Bearly Bewitched (Mystic Hollow #4)

Chapter 6

SIX

K aine 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.

“Besides,” Ren’s ancient voice carried the weight of centuries, “proper magic isn’t about conforming to expectations. It’s about finding your own path. The strongest magic often comes from unexpected combinations.”

“Like me?” Daisy asked hopefully.

“Exactly like you, pip.” Xabir ruffled her hair. “You’re going to show them all what real magic looks like.”

“And the academy’s new programs will help with that,” Romi added. “Vail has such wonderful ideas about nurturing unique magical talents. She’d love to meet you, Daisy. And your uncle, of course.”

“Romi,” Kaine warned, but Daisy perked up.

“Is she pretty? Does she like butterflies? Can she do fire magic like me? Uncle Kaine, can we meet her? Please?”

Before Kaine could deflect Daisy’s rapid-fire questions about the new headmistress, Burke cleared his throat. His expression made Kaine’s bear take notice.

“Actually, there’s something we should discuss regarding the academy’s changes.” Burke’s eyes flicked meaningfully toward the stack of folders he’d brought in earlier.

Kaine caught the undertone of caution in his friend’s voice. “Thane, would you mind?—“

“Say no more.” Thane held out his hand to Daisy. “Come on, butterfly maker. Let’s see if you can turn your multiplication tables into dragonflies this time.”

“But dragons are Ren’s thing,” Daisy protested, though she slid down from Kaine’s lap. “I want to make bear-flies!”

“Bear-flies?” Thane’s eyebrows shot up. “Now that’s something I’ve got to see.”

“They’re like butterflies but fuzzy! With tiny claws!” Daisy skipped toward the door, then spun back to point at Kaine. “Don’t forget about ice cream!”

“One scoop with sprinkles,” he reminded her. “After dinner.”

“Just checking,” she tried one last time, grinning.

“Scram, little bear.”

Her laughter echoed down the hallway as Thane led her away. The moment the door closed, Burke spread several folders across the conference table.

“There’s been significant interest in the academy’s new direction,” Burke explained, laying out documents. “Particularly from those studying supernatural integration.”

Ren moved closer, ancient eyes scanning the papers. “Anyone concerning?”

“Nothing overtly problematic,” Burke replied. “Professor Thaddeus Ledger’s work on magical bloodlines, Elder Norwood’s interest in hybrid development, Dr. Elena Winters’s research on cross-species enchantments. Their theories about hybrid magic potential are... ambitious.”

Kaine’s bear stirred uneasily. “Ambitious how?”

“Ideas about enhancing magical abilities through combining supernatural bloodlines. Studying how hybrid magic manifests compared to pure witch or shifter powers.” Burke met his alpha’s gaze. “With the academy actively encouraging magical integration...”

“It’s going to draw attention,” Rook finished. “Both scholarly and otherwise.”

“And with Daisy being one of the first documented witch-shifter hybrids...” Burke left the implication hanging.