Page 90 of Hex and the Kitty

What happened next unfolded with such seamless coordination that onlookers later described it as choreographed.

Warrick moved first, his body a blur as he covered half the distance toward the fountain. Simultaneously, Molly’s fingers traced a swift sigil in the air, an incantation flowing from her lips without conscious thought.

A cushion of air materialized beneath the falling child while Warrick’s arms extended upward. The boy landed safely within the protective bubble, then found himself gently lowered into Warrick’s secure grip.

“Whoa!” The child’s eyes widened with delight rather than fear. “That was amazing! Can we do it again?”

“I think once is plenty,” Warrick replied, setting him carefully on solid ground as a frantic woman with pointed ears pushed through the gathering crowd.

“Oliver! What did I tell you about climbing?” Relief and exasperation battled in her voice as she knelt to examine her son.

“But, Mom, I almost flew! The nice lady made air magic, and the big man caught me!” The boy bounced with excitement, apparently unfazed by his near accident.

The mother turned grateful eyes toward them. “Thank you both. He’s fearless to a fault.”

“No harm done,” Molly assured her, though her heart still pounded from the adrenaline rush.

As the crowd dispersed, several townspeople approached with appreciative comments.

“Quick thinking, Chief!” “Nice spellwork, Ms. Hues!”

“You know,” she gestured vaguely toward the fountain, “your speed plus my magic—that kid never stood a chance of getting hurt.”

His arm settled around her shoulders, warm and secure. “We complement each other perfectly.”

“Who would have thought?” Molly marveled, leaning into his embrace. “The extroverted baker witch and the stoic tiger shifter...”

“Fate works in mysterious ways,” he replied, bending to brush his lips against her temple. “And I, for one, am profoundly grateful.”

She turned within the circle of his arms, rising on tiptoes to press her lips to his. The kiss deepened naturally, his hands splaying across her back as her fingers tangled in the soft hair at his nape. They stood wrapped in each other in the middle of the busy festival, oblivious to passing townsfolk and knowing glances.

When they finally parted, Warrick’s golden eyes had darkened to amber, the tiger’s presence closer to the surface. “Perhaps we should continue this somewhere more private,” he suggested, his voice a low rumble.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Molly agreed, her own voice husky with desire. “Your place or mine?”

His mouth curved into a rare, mischievous smile. “Ours.”

Ours. One simple word that contained multitudes—a shared home, a shared future, the merging of separate lives into something stronger and more beautiful than either could achieve alone.

“Ours,” she repeated, savoring the sound. “I like that.”

EPILOGUE

Evening shadows lengthened across Warrick’s—no, their—porch as they sat on the swing, watching twilight descend over Whispering Pines. The festival had wound down, leaving them pleasantly exhausted but content.

Molly nestled against Warrick’s side, his arm a comforting weight around her shoulders. The gentle rocking motion combined with his steady heartbeat under her ear nearly lulled her to sleep.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling through his chest.

She smiled, eyes still closed. “I’m thinking about how much has changed in such a short time. A few months ago, I was baking prediction cupcakes and dodging Elsie’s matchmaking schemes. Now I’m living with a tiger shifter who makes muffins growl.”

His chuckle vibrated against her. “Regrets?”

“Not a single one.” She opened her eyes, tilting her head to see his face. “You?”

“Only that I didn’t find you sooner.” His expression turned contemplative, golden eyes reflecting the last rays of sunset. “Three centuries of existence, and I never truly understood belonging until Whispering Pines. Until you.”

Molly’s throat tightened at the raw honesty in his voice. She shifted to face him more fully, her hand coming to rest against his chest where his heartbeat thrummed steady and strong beneath her palm.

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