Chapter 22

22

L averna didn't get up until the paramedics arrived to take care of the children. She was shell-shocked. She was full of fury and hatred, and it had nowhere to go. She didn't want to know what else they had found in the house. Romulus was busy talking to one of the police, his hand still holding the small girl's. She refused to let him go, so he went with her to the ambulance at the front of the house. Her heart hurt just looking at the tender way he talked to the girl. Her head hurt from the magic and the horror.

Laverna slipped past them all and out into the street. It had been partially blocked off, with police directing traffic. She moved past them, unseen, and sat down on the footpath between two parked cars.

With shaking hands, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number by heart. She breathed out shakily when Bellona answered.

"Laverna? What's wrong?" she asked in her brisk tone.

Laverna burst into tears again. "I just raided Canidia's base, and it was awful, and I think I'm in love with Romulus, and I don't know what to do about any of it."

There was a long silence before Bellona finally said, "Maybe start from the beginning, mia amica ."

Laverna sat in the gutter and poured her brokenness out onto her best friend, whom she had hurt and who still loved her enough to take her call in the middle of the night.

"A busier week than usual," Bellona said when Laverna stopped talking. Her tears had been reduced to hiccups, and she choked out a laugh.

"Yeah, you could say that. What am I going to do, Bells?"

"Find the witches and kill them for good this time," Bellona replied and let out a sigh. "I can't believe you're finally admitting that you're in love with Rom. It's only taken you centuries to get your head out of your ass."

"I don't know what to do about it."

"Do you need to do anything? He told Hermes that he loves you. Hermes. Who will tell everyone . Rom clearly doesn't care who knows. And you are his mate. I can't believe I didn't figure that out either," Bellona said, her laughter deep and delighted.

Laverna kicked the tire next to her with the toe of her boot. "He didn't say it to me."

"He probably thought you would knife him in the face if he tried," Bellona said. "I'm kind of sad that I'm missing out on seeing this in person. You two have been dancing around each other for so long. I can understand why you always rubbed him wrong. It makes sense that you are not a part of his control of the city, and that would make you dangerous to him. Poor Rom."

Laverna snorted. "Poor Rom! What about poor me? He could have talked to me about this centuries ago!"

"You know how gods like to hang onto their denial. The point is, this is all up in the air now. He surrendered to you. Everything that happens next is your choice because he's given it to you." Bellona huffed out another laugh. "I can't believe the alpha in him let that happen."

"Neither can I, to be honest. I don't do feelings well, Bells. I don't know how to do...this...with him," Laverna replied and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "This is too hard to deal with, as well as the witches. They weren't here, and this was our best lead."

"You said you sent the photos of the spells to Hecate?"

"Yeah, I did. She hasn't gotten back to me," Laverna replied.

"She will when she has something useful for you to follow up on. For now, you are between battles," Bellona said, her voice turning full commander. "That means you eat, rest, and regather your strength for the next fight. Tomorrow night is the full moon. Romulus will be in wolf form and won't be able to help in the same way. You only have tonight, Laverna. Make the most of it."

"Thank you for picking up, Bells," she said, rubbing the tears off her cheeks. "I really am sorry about what happened with Rafael."

"I know, Laverna. I was pissed off. It didn't mean I hated you," Bellona replied. "It would take much more than that. You know how the saying goes: Family is who you survive with. You, me, Rom, and the others have survived so much. We might fight occasionally, but we get over it because we have only each other for eternity."

Laverna stared up at the few stars that managed to shine through the light pollution. "You are right. I love you, Bells."

"Don't tell Rom that," Bellona teased. "I love you too. Call me after you've killed the witches. I want details."

Laverna laughed, her heart feeling lighter as she hung up. Her butt was cold from sitting on the concrete, so she stood up and went to find Romulus.

The ambulances had gone, and Romulus was still talking to the police. He saw her standing under the trees, and a look of relief passed over his face. Laverna couldn't bring herself to take another step toward the house, so she waited for him under a pine tree, the sweet smell blocking out the scent of the witch's magic.

After a short time, Romulus shook hands with the police officer and walked over to her.

"Tell me what I can do," he said, not bothering to ask if she was okay. He knew she wasn't.

Laverna swallowed the salty taste of her tears. "Take me somewhere? I can't handle the thought of going back to the catacombs tonight. They will be mourning for the ones that we didn't find...that are probably in the garage in jars …and I can't, Rom. I just can't ."

"The men have cleared my villa, and I have patrols guarding it. Will you come home with me?" he asked softly. Laverna nodded, and it was all he needed. "Stay here one moment."

Romulus cut across the grass to talk to Claudius, giving him instructions, no doubt. Guilt stabbed at Laverna. Romulus should be here taking control of things, not looking after her because she just couldn't handle being there a second longer.

Romulus came back to her and offered her the keys to the Porsche. Laverna's face crumpled as she took them, but she managed to hold herself together. Romulus didn't mention it; he only took off his big jacket and put it around her shaking shoulders.

"Let's go home," he said.