Chapter 69 - The Prince's Lover

As she set the last vial of dried roots next to her cauldron, Jasmine stood in the middle of her tiny, dark hut, her hands shaking a little. Days had passed since she last saw Ramin, and she was still bothered by the distance. She was confident that her magic would work tonight, that there would be no mishaps. As though nature itself was waiting for her to take action, the moon was low in the sky and threw an unsettling glow through her cottage's one window. Her mind concentrated on the spell as she gathered up the components, which included a single raven feather, drops of nightshade, and vials of enchanted plants. She uttered the old spell that would attract Ramin to her, to the clearing in the woods where they always met, with deliberate care and a solid, low voice. The full moon and her desire made her spell powerful tonight. The air was heavy with energy as the potion in the cauldron boiled with a deep, rhythmic hum. Through the enchantment, the magical thread that bound them