Page 31 of Of Magic and Murder

“It was dark. I didn’t notice that anyone was there until the first swipe of his paw. That’s what killed me. Everything that happened after… that was just the killer having fun.”

My heart stops. “That sounds like a feral.”

Riordan’s head whips my way. “Feral? How do you know about ferals?” A pointed look at a space a few inches away from where Olivia is hovering now. “What did she say?”

“I… something about how the wolf used his claws, then played with her body.”

He sucks in a breath. “That does sound like a feral. But unless Moonburrow went to hell since I’ve been gone, we don’t have any of those.”

Maybe not. But we do have a killer.

I can tell that it’s a struggle for Riordan to regain his composure after that. He asks a few more questions about the attack, but when Olivia starts to get visibly frustrated, I try to signal to Riordan that it might be better to move on to a different line of questioning if he wants to get anything else out of her tonight.

To my surprise, he gets the hint.

To my even greater surprise, he asks Olivia, “Why did you try to frame Penelope for your death? Why her?”

I know why. It’s because I was an outsider, and because I pissed Olivia off by refusing to get the compact for her.

But why does Riordan care?

I don’t know, and the abrupt change of subject is enough to rile the witch’s ghost right up.

“What kind of question is that? I came here because I was murdered,” Olivia snaps. “Actually murdered. By a wolf. Does the chief deputy care about that?”

I hesitate, not sure if I want to repeat that to Riordan.

“What?” he asks.

Here goes nothing.

“She wants to know why you’re asking about her fake death rather than her real one.”

His expression doesn’t change. “Because I already know what she can tell me about her murder. I have Max’s notes for the rest. But I still don’t understand why she would turn against such a sweet witch like you, Pen.”

Oh.

Oh.

“Riordan, I⁠—”

“You know what? I’m dead! I don’t have to put up with this. I’ll come back when he’s more interested in my murder than your feelings.” Olivia begins to fade out. When she’s half gone, her voice still calls out: “And I will be back because I’m not going anywhere until you solve this!”

“Olivia—”

Too late. She’s gone.

Riordan can’t see that, either, and he waits for me to tell him what she said.

Instead, I shrug my shoulders. “She left. Said she’ll be back, but I don’t think it’ll be tonight.”

Considering I plan on moving the cutting of wormwood to my room, it can’t be.

For a moment, Riordan watches the spot where Olivia was. I don’t have to ask to know that whatever passed between us before Olivia appeared is gone now. Maybe that’s for the best. I wanted to understand Riordan’s curse, and I do.

I also understand him a little better than I did before.

When he stays silent, I fist a handful of my skirt, swaying it absently as I purposely avoid meeting Riordan’s gaze. “So… what happens now?”