Page 54 of God Touched

"She's in Liverpool. It's about two hours away. I'll write the address down for you, but only if you promise not to upset her more," Freya said, her mismatched eyes flickering with power and overprotective instincts.

"It's not my intention, but if she pushes me, I will make her see sense even if I have to fight her every step of the way," Arawan replied.

Freya gave him the address. "Then I hope she doesn't go easy on you for a second."

Arawan's smile was sharp as a blade. "That makes two of us."

25

Imogen couldn't remember the club's name or the name of the hot redhead she had been dancing with. He had a neck tattoo, and that seemed more important. She was four drinks in and feeling better about life. At least, that's what she was telling herself.

She had berated herself the whole ride to Liverpool. Had she picked a fight for no reason? Maybe? She knew she had good reasons to be pissed. He could've told her he had been married.

Was hestillmarried to someone else? Fuck, she hadn't even asked him that before she had jumped his bones.

You are a garbage fire of a woman,Imogen Ironwood, and goth gods are not for you.

Every mile she put in between her and Arawan made her feel unsure about everything. Imogen had never been indecisive in her life, so all it did was make her turn her throttle on harder, like if she got enough space between them, maybe she wouldn't feel like she was losing her mind.

"You are the hottest woman in this place," Neck Tattoo said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He had a brogue so purring and deep it could vibrate a girl's panties right off. "You want to get out of here?"

"Not just yet. I need to dance for a bit longer," she replied.

"How about another drink?" He had a great smile in the dark gloom of the dance floor. A few weeks ago, if a guy that hot had smiled at her, she would've dragged him off to a secluded spot and had her wicked way with him. Now, she just felt strangely nauseous and hollow at the thought of it.

"Another drink sounds perfect," Imogen said, and he de-tangled himself from around her. She didn't want to think about deranged generals, horde creatures, or hunting for a night. She didn't want to be pining for someone she couldn't have. She didn't want to be thinking at all.

Warm arms came around her again, and her whole body melted, recognizing the embrace before her mind did. Tears burned in the back of her eyes, and she swallowed them down.

"How did you find me?" she asked. She spoke too low to be heard over the beat, but it didn't matter; he heard every word.

"Bayn and Freya," Arawan replied in her ear.

"Traitorous assholes," she grumbled. She wanted to shove him off and press closer at the same time. Kiss him and rip his throat out. She wanted him and hated it.

"I needed to talk to you, and maybe in this place, you might actually listen to me." Arawan pulled her close, his height keeping her surrounded and protected in his arms. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Brangwen. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret from you. I just felt like it didn't matter."

Imogen tried to move away, but his grip tightened like a vice. He wouldn't let her go until he had said his bit, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.

"It was a long, long time ago, Imogen. It was an arranged marriage that I tried to make the most of. She betrayed me to Hafgan, and when he realized I wouldn't give up my kingdom to get her back, he killed her. It started a war between us that had been brewing for eons." Arawan brushed his lips over the curve of her ear, and a shiver swept over her body. "I haven't had a consort since. I hadn't been interested in anyone for centuries until I stepped through the portal and saw you."

Imogen's hands tightened over his, her heart in her throat. If he kept talking, she wasn't going to survive him.

"You are the complete opposite of anything I thought I would be interested in. You are a stubborn, uncompromising, violent, passionate pain in my ass, and I've never wanted someone more." Arawan tipped her head back and laid a barely-there kiss on her lips. "Tell me it's not just me that feels so twisted up inside."

"N-No, I'm not going to tell you shit," Imogen replied shakily. "If I don't say it, it won't make it real, and I can still feel like I can walk away with some of my dignity intact."

Arawan's dark eyes flashed ruby. "You have three choices, darling. You can tell me the truth right now and make it easy on yourself. We can fight it out, and you tell me with my blade to your throat. Or I can fuck you so hard that you will scream it out."

Imogen's whole body ignited. She forced herself to pull free and face him. He was in a tight black shirt and jeans and looked so fucking good.Fuck him.

"I'm going to have to go with option four, where I give you one of these," she said and lifted her middle finger at him. "And I walk away."

Arawan grabbed her wrist and sucked the offensive finger into his mouth. Imogen went wet, and her whole body shook.

"No. You don't get to use those tricks," she snarled, and his tongue flicked over her finger again. She pulled a knife and angled it over his heart. No one seemed to notice, the low lights of the club hiding the blade. "Let my finger go."

Arawan dropped her hand, his smile widening. "Option two and three it is." He moved so quickly that Imogen had no chance to retaliate. He disarmed her and had her knife to her throat in a blink.

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