Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Me?” I shook my head. “But I’m no Potions Mistress! I’m nothing but a Kitchen Witch who happens to be half Succubus.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Goody A said briskly. “The grimoire states that the witch who brews the potion must be intimately connected with those she wishes to lift the curse from.” She raised her eyebrows delicately. “May I suppose that the three of you are now intimately connected, since you’ve been on a quest together which involved a sacrifice?”
I felt my cheeks get hot. I really try not to advertise my love life too much around town—mainly because the Town Elders are such prudes. But to my surprise, Finn answered for me.
“Yes, you’re right about that,” he said. Putting an arm around me, he gave me a squeeze. “And Ronan’s with us too,” he added.
Ronan just stood there. We were gathered on the porch of The Red Lion and he was looking intently at Main Street and the people walking by.
“Well then, it should be a simple matter,” Goodie A said, nodding. “Here.” She handed me a long piece of folded parchment. “I copied out the potion ingredients and the brewing instructions for you. Oh, and do be sure you pay special attention to the note at the bottom—it’s absolutely crucial to the success of the recipe.”
“Thank you, Goody A.” I gave her a grateful smile. “Let me just swing by Willow’s place to get the rest of the ingredients and then we’ll head back to the Diner to start brewing.”
Goody Albright’s eyes went wide behind her cat-eye glasses.
“Oh no—I don’t think you’d better brew it at the diner!”
“No? Then where?” I was confused. I had everything I needed at the diner for brewing up anything—from a potion to a really good soup or stew. Why not use the space I already had?
“I believe this potion would be best brewed at your special Lust Hut.” She dropped her voice on the last words but my guys still heard her.
“What the fuck did she just say?” Ronan growled, his eyebrows shooting upwards.
“You have a Lust Hut?” Finn asked eagerly at the same time.
“Shhhh.” I put my finger to my lips. “Look, it’s a necessity when you’re half-Succubus. I have to have someplace to go to, er, relieve my urges.”
“And here I thought you just wandered around in the forest until you found some stranger’s cabin to have fun in,” Ronan remarked.
I slapped his arm.
“That’s enough out of you! I’m going to be brewing this potion for your benefit, you know.”
“So you will brew it?” Finn asked hopefully.
“Of course I will.” Reaching up, I cupped his bristly cheek in one hand. He was probably only a few years younger than me, but he still seemed so innocent. “I swear if I can get this curse off you, I’ll do it,” I told him. “No matter what it takes.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because I’m afraid it’s going to take more than just the potion to lift such a potent curse,” Goody A said ominously.
I frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Never you mind,” she said mysteriously. “Just be sure to read that note at the bottom. Now, since you’re going to your hut, would you like a portable cauldron?”
“Yes, please.” I nodded gratefully. Goody A has everything you can think of…and some things you’ve probably never even imagined. “Oh, and I’ll give you back the tent now too. Thank you for letting us use it.”
I reached into my pocket but what I pulled out wasn’t the tent…it was the Veil of the Goddess.
“Oh, my,” Goody Albright breathed as she saw the shimmering silk. “However did you come across that?”
Briefly, I told her about our little side-quest which had resulted in gaining a magical artifact.
“We don’t know what it does but the Keeper of the Vault of Dreams said it will let us know when we need to use it.”
“I dare say it will—this lovely thing is just stiff with magic.” Goody A stroked the shimmering fabric with one fingertip. “So beautiful. Take good care of it. You might even find that it comes in handy in breaking the curse on your men.”
I felt my cheeks get hot again as I pushed the Veil back into my pocket. Goody A had called Ronan and Finn my men. I liked hearing that from someone else—liked it that she could tell the three of us belonged together.
I just hoped that she was right and I could break the curse on both my guys.
Otherwise I was going to lose them to their Fur Forms forever.
22
GOLDIE
The Lust Hut shimmered into view like a dream stitched out of silk and moonlight. It was my own special place in the forest…a small but sumptuously decorated building that no one could enter without my permission. I had brought partners here before, but none like Ronan and Finn. This felt special—it felt real.