The King and the Thief

Romulus could feel the beast inside of him moving restlessly under his skin. It usually only woke around the full moon, but it had been awake and moody for weeks. In the past, it had only ever gotten like that when something catastrophic was about to happen to his city.

Calm down. I stopped Bellona from destroying Rome. The threat is gone, he tried to tell the beast. He wasnt listening. He was connected to Rome, and could feel the magic and energy of it pulsing through him. He knew on every level that something wasnt right. There was an undercurrent of darkness that he couldnt identify the source of.

Romulus looked around at the dark green and porphyry pillars of his private bathhouse. He had retired to his villa out of the city center for the night to try and calm down. He was doing his best to relax and let the hot water and steam soothe him.

It usually lulled the beast inside of him to sleep for a time, too, but the wolf wasnt having it, and Romulus was starting to get worried. He thought about the past few weeks of Bellona dealing with the Costas and his own men involved in cleaning the mafia dregs out of his city. He had taken over their legal assets and dissolved or demolished the rest.

Bellona was going to hunt the trafficking ring side of it down and was staying out of Rome at his request. Not that she needed convincing. She was quite happy to keep her human to herself for as long as possible.

Something is coming, his beast whispered to him, jolting him out of his thoughts. Something is waking.

What do you mean by waking? Romulus demanded, but the beast didnt elaborate. Of course not.

Romulus froze as his sensitive hearing detected a scuffling sound on the other side of the pool he was in. No one was allowed to bother him unless it was urgent.

Romulus rose out of the water and grabbed a towel for his waist. There was another scratching, scraping sound. He watched, wide-eyed, as one of the marble tiles lifted up, and a woman climbed through it.

Laverna? What the fuck? he demanded.

The goddess of thieves brushed the dirt off her shoulders and jeans. Hey, asshole. We need to talk.

And you decided to tunnel into my villa instead of knocking on the front door? Romulus demanded, hands on his hips. The beasts ears pricked up at the sight of the scruffy goddess, her satin top and jeans stained with mud and gods knew what else.

I tried to knock on the front door, but your dickbag guards said you couldnt be disturbed, Laverna snapped. She looked him over with annoyance. Good to see youre so busy having a bath that you cant even bother to have an audience with your betters.

You could join me if you like. You look like you could do with a scrub, Romuluss wolf said, taking over his mouth before he could stop it. Fuck. Not now, you dumb bastard.

Unlike you, I have better things to do with my time than float about. Laverna was suddenly in front of him, one dagger at his throat, the other at his dick. Like fuck you up for killing my people.

Romulus held up his hands because he knew Laverna would do it without hesitation. He might live through it, but it would hurt like all fuck.

Are you being crazier than usual, goddess? We have a truce. Why would I want to break that? he tried to reason with her. She smelled of earth and myrrh and something ancient and sacred that made his mouth water. His wolf wanted to bury his muzzle in that smell and roll in it like a deranged puppy.

I dont know why. Maybe you were bored and decided hunting down some people and tearing them apart with your claws and fangs was a good idea? You tell me because five people under my protection have been slaughtered, and Im keen for a new wolf skin rug for my bed.

Romulus ignored the bed comment. It would only antagonize her, and she was angry enough. Usually, he liked to goad her just to see that passionate flash in her eyes. Having her knife at his dick was a good incentive not to irritate her.

Laverna, I swear to you, I havent touched anyone of your rabble. Its not even a full moon. How could I have killed them with my claws and fangs? he said calmly and let some of his alpha magic from the wolf sink into his words. It worked for a whole three seconds before the tip of Lavernas dagger pressed into his towel.

Dont you dare try that shit on me, she snarled. Im not one of the dumb bitches you have in your harem of whores that you can push around.

Fuck, this woman is relentless. It was something he had always hated about her. The wolf loved it because he was a traitor when it came to her.

He said, It was reflex. I meant no disrespect. There really is no way that I could have killed anyone.

