Page 18 of Bearly Bewitched

“I heard about that. Burke said you contained it before anyone got hurt.”

“Barely. Professor Changly was more relieved I saved her grading sheets than her actual person.” Vail took a sip of coffee, then blinked in surprise. Despite Romi’s meddling, the blend was perfect – rich and complex with hints of caramel and something that made her magic surge like a tide meeting the shore. “This is amazing.”

“Romi’s specialty –let’s get into everyone’s businessbrew.” Kaine’s mouth quirked. “Though I’m sure that name is purely coincidental.”

FIFTEEN

Vail rolled her eyes, but couldn’t suppress a laugh that made the enchanted sugar crystals on nearby tables chime like tiny bells. “Is everyone in on this matchmaking conspiracy?”

“If it helps, Daisy’s the ringleader. She informed me very seriously that you have, and I quote, ‘pretty magic that makes the air sparkle.’”

Heat bloomed across Vail’s skin, her magic responding by actually making the air around them shimmer with tiny golden motes of light. She’d noticed the same thing about Kaine’s aura – how it called to hers like earth calling to flame, creating harmonies whenever they were close. Not that she was admitting that out loud.

“Speaking of Daisy,” she said, steering toward safer topics, “how is she handling her magical training?”

Kaine’s expression softened with paternal pride. “Better every day. Though we could use help understanding some of the hybrid magic manifestations. Traditional bear shifter texts don’t cover her unique situation.”

“Have you checked the town archives?” Vail leaned forward, genuinely intrigued. “Older records sometimes containforgotten knowledge about curse patterns, especially in supernatural communities.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” His eyes lit with interest, making the gold flecks in them dance like captured sunlight. Research clearly excited him as much as it did her. Another dangerous point of connection she shouldn’t notice. “Would you be willing to help? Your expertise with both traditional and progressive magic theory could provide valuable insight.”

“Of course.” The words came automatically – helping students was her job, after all. It had nothing to do with spending more time with Kaine. Nothing at all.

She glanced down at their barely-touched pie, watching as their combined magical energy made the enchanted whipped cream sparkle more intensely. “Though perhaps we should finish this first? Romi’s joy magic is best fresh.”

“We wouldn’t want to waste it.” Kaine picked up a fork and offered it to her. “Ladies first.”

Their fingers brushed during the exchange. Time seemed to slow, but it was the physical contact that made her breath catch - the warmth of his skin, the subtle strength in those capable hands. His scent enveloped her, pine and leather and something wild that made her magic dance beneath her skin.

When he looked up, the intensity in his eyes nearly stopped her heart. The café’s ambient magic responded, making the air thick with possibility. Vail quickly took a bite of pie to hide her reaction, but the joy magic only intensified the warm flutter in her chest, sending pleasant shivers down her spine.

From behind the counter, Romi stage-whispered, “Look how cute they are! I knew the enchanted whipped cream would work.”

“Young love,” Mrs. Twinkle sighed again, loudly. “Makes everything sweeter.”

Vail steadfastly ignored them all, focusing on the pie. But she couldn’t quite ignore how Kaine’s presence made the café’s enchantments sing in harmony, or how his smile caused dangerous cracks in her carefully constructed walls. Even the protection runes on her rings hummed contentedly.

One slice of pie, she told herself firmly. Then they’d focus on research and curse-breaking theory – nice, safe, professional topics that didn’t involve noticing how his forearms flexed when he reached for his coffee, or how his deep laugh made her magic dance through the air like summer lightning.

She was in so much trouble.

“I still can’t believe Daisy talked about my magic,” Vail said, attempting to steer her thoughts toward safer territory. She took another bite of pie, the joy magic in the enchanted whipped cream sending waves of warmth through her chest that made nearby flowers suddenly bloom out of season.

“She’s quite observant.” Kaine’s deep voice carried a note of amusement that made the air thicken. “Last night, she asked why my bear gets so excited whenever we visit the academy.”

Vail nearly choked on her coffee. The idea that his inner bear responded to her as strongly as her magic did to him... She took another hasty sip from her betrayingly heart-decorated latte, watching as the foam hearts actually began to beat in sync.

“Uncle Kaine said it’s because the academy has good energy,” Daisy’s voice piped up from behind them. “But I think it’s because?—“

“Daisy!” Kaine turned to find his niece grinning beside their table, her hybrid magic making the air sparkle with playful energy. “I thought you were helping Yesenia with inventory in the back room.”

“I finished!” Daisy bounced on her toes, reminding Vail strongly of Romi. “Aunt Romi said I could have a hot chocolate, but only if I delivered an important message first.”

Vail raised an eyebrow at “Aunt Romi”, but Daisy continued undeterred. “She says the enchanted whipped cream works better if you share bites of pie, and also that you should try feeding each other because?—“

“Thank you, Daisy,” Kaine interrupted, his ears slightly pink. His shifter energy rippled through the air, making the café pulse with energy. “Why don’t you go get that hot chocolate now?”

“Okay!” Daisy skipped toward the counter, but not before stage-whispering to Vail, “He talks about you at dinner. A lot.”

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