Page 6 of Kissing Potions and Elves

She squints suspiciously.

“Obviously, I wouldn’t,” I add, sniffing primly. “You’re human.”

“What does me being human have to do with anything?” she asks indignantly.

Moon’s mercy—why did I say that part out loud?

“You’re right.” I wince inwardly at how unnecessarily harsh and judgmental my words were. “My apologies.”

“No.” She shakes her head as tears well in her eyes. “I shouldn’t be snapping at you. This is all my fault. I’m the one who accidentally poisoned you with desire tea, apparently.”

I bite back an impatient sigh. It’s obvious Isobel understands very little of magic and potions. “It wasn’t desire tea.”

“Are you sure?”

If it was, we’d both be all over each other right now, unable to resist the pull of such a strong spell. And when morning came, I’d have to take her to the nearest temple to speak our vows. Which would likely result in the early death of both my parentsfrom mortification that their son took a human as hisbondmate. “I’m positive.”

As I gaze at her, a horrifying thought strikes me. Is it just her, or will this cursed potion make me want to kiss every person I lay eyes on? The idea of being seized by an uncontrollable urge to kiss random strangers fills me with a wave of revulsion so strong I almost groan aloud.

What an appalling possibility.I’d rather eat a dozen raw snails than kiss a Goblin.

“I have herbs at my cottage,” I say, gathering my composure. “If we’re to fix this, we’ll need to recreate the mixture. If you’ll please come with me, we’ll see if you recognize any of the herbs. Then you can repay me by helping identify the ingredients. Nothing else.”

She gives me a skeptical look. “You want me to come to your house?”

“To break the potion’s effects.”

“And if we don’t?” she asks a bit hesitantly. “What happens then?”

“Then I’ll likely be influenced for the next two weeks,” I admit grimly. “Possibly a month.”

Her expression crumples. “Oh stars.”

I sigh heavily. “Oh stars, indeed.”

CHAPTER 3

ISOBEL

“Ineed to clean up before we leave.” I scramble to my feet. My cheeks are still damp and I feel foolish, but I can’t just leave the place like this. “It won’t take long.”

Lyrion arches an elegant brow. “Leave it. I’ll pay Tressa for the damages.”

“But I can’t justleaveit like this!”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I gesture at the floor, the shattered glass, the ruined herbs. “Who else is going to clean it up, if not me?”

He stares at me like I’ve said something incomprehensible.

“I made the mess, so it’s only right that I fix it,” I explain. “I’ll be quick.”

He exhales through his nose like I’m being monumentally inconvenient but waves a hand. “Very well. Proceed.”

I hurry back to the shelves and start sweeping up the herbs with a dustpan and brush. I move so fast, I nearly knock over another stack of vials in the process.

Lyrion clears his throat behind me, but I don’t look back. I can practically feel his violet gaze burning holes in the back of my head.