Page 7 of Bearly Bewitched

“It’s not cheating if you’re naturally superior,” Ren said primly.

Daisy giggled at their bickering, but Kaine noticed her stifle a yawn. The morning’s magic practice had clearly worn her out, though she’d never admit it. Another sign of how the curse taxed her energy.

“Time for you to head back to lessons,” he said firmly, ignoring her immediate pout. “No arguments, little bear. Thane has better things to do than wait around my office all day.”

“But I want to hear more about the academy!” Lower lip trembling, Daisy deployed the pleading eyes that usually melted her uncle’s resolve. “Please?”

SIX

Kaine steeled himself against seven-year-old manipulation tactics. “The sooner you finish today’s lessons, the sooner we can discuss it properly. Deal?”

She considered this with all the gravity a child could muster. “Can we have ice cream while we discuss it?”

A chuckle rippled through the room. Even Burke cracked a smile at her negotiating skills.

“One scoop,” Kaine offered. “After dinner.”

“Two scoops,” Daisy bargained. “And sprinkles.”

“One scoop with sprinkles,” he countered. “Final offer.”

She sighed dramatically. “Fine. But only because you’re my favorite uncle.”

“And you’re my favorite niece, troublemaker.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead, breathing in her familiar scent—honeysuckle and sunshine with an underlying spark of magic that simultaneously warmed his heart and worried his bear.

“Speaking of the academy,” Romi’s eyes sparkled with barely contained mischief, “I should tell you more about the new headmistress. Vail’s brilliant—and gorgeous, by the way. She has these amazing ideas about integrating shifter magic with traditional spellcraft. Did I mention she’s single?”

Kaine shot Xabir a pained look. “Please get your mate to stop with the matchmaking.”

“Bold of you to assume I have any control over what Romi does,” Xabir replied, amusement clear in his voice.

“He’s learned better,” Romi agreed. “But seriously, Kaine. Vail’s not just beautiful—she’s passionate about breaking down barriers between witches and shifters. You should hear her plans for hybrid magic studies. And she’s incredibly kind. The way she lights up talking about helping students reach their full potential...” She trailed off meaningfully.

“I’m a busy bear with a full plate,” Kaine growled, though without real heat. “Between running the company, leading the sleuth, and raising Daisy?—“

“And that’s exactly why you need someone special in your life,” Romi insisted. “Someone who understands both witch and shifter magic. Someone who could help with Daisy’s education...”

“Someone who’s conveniently single and gorgeous?” Rook smirked.

“I’m right here,” Daisy piped up from where she’d been not-so-subtly eavesdropping. “And I think Uncle Kaine needs a girlfriend. He’s grumpy in the mornings until he has coffee.”

“Traitor,” Kaine muttered as the others laughed. “Weren’t you supposed to be heading back to lessons?”

“Oh! That reminds me.” Thane straightened, his expression growing serious. “We had another incident with Elder Morton this morning. He made some... comments when he saw Daisy practicing magic in the garden.”

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees as Kaine’s bear surged forward. “What kind of comments?”

“The usual nonsense about hybrid anomalies.” Thane’s voice hardened. “I shut it down immediately, but...”

“But it’s not the first time,” Kaine finished. His bear roared for dominance, protective rage burning through his veins. Several elders in the sleuth had made their disapproval clear—always behind his back, never to his face. They’d never dare challenge him directly, but their whispered prejudices against Daisy cut deeper than any physical attack.

“Uncle Kaine?” Daisy’s small voice pulled him back. “Elder Morton said mean things about my butterflies. He said they weren’t proper bear shifters.”

Kaine scooped her up, holding her close as his bear rumbled soothingly. “Your butterflies are perfect, sunshine. And anyone who says different can take it up with me.”

“They’ll have to get through all of us first,” Rook added firmly. The other alphas nodded, their combined strength filling the room with protective energy.

“Elder Morton’s just jealous because he can’t do anything nearly as pretty as butterfly magic,” Romi declared, making Daisy giggle.

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