Page 60 of Hex and the Kitty

Their stories filled the room with laughter and warmth. Molly imagined Warrick’s reaction to such news—his serious face slack with wonder, those golden eyes wide, his strong arms cradling her with infinite gentleness. The thought squeezed her heart in a way that frightened and thrilled her.

“Right,” Daisy announced, clapping her hands. “Let’s get to the main event while our protective potions are at peak effectiveness.”

She directed them to gather closer around the table, where a large copper cauldron now sat, its polished surface reflecting their faces.

“Everyone, three drops of blood for the connection,” Daisy instructed, passing around a silver pin. “Don’t worry—it’s sterilized and enchanted for painless extraction.”

One by one, they pricked their fingers, allowing three drops to fall into the cauldron. The previously clear liquid began to shimmer with colors reminiscent of twilight.

“Now, iridescent powder for clarity,” Daisy continued, sprinkling a sparkling substance that disappeared into the swirling mixture.

“Sage leaves for wisdom,” Celeste added, dropping seven leaves that dissolved instantly.

“Crystal shards for amplification,” Ellie contributed, carefully placing jagged pieces of quartz into the bubbling concoction.

The cauldron’s contents shifted from midnight blue to aquamarine, pulsing with their combined energy.

“Join hands,” Daisy instructed, her voice slipping into the formal cadence of spellcasting. “And repeat after me:Tempus revelat, futurum illustrat.”

Their voices merged in perfect harmony, the familiar surge of coven magic—far stronger than any individual could produce—rippling through the circle. The pharmacy’s lights dimmed of their own accord, leaving only the cauldron’s ethereal glow.

“Visions of days yet to come, paths that might unfold,” they continued, following Daisy’s lead. “Show us glimpses, hints, and signs of stories yet untold.”

The cauldron’s contents defied gravity, rising in a column of misty, luminescent liquid before exploding into fine droplets that hovered above the table. The mist rearranged itself, forming moving images as clear as reality.

“Oh!” Daisy exclaimed. “Molly’s first!”

FORTY-SIX

The mist coalesced into a scene of Molly and Warrick in the bakery kitchen. They moved in perfect synchronization, passing ingredients and stealing kisses between mixing bowls. Flames danced from their fingertips as they worked—her magic and his tiger-shifter heat creating something beautiful together.

The vision shifted to a nursery bathed in golden afternoon light. A handcrafted wooden crib dominated the center, surrounded by floating mobiles of planets and stars. Molly watched herself place a tiny firefighter hat on the crib’s pillow while Warrick’s arms encircled her from behind. The image began to fade just as a small sound came from within the crib.

Molly’s breath caught. A family with Warrick. A child. The vision dissipated before she could see the baby, but the yearning it awakened took her by surprise. Her chest constricted with longing for something she hadn’t admitted she wanted—not just Warrick as a lover, but Warrick as her partner, her future, her forever.

“Molly?” Celeste’s gentle voice broke through her reverie. “You’re glowing.”

Molly blinked, looking down to discover sparkling light emanating from her skin.

“That happens when a vision resonates deeply with your true desires,” Daisy explained softly. “Your magic recognizes your heart’s longing.”

Before Molly could respond, the mist shifted again, forming a new scene with Celeste at its center. She and Kade stood beside a crystal-clear lake, her head thrown back in laughter as his wolf form playfully splashed water at her. The image rippled to show them cuddled on a porch swing, Kade’s hand resting protectively on her stomach—not pregnant now, but the intention clear in his eyes.

“Another baby in your future,” Ellie observed with a smile. “Kade will be ecstatic.”

Celeste’s cheeks colored. “We’ve only just started discussing the possibility...”

The mist swirled again, revealing Ellie in her lush garden. Her son Asher, now older, helped two identical toddlers pick flowers. The twins’ fingers sparked with blue magic whenever they touched a blossom, transforming it into a butterfly that fluttered skyward.

“Twins?” Ellie whispered, her expression softening. “Reed would howl with joy.”

“Double trouble,” Tabitha agreed, squeezing her friend’s hand. “Just what Whispering Pines needs.”

The vision flowed into a new scene: Bram in a nursery rocking chair, his massive frame dwarfing the delicate furniture. In his arms lay a tiny baby girl wrapped in a pink blanket embroidered with bear paw prints. The tenderness on the burly shifter’s face made them all sigh.

“A baby girl,” Tabitha murmured, stroking her bump. “Bram would melt completely.”

“The toughest bears always do,” Daisy agreed with a wink.

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