Love Potion #9

 

Love Potion #9

 

Italy, August 1420
– A gypsy named Lilith sees her lover hanged for a crime he didn't commit. On the gallows, he swears to return to her. Convinced that one day, he'll be reborn, she searches for a fabled elixir – rumored to grant immortality…

 

Toronto, August 1999
– Waiting has taken its toll on Lilith, now a fortune teller with a gift for matchmaking. So she concocts her strongest love potion ever. She is certain her magic has worked when the spitting image of her one true love moves in next door. A very practical – and skeptical – single father, Mitch Davison is intrigued by Lilith's passionate welcome, yet suspicious of her motives. After all, he's never believed in magic – and hasn't believed in love since his wife left him. But when Lilith doubts her own intuition, it's Mitch who must convince her that the greatest gift of all is the talent to follow your own heart…

 

* * *

 

Praise for Love Potion #9

 

“A brilliant fantasy romance. Claire Cross proves that she is one of today's superstars!”

Harriet Klausner

 

“
Love Potion #9
is a keeper! The characters are likeable and real, the dialog is fast and funny, and the writing is witty and delicious. The multi-talented Ms. Cross wields her pen like a wand to give readers a truly magical and spellbinding love story, making believers of us all.”

Tanzey Cutter for Old Book Barn Gazette

 

“Four and a half stars!
Love Potion #9
is utterly charming, mixing a centuries-old myth and a modern day love story with a fast-paced plot that keeps you laughing and wondering if you can really believe.”

Romantic Times

 

“The plot bears the stamp of a master storyteller - Ms. Cross' style is irresistible. Passion is spiced with humor and flavored with emotional conflict. Fast and exhilarating,
Love Potion #9
had me spellbound to the last word.”

MT for Rendezvous

 

“Get ready for a rollicking good time. Claire Cross is at her best, which means a treat for all her fans. Characters written with pathos and humor keep the reader on the edge of tears and laughter as we discover the mysteries of love, romance, sensuality and passion at the hands of the master. Hang on to your hats, ladies, this is one sexy book. If you aren't a fan of Ms. Cross yet, this book will definitely win you over. Smartly written with more than an ample touch of comedy,
Love Potion #9
will rise like cream to the top of the charts.”

Kathee S. Card for Under the Covers

 

“
Love Potion #9
is a delightful, enchanting and magical book…This is one for your keeper shelf!”

Rita Hyatt for WCRG on AOL

 

“Claire Cross does an excellent job of blending passion, romance and humor in this story...This book is definitely one I could dive into over and over again.”

Sharal Heinemann for All About Romance

 

“Cheers to Ms. Cross for having written a wonderfully endearing fantasy romance that readers will have a difficult time putting down – and an even harder time forgetting.”

Brenda K. Johnson for New Age Bookshelf

 

“I laughed so hard, my cat got up and left the room.”

Jennifer Dunne

 

* * *

 

Dear Reader –

 

Love Potion #9
was one of four of my books that were published by Berkley in 1998 and 1999, using my pseudonym Claire Cross. All of these books are romantic comedies with paranormal elements. All four of these books are now available in new digital and print editions, although I have chosen to republish them as Claire Delacroix titles.

 

Although I like each book that I've written,
Love Potion #9
has a special place in my heart. It was the first romance I sold which was completely set in the present day. Previous to this, I had written historical romances, as well as two time travels for Berkley. It's also a book that I like because of the structure – about halfway through the writing of this book, I decided to name each chapter after one card in the higher arcana of a tarot deck. This made sense, as Lilith, the heroine, reads tarot cards. But I also wanted the action of each chapter to reflect the meaning of the governing card in order for that structure to make sense. This was a creative challenge, but I was – and am – very proud of the result.

 

The original edition had a beautiful cover by artist Judy York, showing Lilith surrounded by monarch butterflies, which is evocative of a scene in the book. Judy has graciously permitted me to use that same image for the new print and digital editions, and for this I am very grateful.

 

It was good to have another look at this story, not just to remember how much I liked it in the first place, but to tweak a few things here and there. Other than correcting a few errors, I have avoided the temptation of revising it – it is essentially the same as the original printed edition.

 

I hope that you enjoy Mitch and Lilith's story.

 

Until next time, I hope you are well and have plenty of good books to read.

 

All my best -

Claire

 

www.delacroix.net

 

* * *

 

Love Potion #9

By Claire Delacroix

 

Digital Edition

 

This romantic comedy with paranormal elements
was originally published under the pseudonym Claire Cross.

 

Cover illustration by Judy York.

 

Copyright 1999, 2011 Claire Delacroix, Inc.

 

The scanning, uploading, printing and distribution of this work without the express written permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized versions of any work, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

 

* * *

 

Love Potion #9

Table of Contents

 

0 - The Fool

1 - The Magician

2 - The High Priestess

3 - The Empress

4 - The Emperor

5 - The Pope

6 - The Lovers

7 - The Chariot

8 - Justice

9 - The Hermit

10 - The Wheel of Fortune

11 - Fortitude

12 - The Hanged Man

13 - Death

14 - Temperance

15 - The Devil

16 - The Falling Tower

17 - The Star

18 - The Moon

19 - The Sun

20 - Judgment

21 - The World

 

An Excerpt from
The Moonstone

 

* * *

 

Love Potion #9

by

Claire Delacroix

 

* * *

 

0

The Fool

 

Northern Italy - August 1420

 

The gypsies slid into the town square as quietly as the dusk, gold on their earlobes glinting like starlight, women's voluminous skirts rustling like the wind. They clung to the twilight shadows, silent and watchful.

