Page 66 of God Touched

"Yeah, okay, I get that, but if I had told you that I got obsessed with him after the fight with Morrigan, you all would've worried. We all had enough going on for me to want to add to it," Imogen replied.

Bron's expression softened. "I understand, but Gen, he's going to have to return to Annwn sometime. You are mortal and won't be able to follow."

"We will figure it out after Hafgan is dealt with," Imogen said stubbornly. She couldn't think of a future beyond that.

"Are you even going to be able to cross through the gates into Annwn without dying first?"

Imogen shrugged. "I suppose we will find out, won't we? I know you're grilling me right now because you care, but stop it. We are Ironwoods. We are made to fight and to die. I'm not afraid of either."

"I know, Imogen. I love you, that's all, and I want you to be happy. Is he going to make you happy in the long run?"

Imogen stared at the god in the distance. "Yes. I can't explain how I know this. I just know that he will."

Bron sighed. "You never could do things the easy way."

Imogen smiled. "Where is the fun in that?"

* * *

By dusk, the forest had started to thin, and Imogen got her first look at Killian's castle, which sat at the base of a mountain range.

"Why is there no one around?" she asked.

"It only has a small staff to maintain things. A lot of the fae decided to cross back into England with Kian. We keep the castle here as a base now more than anything. When our festivals are on, fae come from all over to gather here," Killian replied, staring up at the black stone towers. On one side, it was covered in vines and blooming roses.

"This was my parent's castle before I inherited it. Bayn and Kian took theirs to England, as you know. They were made with magic and could be shifted. This was made with sweat and love," Killian said, his eyes lost in some memory. Bron's wing stretched out to touch his leg, and he came back to himself. "You see that tower there? That's the one Fergus Ironwood scaled in order to shoot me in the ass."

Imogen threw her head back and laughed. "Prove it."

"Funnily enough, your sister asked the same thing when we first met."

Bron's feathers ruffled. "I was trying to identify who you were, not look at you naked."

"Sure you weren't," Imogen replied, sharing a teasing grin with Killian.

"This land sits on a wellspring of power," Arawan said softly, staring around him like he could see the magic no one else could.

"It's true. My parents built it here because it was a crossroads of magic." Killian looked back towards the castle. "Let's see if the kitchens have anything good to eat, and we'll go down to the crypts at nightfall."

"Just to be creepy?" Imogen asked.

"No, they only open when the stars are out," Killian replied like it was the most logical reason. Maybe for the fae, it was.

They left the horses with a surprised stable hand, and Imogen spotted the other running off to warn the other occupants that the Night Prince and his mate had returned.

It was strange to see the fae calling Bron a princess and bowing to her. Bron was almost as rough around the edges as Imogen was. None of them seemed to notice or care. The doors to the castle opened for them, and they stepped into the warmth and beauty of the halls.

"It might be best not to tell anyone who you are," Imogen said to Arawan. "We wouldn't want to cause a riot."

"And who am I supposed to be?" he asked with a small smile.

"You can be my hot boyfriend that has magic."

His smile grew wider. "Is that what I am now? Your boyfriend?"

"You're a pain in my ass."

"Not yet, I'm not," he purred.

---