Laverna growled in frustration and stepped back from him. Romulus touched the front of his towel to check for damage. The fabric was cut, but thank the Fates, nothing else was.

If it wasnt you, then one of your wolves has gone feral. Im not an idiot, Romulus. I know what your wolves do when they hunt and feed. You might not give a shit about the poor and the homeless, but they didnt deserve to be hunted down and slaughtered. And before you crap on about the full moon, I know. Maybe one or more of them have found magic to deal with that and trigger the change whenever they want.

Romulus wanted to tell her not to be ridiculous, but his nose could tell when someone was lying to him, and Laverna wasnt. Just for once.

Do you still have the bodies? I can come and see if I can pick up a scent of whoever killed them. If one of my wolves has broken our treaty, I will kill them myself, he stated.

Laverna sheathed her daggers. Fine, but I get to execute whoever is responsible.

Romuluss wolf clawed at his insides, forcing him to say, If there is some kind of rogue creature around, maybe you should leave the city for a while so youll be safe. If they targeted your people, maybe you are the one they are really after, and they are just trying to lure you out.

Laverna shook her head, and more dirt sprinkled the marble. No. I dont care if they are after me. I hope they find me if thats the case. Im not going to run away just because you think I cant protect myself. They killed my people, Rom. Mine. This is my responsibility, she replied, stubborn as ever.

At least stay for a bath. As I said, you could use one, he said. He didnt mention the way his nickname had rolled off her tongue and straight to his dick. She never called him Rom. It was always his full name and full of disdain. She must have been really stressed not to notice the slip-up.

Ill pass. You know how the old saying goes, You lay down with dogs, and you get fleas, she said with a smirk.

Romuluss wolf roared to the surface and pinned her up against one of the slick marbled columns.

Not dog, the beast snarled through his mouth.

Laverna struggled against his grip, but Romulus held her firm. The beast put his nose into the soft skin of her neck and inhaled her scent. He had never been this close to her, and his beast did what he had wanted to do in over two thousand years and licked her skin.

R-Romulus? Let me go, Laverna whispered. He could smell her arousal, like sweet musk and secrets. Rom. Release me.

Romulus fought the wolf back and let her go. I... Im sorry. I dont know what… Im sorry.

Laverna frowned up at him, but it was concern, not anger. She shook her head as if to clear it. Be at the entrance of the Catacombe di Commodilla tomorrow at midday, and Ill show you the bodies we found.

Why midday? Why not now? he demanded, crossing his arms so he wouldnt make a grab for her again.

Leave her be, old friend. She doesnt want us.

And thats your fault, not mine, the wolf replied.

Laverna sat down on the wet marble and swung her feet into the hole she had popped out of.

It has to be no earlier than midday, or I wont let you see them at all. Ive had a long night, and unlike you, I have people who want to fuck me to deal with my stress instead of float about in a bath all alone with only my hand for company, she snarked over her shoulder.

Romulus snarled out a curse, but the marble tile was moved back over the hole, smothering Lavernas laughter.

Fuck, he growled and punched the nearest pillar, sending cracks through it. He ran his hands over his face. His wolf had never taken over like that before.

A horrible, cold chill swept through him. If his wolf was losing control, how many other wolves were? What if they really had broken free of the full moons power and killed Lavernas people? He could still taste her silky skin in his mouth. His wolf gave a contented rumble, and Romulus knew what was coming.

Mate, it growled, like it always fucking did when he saw her. Every single time since he had first encountered her on the banks of the Tiber centuries ago.

Romulus threw off his shredded towel and walked into the cold plunge pool, his night of relaxing completely ruined. He needed to find out who had killed Lavernas people, which meant he needed to be able to control himself around her.

The problem was, he had a terrible feeling that he was no longer going to be able to control the wolf. The beast in him had only ever had one prey that it was interested in above all others…And that was the goddess of thieves.