Page 28 of Of Magic and Murder

A cruel alpha would use that to rule a pack. Riordan Lobo accepted that he was cursed and handed the position of Alpha over to his younger brother.

My fingers tighten involuntarily around his as I peer open my eyes only to find that Riordan had already done the same.

“Who cursed you?” I murmur.

His expression shutters so quickly that I know I’ve hit something that he has no intention of sharing. “It doesn’t matter.”

Technically, that’s true. I don’t need to know who cursed him or why to break it; if the opposite was the case, I would have a much poorer success rate. However, when I think about how tightly wound Riordan’s curse is… I don’t even know where to begin to unravel it.

Does that mean I’m a quitter? That I’m going to give up? No. I have a taste of it now, and I understand how it works. I also notice how careful he is not to say anything to anyone that could be construed as an order. It must’ve been a fluke. Frustrated with another murder in Moonburrow, he gave me a command and, because of it, we’re only dealing with the aftermath now, two months later.

Since I’d rather do my duty than focus on why his actions in the sheriff station affected me so much, I close my eyes once more and try again. I search deeper, but knowing what the curse does only makes me appreciate how difficult breaking it is going to be. Riordan’s wolf is naturally dominant. An alpha gives orders and expects them to be followed. Somehow, whoever cursed him took that instinct and wrapped magic around it until an expectation became compulsion.

No wonder I couldn’t resist him in the jail. No wonder he was horrified that I couldn’t. If he’s dealt with this curse for years, like Roxy told me, he has to know every trick to get around it—until that day with me.

No one should have to police their words around the clock. No one should have to worry about having their free will taken from them.

I’ll break this curse. It might take some time, but I’ll do it, and I tell him so.

Riordan pulls his hands out of mine. “You don’t have to do that.”

What? “Of course I do. I’m a cursebreaker. That’s my job.”

“Right now, you’re working as a consulting detective for the Moonburrow Sheriff Department,” he deadpans. Look at that. I’m a cursebreaker, a volunteer librarian, and now a consulting detective… “Don’t worry about me. Besides, I’m used to it.”

Something about the way he says that bothers me more than his immediate refusal. “That doesn’t mean you should have to live with it.”

“I know how to control it.”

“Most of the time, maybe.”

Whoops.

The words slip out before I can stop them. I didn’t mean to say that, but when his expression changes, a haunted look coming to his eyes… it doesn’t matter what I intended. I said it, and I can’t take it back.

However, I can apologize.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean⁠—”

“No.” Riordan’s gold eyes stay fixed on me. “I’m the one who owes you an apology. About what happened in the cell. I lost control. It wasn’t your fault. None of it. But instead of explaining it and using my curse to reverse it, I panicked. So, yes, Penelope. I’m the one who should say I’m sorry. And I am.”

My cheeks heat up. “Riordan, I know you didn’t mean to do that⁠—”

“Now, perhaps. But you didn’t know that when I left you in the cell.”

No. I didn’t.

I remember sitting on the cot in that cell, desperate to stand and unable to move because he told me to sit down. Trying to demand that he release me and discovering I couldn’t make a sound because he ordered me to be quiet.

But I remember the look on his face before he disappeared, and because of that, I’ve accepted it was an accident long before now.

His jaw tightens. “I didn’t mean to use my curse against you. I need you to know that. That was my human side fucking up. My wolf knew you were innocent… I should’ve listened to my instincts then. I’m sure as hell gonna do that now.

“But, first, I have to explain. The potion fooled me, Penelope. Olivia smelled dead. I couldn’t hear a heartbeat. Couldn’t detect her breathing. Everything my senses told me said I was looking at a body. Then I spoke to the other witches. There were a couple that told me you argued with Olivia. They saw you leave the coven house afterward. When I questioned them separately, their stories matched.”

I grimace. “Because Olivia coached them well. And that’s how I ended up being framed for her not-quite-death.”

His head jerks. A nod. But, before he can say anything else, a female voice comes from behind me.