Page 32 of Of Magic and Murder

“She might think I don’t care, but that witch has no idea how motivated I am to solve her murder. And that starts on Friday.”

Okay. That has me daring to look over at him. “The day after tomorrow?”

He nods. “You know that I only just got back. I have a couple of things I need to take care of before we get to it. I’d like to go over Max’s notes with him and see where his head is at. He’s the sheriff. My Alpha, too. Despite my blustering in there, he’s lead on this investigation. He’ll let me handle Olivia Frost’s mauling because he knows this is personal to me. It’s not a good idea to step on his toes, especially after…” His voice trails off. When he finds it again, he abruptly asks, “What time can you be ready by?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. I did what you wanted. I let you fiddle around with my curse. Now it’s your turn to hold up your end of the bargain. You can help me during the investigation.”

“Chief Deputy Lobo⁠—”

He arches a single eyebrow.

Right. “Riordan. I’m a seer. As you just witnessed, I can only pass along what Olivia said and I highly doubt she’s going to be any more helpful. I’d like to help you, I really would… but with your curse being a tough nut to crack, I don’t know how else to do that. I’m just a witch.”

“You’re not just a witch. You’re a sweet witch.” He chuckles softly. “Anyone ever tell you that? Penelope, my sweet witch. So worried about my curse. I swear to the Luna, I’ll be better. I’ll do my best not to accidentally order you to do anything, but I promise you that you’re the only one in Moonburrow who can be my partner on this case.”

Just like he’s the only wolf in Moonburrow that I can trust isn’t the murderer…

Because I have no idea what to say to his comment, I stand there and mouth wordlessly at him.

“I mean it. Believe me if you can. Be wary of me if you can’t. I know I deserve it, but I don’t think I can do this without you.”

Of course not. I’m more convinced than ever that my locator spell screwed up to the point that Riordan has conflated his return to Moonburrow with being close to me. Kind of like I created a tie that, in the narrow part of this back alley, I almost swear I can feel stretching between us.

How can I say no? Right now, the most important thing is stopping the witch-killer from murdering again. I also want to solve Olivia’s murder so that she’ll get some closure and peace (and, okay, maybe leave me alone). If that means I have to partner up with Riordan Lobo to do that, that’s what I have to do.

“I’m an early riser,” I say at last. “I sometimes go down as Honey’s prepping for her day and make a cup of tea while keeping her company. So six? Seven? Let me know and I’ll be ready to go.”

Is that a sigh of relief? Or a slight smirk that he got his way without having to force me to agree? I’m not sure, but Riordan holds out his hand. I guess, since I already held his in mine, it’s okay to take it again.

I do, and he squeezes my fingers lightly. “I’m an early riser, too, but those we might be going to see probably will appreciate a later hour. I’ll be there around nine. Friday. Okay?”

Breathlessly, I nod. He returns the gesture and lets my hand slip out of his suddenly lax grip. “Goodnight, Pen.”

At least he gave up on the idea that he’s going to stay by my side…

“Um. Goodnight, Riordan. Enjoy your dinner.”

With one last searching look at me—probably making sure that he didn’t somehow put a command on me without him realizing it… or that I wasn’t yanking on his curse again—he lifts his hand in a goodbye gesture, then turns around.

I watch him go. I watch him stride down the alleyway, swallowing roughly as his powerful stride becomes an intoxicating stalking motion that sends my heart racing. He has complete control over his body, moving like the predator that he is, and I’m helpless to do anything other than keep my eyes on him until he takes a turn and disappears out of sight.

Reaching behind me, I grope for the door handle. I remember belatedly that it’s an auto-lock. Roxy might be able to pick the lock if she were here, but not me. And I put my purse down on the counter after I let myself in earlier.

Where are my keys? In that purse.

Forgetting about Riordan for a moment, I turn and peer at the knob. Just in case, I give it a jiggle. Nope. It’s locked, and if Honey is on her way back to pack land, she would’ve locked the front door, too.

If Honey is gone… but what if she isn’t?

For a split second, I debate casting an unlock spell on the door. It’s considered unethical for a witch to do so—one of reasons that Olivia, as a healer, tried breaking into Roxy’s shop with human tools—but since I technically live here, it wouldn’t be a cheat.

No, but if my spell backfires on me, I might blow up the bakery. So, yeah… I’m not about to do that.

Thank the Goddess for pockets. I pull my phone out of the pocket in my skirt and hurriedly select one of my contacts, waiting hopefully for someone to⁠—

“Hello?”