Page 12 of Bearly Bewitched

“Quite the morning meeting,” Ms. Thistle commented, falling into step beside her. “Though if you’re planning to reorganize my library, I hope you’ll be as deft with the books as you were with that coffee cyclone.”

“No tornados of any kind, magical or caffeinated. Promise.” Vail pulled out her enchanted checklist, which expanded into a detailed floor plan. “I want to create new sections highlighting witch-shifter cooperation throughout history. Make these resources more accessible to everyone.”

“About time,” Ms. Thistle agreed. “Those old alliance records have gathered dust for too long. Mind the ladder, though—it’s got opinions about who uses it.”

The enchanted ladder in question creaked as Vail approached, its rungs shuffling like a deck of cards before settling. She stepped carefully onto the bottom rung, and it lifted her smoothly toward the highest shelves.

“The Fire and Fur Compendium,” she murmured, spotting the spine of a particularly rare volume. “Perfect for the new hybrid magic section.” She stretched out her hand, fingertips nearly brushing the ancient leather binding.

The library door opened, and a deep voice scattered her concentration like leaves in an autumn wind. “Special delivery for the new headmistress.”

The unexpected intrusion startled her, and Vail glanced down from her perch—only to have her breath catch in her throat. A man stood in the doorway, his powerful frame making even the vast library feel somehow smaller. Dark eyes met hers, and her fire magic surged without warning, sending tingles racing across her skin. The ladder shuddered beneath her feet in response to her magical fluctuation.

He carried what appeared to be a beautifully crafted wooden desk organizer, its surface carved with intricate magical symbols that pulsed with a subtle glow. Everything about him radiated quiet strength, from his broad shoulders to the graceful way he moved despite his imposing size. When their eyes met again, something electric crackled in the air between them.

“I’m sorry,” Vail managed, trying to ignore how her magic kept reaching toward him like a moth to flame. “You are...”

“Kaine Urso.” His voice held a hint of amusement as if he’d noticed her magical reaction to him. “Romi commissioned this piece for your office.”

Kaine Urso. The name clicked into place—Romi had mentioned him yesterday. Bear-shifter. Master craftsman. Alpha of the Urso Sleuth. None of those facts had prepared her for the reality of his presence, or the way her magic seemed determined to reach out and tangle with his.

The ladder, apparently sharing her flustered state, chose that moment to give a violent wobble. Vail’s foot slipped, and suddenly she was falling, her startled gasp echoing off the bookshelf. Time seemed to slow, her fire magic flaring in instinctive protection?—

But Kaine moved with supernatural speed, closing the distance in a heartbeat. His strong arms caught her securely, and where their skin touched, golden sparks danced in the air. Her fire magic synced with his bear-shifter energy in a spectacular display that lit up the shadowy alcove. The scent of pine and mountain air enveloped her, along with something uniquely his that made her magic sing.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice rumbling through his chest where she pressed against him. Heat bloomed everywhere, and Vail’s magic surged again, responding to him in ways she’d never experienced. “Though I have to admit, this is quite an introduction.”

His eyes, this close, held flecks of amber that seemed to glow with inner fire. Vail found herself staring, captivated by the way his energy called to hers like two pieces of a spell finally clicking into place.

TEN

Vail became acutely aware of his hands still steadying her waist, how perfectly they fit together despite having just met. Her magic continued its joyful dance with his, creating swirls of golden light that circled them like fireflies. She should step back—propriety demanded it—but her body seemed to have other ideas.

“I, um...” She cleared her throat, trying to remember how words worked. “Thank you for the catch.”

His lips curved into a smile that did absolutely nothing to help her regain her composure. “Happy to help. Though I should probably mention—your hair is on fire.”

Sure enough, tiny flames flickered through her dark strands, a dead giveaway of her magical response to him. Mortified, Vail quickly extinguished them, though she couldn’t quite extinguish the warmth spreading through her chest at his obvious amusement.

“Well, this is hardly appropriate for a school environment.”

Felicity’s arctic tone sliced through the moment like a frost spell. Vail jumped back as if burned, though her skin still tingled everywhere Kaine had touched her. Her magic protested theseparation, reaching for his with an eagerness that both thrilled and terrified her.

“I was just delivering this.” Kaine gestured to the organizer he’d somehow managed to set down safely despite their dramatic introduction. Was it her imagination, or did his voice sound slightly rougher than before?

“Romi mentioned you might need something to help manage the chaos of running an academy.” His eyes met hers again, and that magnetic pull returned full force. “I carved it myself—each symbol enhances focus and organization when activated by magical energy.”

Vail approached the desk organizer, grateful for any excuse not to stare at its creator. Up close, the craftsmanship took her breath away. Intricate runes flowed across dark walnut in graceful patterns that seemed to move in her peripheral vision. When she traced one symbol with her fingertip, golden sparks followed her touch, and the wood warmed beneath her hand.

“This is extraordinary,” she breathed, watching the magic ripple out from her touch. “I’ve never seen enchanted woodwork respond quite like this.”

“The wood remembers the forest,” Kaine said, moving to stand beside her. His presence sent another wave of awareness through her magic. “Each piece carries its own song. The trick is listening closely enough to hear it.”

The low rumble of his voice did things to her insides that had nothing to do with magic. She forced herself to focus on the organizer, not the way his shoulder nearly brushed hers, or how her magic kept reaching for his like an eager puppy.

“The symbols are Old Realm,” Felicity cut in, her voice dripping with academic superiority. “Though some appear... modified from their traditional forms.”

“Because they are.” A hint of steel entered Kaine’s tone. “I adapted them to work with both witch and shifter magic. The traditional forms wouldn’t have served the purpose.”

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