose in surprise to greet him.

"Apologies, sorceress, but I need to have a private word with Bayn and Freya," Arawan said.

Aisling frowned but still bowed. "Of course, my lord."

"What's wrong?" Bayn asked once they were alone.

"I need to talk to you…about Imogen," Arawan replied, suddenly more nervous than he had ever been. Freya tried to hide her smile as she poured him a glass of wine.

"You look like you need this," she said kindly.

Arawan took the glass. "I do?"

Bayn leaned back in his chair and draped an arm around Freya's shoulders. For some reason, the easy affection felt like Arawan had been kicked in the balls. He wanted that for the first time in his long existence.

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