Chapter 23

23

R om had never sat in the passenger seat of his Porsche before. He tried to tell himself that he was immortal as Laverna drove through the winding streets like she was being chased by the police. She needed control, so he gave it to her.

The house was as expected of a witch's den, and it still hadn't prepared them for its awfulness. The way the children had clung weakly to them would remain with him for a long time.

Killing cubs is the worst crime , his wolf said, and though Rom would never consider himself paternal, he had to agree. The alpha in him was about protecting the weak. He wouldn't stop until Canidia and her coven were all dead. If they ran, he would send others to hunt them where he could not.

Laverna wouldn't stop either. He had seen all her rage simmering inside her. She had been crying in fury, not despair. He needed to take care of her. He needed her to be ready for tomorrow night when the change would come over him, and he would need her to take the lead in directing him for the hunt.

Rom's villa was only fifteen minutes outside of the city limits. It was as far as his curse would allow him to go without causing him difficulty. He could make short trips, but three days out of the city was his absolute limit. He had gone to Elysium, where his curse hadn't bothered him, just like it didn't bother Eris.

Rom looked over at Laverna, and his heart ached. He had avoided her over the years as much as he could because when he saw her, it hurt too much.

After he had seen her again at the gathering in Elysium, he knew he couldn't hold out on his feelings any longer. The longing had only gotten worse, and seeing her laughing and joking with the others made him realize that he had never wanted anything more than to have her be that way with him.

Laverna looked drained, the usual fire from her eyes empty with grief. Not knowing how to comfort her, Rom reached across the center console and placed his hand on her leg. After a moment, some of the stiffness in her shoulders relaxed. She didn't move the hand away, so he left it there.

"The boy tonight said he prayed to you," Rom said when the silence in the car became too much. "I didn't realize they still did that."

Laverna nodded. "Some of them do, but I don't...I don't hear their prayers in the same way. If I did, I could have found the boy sooner. I don't know if it was time or myself that caused it to happen, but it's like a wall came up around me, and I haven't been able to shift it. It doesn't let anything through. Not even prayers."

No wall will keep me out , his wolf said, and Rom agreed. It might take time to get through her defenses. Fates knew they had plenty of time on their hands, and he had wasted so much already. He wasn't going to give up on her.

Rom waved at the guard at the gates to his property, and they opened it for them. Laverna drove up the long drive lined on either side with poplar trees and parked at the front entrance.

"Are you sure we are okay here?" she asked, turning off the car.

"It's back to being secure now we found where you dug your tunnel to my bathhouse," Rom replied. That brought out the smallest of grins, and the tightness in his chest eased.

Rom opened the front door for her, and she entered with an owlish curiosity on her face. Rom hid his smile as she politely slipped off her boots. It hardly mattered when they were both smeared with dirt from the gardens.

"Food or shower first?" he asked her.

Laverna looked down at herself and cringed. "Shower, definitely."

Rom led her through the villa, and she smiled at all the artifacts and artwork he had collected. He had a lot more in storage and tended to cycle through what he displayed in the villa. It was a truth of immortality that they either had nothing or they were complete hoarders.

Rom found Laverna a spare T-shirt and drawstring sweatpants. "They will swim on you, but at least it will be clean. Take as long as you need. I'll see what's in my kitchen."

Laverna took them into the bathroom, where he directed her. A big part of him wanted to ask to accompany her, but if she had wanted that, she would have said so. He waited until the door was shut before finding some clean clothes for himself and heading for the guest bathroom.

Rom soaped himself all over twice to try and get the physical and psychological filth of the night off him. He didn't linger under the hot spray like he wanted to. He was starving and knew Laverna had to be as well after using her magic to dismantle the wards.

Rom was always busy, but he liked to cook for himself a few times a week. It was something simple that he could do to switch his brain off. He grabbed some ingredients from his fridge and got busy. He tried to use the moment of normality to clear his mind, but it didn't work.

If Hecate couldn't figure out what spell the witches were planning, and all of his police connections amounted to nothing, then they were completely helpless to stop whatever Canidia was planning with Remus. He would have to risk becoming a part of the city to try and find them, and being so close to the full moon, he wasn't even sure that his wolf would let him.

"Please tell me you have something strong to drink in this palace," Laverna asked from behind him.

Rom didn't stop grating the parmesan in his hand, merely pointing to one of the pantries.

"Help yourself, and pour me some too," he said and started stirring the cheese into the risotto. Laverna looked tiny in his clothes. She had to roll up the bottom of his sweats, and he found it absolutely adorable. She opened the doors and made a scoffing sound.

"Why am I not surprised you have a special butler pantry just for your booze," she said, disappearing inside of it.

"If you think that's impressive, wait until you see my cellar," he replied, and he served bowls of sticky rice with fresh bread and butter.

Laverna came back with a bottle of wine and a bottle of whiskey. She looked at the table set for her, and a strange look passed over her face.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Laverna put the bottles down on the table and hugged him around his waist. "I... Thank you," she murmured into his chest. He put his arms around her and rested his cheek on top of her head.

Mate , his wolf said.

Mate , Rom echoed, and it stopped clawing at him.

"Anytime, cara mia . Anytime," he said aloud and didn't let her go.