Page 30 of Laverna

"Yes, but I also worried about you. If you had lost control of your wolf because of how badly she was injured, we wanted to ensure you were contained," Claudius replied, crossing his arms like he was preparing to be yelled at. "The catacombs are full of Laverna's people at the moment because of the curfews she has imposed on them. Too many innocents."

Rom squeezed his shoulder. "It's okay, Claudius. You did the right thing. I wasn't myself, and you were wise to keep watch."

"And how are you this morning?" he asked, visibly relaxing under the touch.

"Much better now that she is awake. Worried about Remus being alive again. I've also been going through the reports and noticed that we have overlooked something."

Claudius frowned at the papers. "What?"

"Poisons. The witches used to make most of their money from teaching rich people to kill off their inconvenient spouses. I want you to call the Carabinieri and see about reports of suspicious deaths in the wealthy areas. They used to move in as servants sometimes or grieving relatives, and they could be living with a client," Rom replied, and Claudius pulled out his phone. His gaze fixed on the other side of the room, and Rom turned to see Laverna watching them from the stairs.

"I'll just take this outside where I get some better reception. Might take a bit," Cladius said with an innocent smile.

Laverna had showered in her ensuite and was dressed in black jeans and a dark red top that was tight enough to outline her breasts and cut low enough for him to see the suck bruise he had left on one of them. Her hair was a mass of curls that he wanted to bury his hands into. She was smiling at him like she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

"What is that grin about, goddess?" he asked as she walked towards him. "Planning my murder?"

"Not right now. You just look sexy when you're taking charge," Laverna said, taking his coffee from where he had left it on the table and sipping it.

"Really? You've always hated how bossy I am, and now you're trying to tell me you like it? Just how hard did you hit your head last night?" Rom replied, trying not to smile.

Laverna blew on the coffee with an innocent bat of her lashes. "You're right. It's probably all the orgasms talking," she said. Her arm brushed against his as she looked down at where he had been rearranging the information she had laid out. "What has you and Claudius all excited?"

"We forgot poisons," Rom said, and Laverna's face scrunched up.

"Fuck, we did too. They always loved killing off rich people and robbing them." Laverna looked about. "I don't suppose there's any food around." She went into the kitchen, taking his coffee with her. Rom followed, needing to make himself another cup.

"How are you feeling? Are you still aching anywhere?" he asked.

Laverna was going through the fridge and pulling out the fruit that had been left for them the night before. "I feel a bit tired but not sore. That fucker broke a lot of bones, and it takes more out of me to heal them than open wounds." She put her food on the counter and jumped up to sit next to it. She swung her legs as she watched him make espresso. He topped her cup up and then his own.

Laverna's eyes twinkled. "Are you going to try to feed me again, or is it okay if I do it myself?"

Rom moved closer so he was almost standing between her legs. "Would you like me to feed you? You only need to ask."

"I'm not an invalid. Look." She put a grape between her teeth and held it there with a cheeky smile. Quick as lightning, Rom swooped in and kissed her, stealing the grape from her at the same time. The look of shock and outrage on her face was worth it.

"You bastard!" she said, throwing another grape at him that he caught with one hand and ate as well. Rom didn't realize they had an audience until Claudius cleared his throat. Roberto was with him and looked freaked out.

"Roberto? What is it?" Laverna asked, her playfulness immediately turning to concern.

The slender man bowed. "Boss, I just got word about a major theft. One that wasn't authorized by us."

Laverna's eyes flared with power, and Rom almost choked on his grape. She was so pissed and so beautiful at the same time.

"What was stolen and by whom?" she demanded.

Roberto looked at Romulus. "They raided the Lapis Niger and somehow knew exactly where to dig for another artifact that hadn't been discovered yet. It was something about a meter in diameter and must have been easy enough for people to get out of the narrow entranceway."

Both Laverna and Rom said at the same time, "The black stone."

19

It had been too much to hope for a quiet day, Laverna reflected while staring at Romulus's ass when he was talking to Claudius. He turned back to her like he knew she was looking, and she didn't mind being busted because his smile reached his eyes.

She had liked waking up with him still there. It reached a part of her that she had thought was lost long ago. She had always made it clear to hookups exactly what they were. They never woke up together, and she had never had another body in the bed upstairs. Now it smelled of him, and she…didn't hate it. What was wrong with her? Maybe his insanity was contagious.

Laverna had been scared to feel even a little soft toward Romulus, but last night had changed a lot of things. She still needed time to process the idea that she could be his mate. She didn't know if she should be offended that he had never acted on that knowledge. He had said she never would have accepted him, but then he had never bothered to find out either.

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