Page 39 of Bearly Bewitched

A familiar wave of magic swept through the corridor, warm as summer sunshine. The shadow creatures recoiled from Vail’s fire magic, their crystalline forms momentarily losing cohesion. Kaine’s bear responded instantly, his energy reaching for hers even through stone and distance. Where their magic met, golden sparks danced in the air, creating barriers the shadows couldn’t penetrate.

“Uncle Kaine.” Daisy’s voice carried a new note of certainty. She stood straighter, her magic swirling around her like a living thing. “Go help her. I understand the crystal now—I can protect myself.”

To prove her point, she thrust out her hand. Energy lashed out in precise tendrils, wrapping around a shadow creature. Instead of shattering it, her magic seemed to... reform it. The crystalline structure softened, its jagged edges smoothing into something less threatening. The creature actually backed away, confusion evident in its movements.

Kaine hesitated, his bear’s protective instincts warring with what his eyes told him. When had his little niece grown so confident? So capable? He studied her stance, seeing echoes of her father’s strength in how she held herself against the darkness.

Burke moved closer to Daisy, his massive bear form radiating lethal intent. “I’ve got her, Alpha. On my life.”

“And I’ll secure Ames and that crystal in magical containment until we figure out what to do with him,” Xabir added, his wolf form bristling with determined energy. “We can’t let Ledger reclaim it.”

Another wave of Vail’s magic pulsed overhead, stronger this time. Kaine’s bear surged toward it instinctively, drawn to their mate’s power. But something made him pause, looking back at Daisy one last time.

She met his gaze steadily, magical energy dancing around her hands. “I’m not afraid anymore,” she said simply. “Not of my curse, not of his crystal. Go make sure she’s safe.”

Pride swelled in Kaine’s chest, nearly overwhelming in its intensity. He wasn’t leaving Daisy unprotected. He was trusting her strength—the same strength that had helped her face down her curse and begin transforming it into something uniquely her own.

“Burke, guard her with your life.” His voice rumbled with alpha authority, but his second merely nodded. They both knew Burke would die before letting harm come to Daisy. “Xabir, don’t let that crystal out of your sight. We need to understand what Ledger’s done to it.”

Then Kaine turned and charged toward the upper levels, following the beacon of Vail’s magic like a guiding star. His bear’s need to reach their mate had grown almost unbearable. But as he ran, that earlier guilt faded, replaced by somethingstronger—pride in Daisy’s growth, trust in his pack, and absolute certainty that he’d made the right choice.

Light and shadow painted twisted patterns on ancient stone as he climbed. Somewhere above, Vail fought to save their academy. And this time, Kaine would make damn sure she didn’t face whatever was coming alone.

His bear’s roar echoed through the passages—not a challenge or a warning, but a promise. They were stronger together. All of them. And Ledger was about to learn exactly what that meant.

THIRTY-NINE

The main ward stone’s golden light flickered like a dying firefly, its protective runes dulling beneath waves of encroaching darkness. Vail pressed her palm against the ancient stone, channeling her fire magic into its core. Each pulse of corrupted energy sent phantom pain through her chest where the taint had burned her before, but she gritted her teeth and pushed harder.

“Come on,” she murmured to the failing protection. “Stay with me.” Her magic flared in response, briefly brightening the stone’s glow before it dimmed again. Small flames danced around her fingers, trying to burn away the creeping corruption.

A deep bear’s roar thundered from somewhere below, the sound vibrating through stone beneath her feet. Vail’s heart skipped—Kaine must be fighting something in the lower levels. She forced herself to focus on maintaining the protective barrier despite her worry. If the academy’s ancient defenses failed completely, they’d all be in danger.

“That’s it,” she encouraged as the corruption’s spread slowed slightly. “Just hold?—“

The door burst open behind her. “Oh sweet merciful magic,” Sabine gasped, half-shifted into her tigress form. Her furbristled with magical awareness, tail lashing as she took in the corruption’s spread. “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

“Depends.” Vail managed a tight smile despite the strain. “If you think it’s ancient dark magic eating through our defenses like acid through paper, then I have bad news.”

Sabine shifted fully human, her movements liquid-smooth as she crossed to examine the corruption’s advance. Her fingers traced the air above its leading edge, following its path with narrowed eyes. “There’s a pattern here. See how it’s following these specific lines?” She gestured for Vail to look closer. “Like water finding the path of least resistance, except...”

“Except water doesn’t usually glow and try to destroy magical barriers?” Vail suggested, earning a snort from her friend.

“Not usually, no.” Sabine’s expression turned serious. “But look—it’s following the old ley lines beneath the academy. This isn’t random corruption. It’s strategic.”

Before Vail could respond, magic crackled through the air as Madame Zephyrine and Neve arrived. The twin witches moved in perfect synchronization, their matching silver hair streaming behind them as they took up defensive positions.

“Well,” Madame Zephyrine observed dryly, “this brings back memories of that unfortunate incident with the cursed weather vane in ’86.”

Neve shot her sister a look. “I hardly think now’s the time for reminiscing about magical mishaps, dear.”

“On the contrary.” Zephyrine’s hands glowed with power as she began weaving protective barriers. “If we survived that disaster, we can certainly handle this one. Though I must say, the corruption’s particular shade is far less aesthetically pleasing.”

Thunder cracked overhead as Romi burst in, her storm magic already gathering in dark clouds visible through the windows. “Sorry, I’m late! Had to dodge three different groups of panickedstudents on the way up. Also, did anyone order animated gargoyles? Because we’ve got about two dozen of them looking particularly cranky out there.”

“What?” Vail tried to turn toward the window, but maintaining the magical barrier required her full attention. “The guardian statues shouldn’t activate unless?—“

“Unless the academy itself senses a major threat,” Clover finished, hurrying in with leaves still clinging to her hair. She dropped immediately to one knee, pressing her palm against the floor. Green energy rippled outward from her touch. “The corruption’s spreading through the foundations too. I feel it in the earth.”

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