Page 38 of Of Magic and Murder

Ash seemed surprised when I came dashing into the library about an hour-and-a-half later. Claiming that he was hungry and that the single donut I gave him only whetted his appetite, Riordan insisted that we stop in at a small cafe off of Main Street to have breakfast. Before I could refuse, Gus bobbed his head in what could only be considered a nod of agreement. Accepting that I was outnumbered, two to one, I tagged along.

Everyone in Moonburrow knows Riordan, and it seems as though everyone in town all decided that they wouldn’t mention the two months the Beta was gone. Everyone we passed gave him a jovial hello, and because of his popularity—and the town gossips wondering what he was doing with the newcomer witch—our quick breakfast lasted nearly two hours.

Riordan teasingly joked that it was near lunchtime, and he could take me to this cozy restaurant where they serve the best steak sandwiches. Already stuffed from the pancake platter he suggested I order, I politely refused, and told myself that he wasn’t trying to keep me from leaving.

That my spell wasn’t getting stronger inside of fading.

That Riordan doesn’t feel that tie between us strengthening…

When he dropped me off at the library, it was a relief. He can stay away from me, and I only hoped that meant that the locator spell was finally dissipating enough that he won’t insist on being my protector.

Of course, then I thought of the way he pointedly told Delilah that he wouldn’t let anything happen to a witch on his watch. And while I did get a little jealous at the way he schmoozed her into getting Faith’s notebook from the coven leader, there was something in the way he looked at me as he made his promise.

Which is why, despite how anxious I am about going into the woods with Riordan, I find myself almost looking forward to it.

The first thing I notice when we approach the exact spot where Faith Mathers was murdered is how strong the wards are—and, oh. I’m sorry. I’m being a fibber. A big, ol’ nasty fibber. I want to believe that my mind was completely on the task at hand, but when I can’t stop fixating on how close Riordan is to me… yeah.

It’s just the two of us. He showed up at the bakery at nine o’clock on the dot. I was ready to go, even though my knees were knocking beneath my skirt. I thought Gus was coming with us, too, but before the opossum deputy could tag along, Gus took him to the side and whispered something to him. I have no idea what, but Gus nodded, brushed against the side of my boot as though wishing me good luck, and went to return to the front of the bakery where Honey was.

However, despite how determined I was to be the best investigative partner I could, I forgot that it was just me, the woods, and an alpha wolf with such amazing shifter senses, it doesn’t take long before he finally catches on to my nerves.

The first time he asked me what was wrong, I brushed him off. The same for the second. But the third time? He doesn’t quite tell me what to do—so I could refuse him if I wanted to—but I can sense there’s a hint of desperation to his request.

“What’s the matter? You can tell me. Promise. Because something’s wrong, and I don’t want to be pushy, but it’s been distracting me all morning.”

He’s right. I probably should. If we’re going to be working together until we figure out who is killing witches in Moonburrow, I should. I mean, it was bound to come out eventually…

“I’m afraid of wolves,” I admit at last. “Not just wolves, either. Dogs and coyotes and anything like that… I can’t help it. And I should’ve told you already, but I usually can deal with it. It’s just… the woods and we’re alone.”

“Is it being alone with me that’s a problem? Or that I’m a wolf shifter?”

“Wolf shifter,” I whisper.

I expect Riordan to roll his eyes or scoff. He’s the strong, powerful—gorgeous—Beta of the Moonshadow Pack. I can’t imagine him being afraid of anything.

Only he doesn’t.

Instead, approaching me slowly, he cups my jaw in his hand. “Be afraid of wolves, Pen. But don’t be afraid of me.”

Whoa.

CHAPTER 11

USELESS

sometimes the magic lady talks to the air.

that’s okay. she’s still part of gus’s clan.

— gus

Close. He’s too close. It’s an instinctive reaction. As much as I enjoy the heat of his skin on mine, I hold for a second, then take a few steps back. He allows it, watching me go without saying a word.

Once there are a few feet between us, I tuck my hair behind my ear and glance away.

Riordan clears his throat.

Against my better instinct, I turn to look at him.