Page 62 of Hex and the Kitty

“Yes,” she agreed, surprised by how right it felt. “I love him. But I’m terrified.”

“Of what?” Tabitha asked.

“I’ve spent my life helping others glimpse their futures through my cupcakes, yet my own path feels uncertain. What if these sabotage attempts escalate? What if loving him puts us both in danger? Or what if—“ her voice caught, “—what if that beautiful nursery never comes to be?”

“Love requires courage,” Daisy said, squeezing her hand. “Ghost or human, witch or shifter—that’s universal.”

“Remember how Kade and I began?” Celeste added. “I thought he was an arrogant, overprotective wolf. Instead, he challenges me to expand my magic while supporting my independence. But I had to take that leap first, trust my instincts.”

Ellie nodded. “After losing my first husband, I built walls around my heart. But those walls kept out joy as well as pain. Reed taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the greatest strength.”

“Warrick looks at you the way Bram looks at me,” Tabitha said, resting a hand on her belly. “Like you’re his miracle.”

“And from my observations,” Sera added, analytical even amid her triplet revelation, “Warrick Shaw possesses the temperament of a man who, once committed, remains steadfast regardless of challenges. His tiger nature virtually guarantees it.”

Molly absorbed their wisdom, feeling lighter with each passing moment. “I’m helping him plan the Fireman’s Ball,” she revealed. “Every second together feels like coming home.”

“The ball,” Daisy repeated, straightening. “That’s likely to be the target if Gus is planning something significant.”

The mood shifted as practical concerns surfaced.

“We should coordinate protective measures for the venue,” Celeste suggested. “Different magical signatures will create a stronger defense net.”

“I can install enchanted garlands,” Tabitha offered. “They’ll appear decorative but sense dark intentions.”

“My ghost-detecting charms would help,” Daisy added. “They highlight anyone with harmful intentions, living or dead.”

“I’ll create protective circles at each entrance,” Sera said, her organizational mindset already mapping the venue. “Undetectable but effective.”

“And I can infuse the refreshments with subtle clarity spells,” Ellie suggested. “Nothing that affects free will, just enough to keep people alert to their surroundings.”

Warmth bloomed in Molly’s chest—not magic this time, but profound gratitude for these women. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”

“That’s what covens are for,” Daisy replied with a wink. “Even unofficial ones like ours.”

“To Whispering Pines,” Celeste raised her teacup. “And to Molly finding her happy ending with our brooding tiger.”

“To babies,” Tabitha added, patting her belly, “whether they’re singlets or triplets!”

“To protective magic,” Sera concluded, “and futures bright enough to require sunglasses.”

They clinked cups, laughter dispelling the momentary tension. As the evening wound down, they gathered in a final embrace, their combined energy creating a luminous aura around them.

Outside, the night air greeted Molly with a cool caress. Stars winked overhead, brighter than before. She paused on the cobblestone street, lifting her face to the vast, velvet sky.

“Please,” she whispered to the universe, “keep him safe. Keep us all safe.”

A shooting star streaked across the darkness—not an answer, perhaps, but a glimmer of hope. For tonight, that was enough.

With her basket swinging lightly at her side and visions of a sunlit nursery warming her heart, Molly headed home to dreams of golden eyes and the promise of tomorrow.

FORTY-EIGHT

Morning sunlight filtered through the blinds of Warrick’s office, casting golden stripes across the sabotage reports spread on his desk. His fingers traced the edge of a photograph showing pink foam coating the station’s equipment. The incidents had graduated from humiliating pranks to genuine threats within weeks.

His tiger stirred beneath his skin, a protective rumble building in his chest.

Warrick checked his watch and gathered the reports into a folder. The first meeting with Molly at the community center to plan the Fireman’s Ball would start in thirty minutes. The dual responsibilities weighed on him: protect Whispering Pines and nurture what had blossomed between them. No longer the fake dating scheme they’d concocted to discourage matchmaking witches. Something true now. Something worth defending.

---