Chapter 9

“I believe she came to see Mistress Mildred one day when I was mowing the lawn.”

“I told her I’d met you, too. It seemed safer, in case someone sees you and wonders why you’re around.”

“Probably a wise idea.” Riadh picked up a cobweb covered vase. He peeked inside. There was a rolled sheet of paper and a couple of plastic baggies. He pulled them out.

“What’s that?” Dale asked.

Unrolling the sheet of paper, Riadh said, “A spell for attraction. It renders the user irresistible for a full day. And the baggies contain a couple of the ingredients, jasmine petals, attar of rose and badger claws.”

“Don’t those sorts of things usually come back to bite the user on the ass?”

“Sometimes. The idea doesn’t appeal to you?”

“Maybe. I mean if you wanted a one night stand, or a quick fuck in the bathroom.”

“True. Any ex-boyfriends come to mind?”

The glance that Dale gave him was full of pain. “Not anymore.”