Page 17 of Laverna

Laverna blinked, not knowing what to do with the sudden lump in her throat. As much as she talked shit about having lots of sexual partners, she hadn't been laid in months, and they were never in her bed long enough for any kind of affection or comfort. That's not what she wanted or would accept from anyone.

Laverna forced herself to swallow the lump. It means nothing. You're probably just touch starved.

She didn't look at him as she said, "We'll fix this, Rom. I promise."

11

There were four different ways for Laverna to get to her private chambers in the catacombs. It had always been for safety reasons, but now, with Romulus refusing to put her down, taking the back way in that no one else would be using was the only way to ensure no one witnessed her embarrassment.

"Go back to help the others. Roberto will call you and find safe lodgings for you all down in the catacombs tonight. Don't even think about arguing with me either because if anything happens to you guys, Romulus will bitch me out forever over it," she said to Claudius.

The old wolf just bowed to her. "I wouldn't dream of disobeying you. With Rom currently incapacitated, you are the alpha in the city."

Laverna shook her head. She didn't want to be looking after the wolves too. "You guys are so fucking weird. Just message me if you find anything. I'll take care of the fearless leader."

"I have every faith that you will." Claudius turned to go and paused mid-step. "Don't hurt him, Laverna. He's not as strong as he seems." With that, Claudius headed back to the Porshe, leaving her gaping after him.

"Hurt you. As if I have that kind of power," she huffed irritably.

Romulus didn't say anything. His eyes were glowing brightly as they looked around at the park they were standing in.

"You are going to have to put me down for this next bit, Rom," she said and pushed a little of her power into the command. He snarled softly but placed her on her feet. She held his hand, and that seemed to satisfy him.

The park had once been a cemetery, and tucked away behind a well-set illusion spell was an old mausoleum that archaeologists would have loved to get their grubby hands on.

Laverna placed her hand on the door, and it swung open. Magical locks were unbreakable, with the bonus of her never having to carry a key.

Romulus sniffed the marble room carefully before following her in. She pushed an engraving on the stone sarcophagus, and it slid back with a grinding of stone against stone. A dusty torch was hanging on the wall that she lit and went first down the stairs.

"I don't think I've come in from this way for five hundred years," she said, shifting the sarcophagus back into place with a brush of her magic.

Romulus's grip tightened on hers. Maybe he could sense how much she felt like running away. She had never brought anyone to her secret place, and the thought of showing it to Romulus made her all kinds of nervous and prickly. If their strange peace went to shit, she would have to find a whole new hideout.

Romulus's arm came around her waist, holding her up against him. "Safe," he said in his not-quite-human voice.

"Let's just figure out how to get this magic off you, okay?" Laverna said, not turning around to look at him. He loosened his hold only enough to let her walk.

They were silent for the rest of the way. Romulus had to lean down for most of it because the tunnels were too small to accommodate his height. They were both grubby from dust and cobwebs by the time she got him home.

Laverna opened the doors and turned on the lights. "Welcome to my hideout. If you say anything bad about it, I'll let the witches eat you."

Romulus's wolf eyes looked around at her horde and smiled, showing fang. "Den," he said. He sounded smug, and Laverna couldn't figure out why.

"Don't get distracted," she replied when he reached out to touch a marble statue. It was one of her naked that she had modeled for Antonio del Pollaiuolo. "I swear you men can't help but gawk at tits even if they are marble."

She dragged him along through another tight hallway and up a curved set of marble stairs. Her hand rested on the door, and she took a deep shuddering breath.

"Please don't make me regret showing you this place," she whispered and pushed open the door.

Inside was what remained of one of her temples. It was a large circular room, and on the floors was an elaborate mosaic of stories about her that matched the frescoes on the walls. Her magic and the resonant effects of her old worshippers filled the room with her power and made it thrum hot in her veins.

On a dias sat a throne of bones and wolf fur. In times long past, she would appear on the chair during feasts in her honor to please her mortal followers. A less elaborate replica had been made for when she passed judgments in the more public areas of the catacombs.

Romulus whined like a wounded dog, and Laverna could see the dark magic still clinging to him. It really didn't want him to go into the temple. Too bad.

Laverna grabbed his other hand and pulled him inside, the door slamming behind them. She dropped her human guise for the first time in centuries, her clothes changing to a sleeveless red stola that fell to her knees with a wide golden belt at her waist. Her braid unfurled into a wild tangle of curls, and she let him see the burning divinity inside of her.

"Laverna," Romulus whispered, sounding almost normal before the writhing magic of the witch's spells swept over his face and mouth. He clawed helplessly at his skin as the wolf tried to push its way through again.

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