Ranked #1 in #lovespell! The path to Leander's dreams of becoming a true sorcerer was a simple one: he must prove he's up to the challenge by keeping the infamous necromancer Vespertine out of trouble. An uneventful year has come and gone, and soon the Council of Magi will allow him to begin his lessons in earnest. All Leander needs is a little more patience. Easier said than done. When the urge to experiment with an old family spell book becomes too strong to resist, a love charm goes awry and leaves Vespertine smitten. With the dour necromancer turned into a lovesick fool, it's a race against time for Leander to undo the charm before his evaluation. Even if Leander succeeds, the victory will be bittersweet. After a year of pining for Vespertine, having the man he loves in his arms feels far more tempting than any spell. ♖ ♖ ♖ A short story based on one of the prompts provided by the fantasy ambassadors for their contest, "A Magical, Romantical, Alternate Reality".