The gypsies came in silk and velvet, fabulous colors, gold and silver, gems aplenty, their tanned feet bare. To Lilith's eyes, her clan was like visiting royalty among the dour townspeople, a glimmer of something rich and fine that these peasants would otherwise never know.

She walked proudly in the midst of her
kumpania
, refusing to acknowledge the townspeople's watchful silence. There had been a time when the
Rom
's arrival had been greeted with cheers in this town. But on this night, suspicion was in the air, a taint of danger that no one with a nose could miss.

Cards and palms, even the tang in the wind, told the
Rom
that something of import would happen here this night, something with dire consequences for their own fate. It was as clear as a summoning. A shiver raced over Lilith's flesh as she stepped into the square, but she ignored the whisper of her Gift.

In her secret heart, she admitted that she was afraid.

Lilith fingered the tarot card hidden beneath her shawl. It had been the last card Sebastian had drawn, the card that had seemed so inappropriate at the time.

Lilith could almost feel the warmth from Sebastian's fingers still lingering on the card; she ran her thumb across its painted surface as the crowd parted. She craned her neck, seeking a glimpse of him in the crowd, seeking an explanation, seeking reassurance that her uncle had called the matter wrong.

But Sebastian was not there.

As Lilith's heart sank and her uncle's expression turned grim, the town crier raised his voice. He was a portly man, obviously filled with self-importance. “As you know, a woman, a kind and gentle widow has been killed in the sanctity of her own home.”

The crowd stirred angrily and the gypsies exchanged glances of concern.

“We gather this evening to see justice served, for the guilty culprit is in our own hands.”

The hangman stepped forward in his dark hood, something dark tainted the air and the
Rom
instinctively shrank back against the walls. The peasants cheered in bloodthirsty anticipation as the hangman tied a knot in his rope.

“We have the murderer!” the crier shouted. “We know his name and ‘tis not unfamiliar to you all.”

And Lilith's lover was led into the square.

She caught her breath, her fingers tightening over the card. Sebastian, so tall and straight, so handsome, his chestnut hair in disarray, his wondrous eyes flashing in displeasure. Lilith's heart thundered, her gaze greedily devoured the sight of him.

Three whole days she had endured without his beguiling touch, the echo of his laughter, the warm glint in his eye.

This was why he had not returned! Relief made Lilith's knees weaken. She had not granted her maidenhead in vain. She cast a triumphant glance to her uncle, but that man did not even look her way.

Lilith noted that Sebastian's fine linen shirt was soiled, as he would never have permitted, had he been given the choice. His hands were bound behind his back, yet he managed to give a dignity to his role. There was a confident swagger to his step.

“This man” - roared the crier - “this man is infected with the witchery of the Egyptians! He killed his own neighbor in a bloodthirsty rage, a rage unlike anything ever witnessed in him before. The man is enchanted! These wandering sorcerers have cast demons into his soul, they have made him other than what he is!”

It was only then that Lilith fully understood the import of the crier's words. Her eyes widened in shock.

“No!” Lilith called in her dismay. This must be a cruel jest! She would vouch for her love. “No, Sebastian is innocent!”

“Hush!” elderly Dritta hissed in Lilith's ears, but Lilith ignored her council.

Sebastian's head snapped up, his gaze sought the source of Lilith's voice, Lilith's heart leapt when he smiled. She waved madly, oblivious to the agitated crowd. He
did
love her, after all! He had not come because he could not come.

And surely nothing could come between them now!

“Sebastian, Sebastian, I am here!” The gypsies instinctively stepped back into protective shadows and closed ranks around Lilith.

“Lilith!” he roared and struggled against his bonds for the first time.

“You see the truth of it,” the crier declared, his voice filled with disgust. “He is tainted by vagabonds.”

“We are not vagabonds!” Lilith cried angrily, but Dritta drove an elbow into her ribs.

The councilman spared Sebastian a glance and raised his voice over the din. “The priest demands you be burned,” he declared with a cold determination that chilled Lilith's blood. “But you are Giorgio's son.” There was a heavy pause and it seemed everyone in the square held his or her breath.

Lilith bit her lip and clenched her fingers. They would release him. Surely they would set Sebastian free.

He was innocent. He had to be!

The crier slanted a heavy look at the younger man, his low voice carrying over the expectant crowd. “So, in deference to your father, we choose to hang you.”

“No!” Lilith fought to be free of the gypsies encircling her, struggled to go to her beloved's side. “This is wrong! It is unfair! Sebastian is innocent!” Lilith managed to say no more in defense of her lover, for Dritta clamped an iron hand across her mouth.

“Fool!” the older woman muttered. “They will see you dead this very night!” Two cousins caught Lilith's arms from the back and held her powerless despite her struggles.

And as Lilith watched, unable to intervene, the hangman fitted the noose around Sebastian's neck.

Lilith's mouth went dry. They could not do it. She fought, she bit, but she was sorely outnumbered. Desperate tears stung her eyes, but there was nothing she could do.

The crier cleared his throat and glared pointedly to the
Rom
. “The burning,” he declared ominously, “We will save for the gypsy harlot. We shall burn the
puttana
who bewitched and tainted one of our finest sons.” The crowd hissed; the gypsies stiffened.

Sebastian had not been bewitched! They were in love!

“Lilith!” Sebastian bellowed as twisted against the heavy rope that bound his hands. “I promised I would return to you and I will, I
will
! I swear it to you.”