Page 71 of God Touched

Arawan laughed as a pack of hounds bounded over the green hills. They were yipping and howling in excitement as they circled Arawan, red tails wagging and pushing at each other to get pats.

"Now, this is the welcome home I was looking for. How are you?" he crooned at them. Imogen was giggling at him, but he didn't care. He had missed his pack of mongrels.

"Don't let their wagging tails fool you. They are vicious hunting dogs," he warned her.

"Yeah, they really look it." Imogen raised a brow. "Where do we go now?"

Arawan closed his eyes and orientated himself. He was close to where he had last fought with Hafgan, and he didn't think that was a coincidence.

The ring of stones had been a meeting point on the borders of Annwn since the dawn of time. He had fought Hafgan there many times. The last time had been right before Morrigan had turned up and convinced Hafgan to go and be her general. She had approached Arawan first with her silky lies and promises.

Arawan had told her that if she managed to convince Hafgan to stop bothering him, he would owe her a single favor. He had said it half-heartedly, but the goddess had taken him seriously. Arawan had no idea what she had promised Hafgan in return for serving her.

Arawan looked at the jagged white stone rising out of the green earth. It didn't matter how much time had passed; he would always see Brangwen's broken body lying in the middle of the circle. Now, he had brought the woman he loved to the same horrible place. Imogen's hand tightened in his as if she was sensing his unease.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Only ghosts, my love." Arawan pulled her closer. He could feel Hafgan in the distance and knew it wouldn't be long until he sensed him. "You are everything I have always searched for and never thought I would find. I don't deserve you, but I'm so happy you're mine."

"You're starting to freak me out, so stop talking like that," she said, her fingers tangling in his hair. "Don't do anything stupid, okay? We are in this together, and I'm not going to leave you no matter what happens."

"I'm agod, Imogen. If I fall to Hafgan, you will get on a hound and get the fuck out of here," he said, cupping her cheeks. Her eyes were gray and filled with storms. She wanted to fight him, he could see it, but she nodded.

"I never thought I would see the day that you would stoop to get attached to one of the living, God of Annwn," a rumbling brogue said from behind him.

Arawan turned slowly to face his ancient enemy. Hafgan hadn't changed in all the centuries he had been in Morrigan's service. His red and gold hair was braided back from his face, and his chest and arms were covered in woad and tattoos.

"Hey, I know you," Imogen said, stepping around Arawan. "You're Neck Tattoo guy. You were at the club."

"What?" Arawan hissed.

Hafgan laughed, a rich, happy sound that had no place in the psychopath's mouth. "I was at the club, lass. I went there to grab you and use you as bait to lure out Arawan from his castle. Turns out I didn't need to because he followed you as dopey as one of his hounds."

Imogen threw a knife at him. It thudded into Hafgan's shoulder and only made him laugh more. "I was planning on fucking you before I killed you. I think we could have some fun."

"I'll have lots of fun carving you up with my knife, dick," Imogen replied.

"It might surprise you how much I would enjoy that too."

Arawan swallowed down his rage, refusing to let Hafgan get under his skin. He pulled out his sword. "Are you going to leave Annwn peacefully, or are we going to have to do the same old dance."

"It's been a while since I've had a challenge. I could use a fight to warm me up for my war against the humans."

"You should ask Aneirin how well that turned out for him," Imogen said, looking Hafgan over with an unimpressed expression.

"Aneirin thought too much of his abilities without Morrigan's aid to support him. I'm not going to make that mistake. Tell me where Morrigan is, Arawan, and I might let your little human live."

Imogen laughed and pulled her ax from its holster. "I'm not a little anything. I'm a fucking Ironwood, and I'm really going to enjoy watching Arawan fuck you up."

Arawan had never loved her more. He gave her a hard kiss. "It would be my pleasure to make him scream for you, darling."

"Make me proud, lover," Imogen said, with a parting smack on the ass. He couldn't stop smiling. The audacity of her never ceased to shock and amuse him.

Hafgan looked between them with narrowed eyes before letting out an amused bark of laughter. "So that's why you still maintained a thread of connection to Annwn. You always were a sly fucker."

"I don't know what you mean," Arawan replied innocently.

"You're tied body, heart, and soul to Annwn, but you've given part of your heart away to the mortal. We couldn't cut your connection completely because she was safeguarding it. Now, I know why you're keeping her around."

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