Page 25 of Laverna

"But she might be alive to be angry with you. She will need you if she turns Rom," Claudius replied. There was a tremor in his voice that said he was scared about that thought more than anything. "She is already a goddess. What would she be like as a wolf as well?"

"A sheer bloody terror. Like she always is," Rom joked weakly. He used one of the wet towels to clean the wounds on her neck and chest so he could see them clearly. "Leave us. She wouldn't like anyone seeing her like this."

"I will be outside if you need me," Claudius said, shutting the door behind him.

Romulus placed towels under her head to cushion her. "Please don't hate me for this. I can't lose you. I won't. You will just have to deal with it."

Rom pulled on his power of the city again and drew out his wolf. He growled through the pain as his body reshaped himself. It didn't hurt during the full moon; this was agony, and only Rom's other power could force it to happen.

Rom shook out his fur and trotted over to where his mate lay. The human may have been repulsed, but the wolf was wiser and knew the power in his saliva. The wolf bent his head and, with slow laps, began to clean his mate's wounds over and over again.

16

Laverna slowly came back to consciousness with a warm hand stroking her hair. It felt so damn good. The rest of her, not so much.

"She seems to be breathing, and the wounds have shut," Romulus's voice whispered softly above her.

"Maybe Claudius's theory on you being able to heal her because she is your mate was correct then," Hermes replied.

Laverna wanted to wake up and shout that she wasn't his mate, but her body didn't seem to want to move.

"Perhaps. I still don't know if she will turn, and the full moon is only two days away," Romulus replied.

Hermes made a dismissive sound. "Divine power fights off all disease, and that will probably include lupism. The bigger issue is Remus being alive again or some version of life. When Laverna wakes, we will need more information."

"If she wakes," Romulus corrected, his voice cracking. "I can't lose her, Hermes. I love her. I've always..."

"I know, Rom. I know. She will wake up. Her body is just healing. Maybe it's finally time to tell her how you feel?" Hermes suggested softly.

Rom's laugh was sad and bitter. "She's too smart to have me. I will call you later."

There was silence, and Laverna had gone from drowsy to wide awake. She hadn't opened her eyes because she wasn't sure her imagination hadn't made that little chat up in her head.

Romulus couldn't love her. He had always hated the very sight of her. That wasn't love. And she sure as hell wasn't his mate. She would know, wouldn't she?

Romulus resumed stroking her hair, and she enjoyed it a little while longer before daring to open her eyes. He was looking straight ahead, his eyes glassy and unseeing.

"Hey," she whispered, not wanting to startle him too badly. He was sitting cross-legged with her head on a pillow in his lap. He looked down and saw her awake, and his whole expression crumpled.

"Oh, thank fuck," he breathed before dragging her up into his arms. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

"I can't promise that," she said, her face squished into his chest. She remembered the fall and the feeling she was about to die. She had been so scared, and that was a whole new emotion for her. She started to shake, the shock hitting her.

"It was Remus. It was Remus. I'd never forget his voice. He was always crazy, but he's not right, Rom. She's done something to him..." she babbled.

Romulus rubbed her back. "We can talk about it later. We need to get you warmed up."

"Take me to the baths," she said and winced. "I smell terrible."

"You do, but I don't care. I can't leave you alone right now."

Laverna reached up and touched his face. "You misunderstand. I want you to take me to the baths, Rom. You are included. I need someone to wash my back because I'm too tired to do it." It was a weak excuse, but he didn't argue with her. She didn't even complain when he picked her up and carried her out of the temple.

Roberto and Claudius were arguing in low whispers outside the door. Both jumped out of the way.

"I'm okay," she said, looking at Roberto. He had tears in his eyes and quickly bowed to her. "Don't get sappy on me. I just need a bath, and I'll be fine."

"I've got her. I might be tempted to drown her for worrying me so much, but I won't do it until she's recovered," Romulus told them.

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