Pretty Potions and Sexy Spells

By Juliet Cardin

Just This Night Glenna Cosworth, a five-hundred-year-old witch overcome by loneliness, casts a beauty spell upon herself in an effort to find love—even if it's just for one night. The Wise Woman Belinda Cordrey, the village wise woman, has been given an arduous task: cure her lord's impotence... Nature of the Beast Ruby, a timeless witch, has been spending passion-filled days with Tarock, an immortal who shifts between man and cat. Trapped in Time Cursed by a jealous warlock, Clarissa and Tristan have spent the past one hundred years apart, only to come together when the moon is full and the clock strikes twelve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Torrid Books
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781633556652

Juliet Cardin

Juliet is an award-winning author of several bestselling novels and short stories. She lives in Ontario with her husband, cat and dog. You can check out Juliet's website to see what she's been up to. http://JulietCardinWebsite.Yolasite.com

Book preview

JUST THIS NIGHT

"The time is now, the hundredth year, the moment has arrived.

Beauty and grace will come to rest, the loneliness—survived.

For one eve, I call to the West, the East, the South and North.

The mate I seek for just this night, I ask that he come forth.

Passion shall rule us and make us whole. Attraction at first sight.

Let me know how love should feel, if only for one night."

As Glenna completed the incantation, she dropped the last sprig of meadowsweet into her caldron. She hummed as she stirred the heady potion set upon the sturdy wooden table before her. Slylock, her black cat, turned figure eights around her legs leaving dark fur on Glenna’s stockings. The faded black dress Glenna wore was old and shabby, barely covering her knees. She brushed aside her long dark hair, which hung like a heavy cape down her back, and set her spoon aside. She picked up a chalice and held back her sleeve as she dipped it in the caldron and snatched up some of her brew. Putting the chalice to her lips, she drank back the entire contents.

It took only a moment or two before she began to feel the magical effects. Already her body felt sleeker and tighter. Her hands opened and closed easily, and her legs bent without any hint of pain or discomfort. She turned circles around the room, never once losing her balance. Slylock followed her, purring his excitement. Glenna bent and picked him up and stroked his soft sleek coat.

Aye, my darling. I am beautiful, and I shall attract a man this All Hallows Eve.

Meeroow, Slylock agreed.

Glenna dropped the cat onto an old dusty couch in the attic and then journeyed down the three flights of stairs. She strode purposefully into the foyer of her three-hundred-year-old manor and walked directly before an eight-foot-high, intricately framed mirror—the only mirror in her home. She carefully pulled away the long, dark mantle, which hid her reflection. Placing the mantle aside, she stepped forward and peered at her image.

Noting her beautiful large brown eyes and perfect brows, Glenna smiled. Her lips curved into a succulent bow, and she could see a row of perfect pearl-white teeth. She bent to lift the hem of her dress and pulled the offending piece of fabric up over her head and off her shapely body. Her long white slip came off next and landed in a heap at her feet along with her dress. Now she was completely naked, and Glenna couldn’t help but stare long and hard at her exquisite, luscious curves. Her legs were long and shapely, her breasts firm and high; her waist was narrow and curved out into temptingly wide hips.

Slylock padded across the room and came up to sit on his haunches before the mirror. He too seemed to be enjoying the image displayed.

See me, darling? Am I not beautiful? Glenna asked in wonder. She could not remember her true appearance, it being well over five hundred years since she had last seen herself. But she remembered how the young men had teased her then, called her ugly and witch-like. If they had actually known she was a witch, they may not have teased her so. But Glenna had not forgotten their laughter, and she had vowed never to see her reflection again. Centuries had passed, and she had traveled much, keeping mostly to herself and careful to keep her true identity a secret. She’d eventually left England to settle in the New World and had a home built that would last for centuries and keep her hidden from prying eyes.

It was true she had not aged since her eighteenth birthday, but she felt the burden of the years in her weary bones. She spent her time in solitude, rarely venturing outside the high stone walls that surrounded her home. When she did go out, about once a month to get supplies from the small town nearby, she’d don her long cloak with a hood to hide her hideous appearance.

Then, one day, while she was going through the trunk in the attic that held her spell books, she had come across the magical verse. The beauty spell that could only be said on All Hallows Eve, once every one hundred years. This was the first time she had used the spell, and Glenna was extremely pleased with the results, even if they were temporary. Come midnight, the spell would be over, and she would revert back to her ugly self.

The bong of the old grandfather clock gained Glenna’s attention. Eight o’clock, she gasped. I haven’t a moment to spare. Quickly she raced back up the stairs to her bedchamber. She had bought a beautiful modern dress especially for this grand occasion, and she couldn’t wait to try it on. Slylock hurried up the stairs behind her, and now he jumped onto the bed to watch Glenna get ready.

Oh, how that woman in the store smirked at me when I bought this dress, she told the cat as she dressed. She almost outright laughed at me as she rang it in. Lucky for her I was in a good mood, or I would have turned her into a toad.

When she was ready, Glenna grabbed her new high-heeled shoes and rushed back downstairs to stand before the mirror once more. She had already placed a brush and some cosmetics she’d purchased on the small table by the mirror. Now she brushed her hair with long strokes until it shone and then applied the cosmetics the way she’d learned from fashion magazines. She even had a little purse that matched her dress to hold her lipstick if it required a touch-up while she was out. There were several magazines around the huge old manor house. Glenna had read them and learned all about what men in this modern world liked and how she should act with a man when she got him alone.

Men expected women to be more outgoing and adventurous nowadays. No longer were women to sit idly by and wait to be pursued. Now a woman could go out to taverns—bars—and pick up any man she liked. It was all quite daring.

Once Glenna had finished applying her makeup, she felt confident she could leave her refuge without causing a panic in the streets. Her shoes had taken her over a week of practice before she could walk in them without stumbling. She’d even rehearsed conversations, although they’d been one-sided, since Slylock could only meow in response. Hopefully, no one would notice her lack of social graces.

Glenna climbed into her little car. She would prefer to fly her broom, but knowing folks wouldn’t take kindly to having a real witch in their midst, she’d relented and bought the modern vehicle. The contraption had been more difficult to figure out than a horse and carriage. She was grateful for the several acres of land surrounding her home, which had enabled her to learn to drive.

As she cruised the streets of town she noticed the little children, dressed as ghosts and goblins, out trick-or-treating. No one came to her house. The imposing stone walls and high iron gate, not to mention the Beware of Dog signs—not that she had one—kept visitors to a minimum.

When she reached her destination, The Fool ‘n’ Fowl Bar and Grill House, Glenna parked her car and headed toward the entrance. She took a deep breath before she opened the door and began to step inside.

Outta the way, lady! a giant brute suddenly yelled in her face.

Glenna stepped aside just in time to see a young man clutched by his shirt and pants tossed outside like yesterday’s rubbish. The young man landed in a heap on the hard cement and let loose a torrent of foul words. Glenna watched in shock as he got to his feet