Bearly Bewitched (Mystic Hollow #4)

Chapter 21

TWENTY-ONE

G rateful for the excuse, Kaine let his niece lead him toward the fountain. Each step closer to Vail made his bear stir restlessly, desperate to close the distance between them. He tried to focus on appearing calm and professional.

“Your wards are particularly responsive tonight,” Vail said by way of greeting. A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she watched the stones pulse with his approach. She’d rolled up the sleeves of her emerald blouse, revealing protection runes that sparked in answer to his proximity.

“They’re not the only ones.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.

Pink bloomed across Vail’s cheekbones. Her fire magic flared in response, sending a wave of warmth cascading over his skin. The fountain behind her sprouted golden butterflies that danced through her hair.

“I meant to ask,” she began, then stopped as one of the magical butterflies landed on Kaine’s shoulder, its wings painting light across his chest. “Oh! Sorry, they’re attracted to strong magical signatures...” She waved a hand to dismiss the spell, but the butterfly refused to budge.

“I don’t mind.” Kaine’s bear practically purred at this tangible sign of her magic choosing him. The butterfly’s light pulsed in time with his heartbeat, mirror-matching the ward stones around them.

“Show her the spell, Uncle Kaine!” Daisy tapped him with her small hand. “The one we practiced.”

“Spell?” Vail’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Daisy’s been working on combining shifter and witch magic,” Kaine explained, unable to hide his pride. “She found a way to merge her bear energy with simple illumination charms.”

“Really?” Vail knelt to Daisy’s level, giving the girl her full attention. “That’s incredibly advanced magic. Would you show me?”

Daisy bit her lip. “What if my curse makes it go weird?”

“Then we’ll handle it together.” Vail’s voice held such warmth that Kaine’s bear whined, recognizing the maternal care it desperately wanted for Daisy. “That’s what tonight is about—learning how different types of magic can work together.”

“Promise you won’t let it get out of control?” Daisy’s small fingers twisted in her shirt.

“I promise.” Vail held out her hand, palm up. A tiny flame danced there, casting soft light on Daisy’s worried face. “See? Fire can be gentle when it’s properly directed. Magic responds to intention and control, not fear. Show me what you’ve learned.”

Kaine’s chest tightened as he watched them together. Vail’s patience, her innate understanding of Daisy’s fears... his bear pushed against his skin, desperate to claim this woman who so perfectly fit the void in their lives.

A sharp crack of magical discharge shattered the moment. Across the courtyard, Felicity attempted a ward reinforcement spell that backfired spectacularly. Purple energy spiraled outward, threatening to destabilize the protective barriers.

Kaine moved without thinking, reaching for Vail even as she stepped toward him. His bear strength grounded the volatile energy while her fire wove around it, containing the surge before it could wreak havoc. Golden sparks rained down around them, proof of their perfect magical synchronization.

“Fascinating response.” Thaddeus Ledger’s oily voice sliced through their connection. He stood too close, watching their shared magic with calculating eyes. “Such seamless integration. Almost as if you were made to work together.”

The way his gaze slid to Daisy made Kaine’s bear snarl. He shifted slightly, putting himself between Ledger and his niece. Vail’s fire magic coiled around them protectively, its warmth a direct challenge to Ledger’s cold presence.

“Their compatibility is remarkable,” an elderly witch commented nearby. “Like true mates from the old stories when magic itself draws two souls together.”

“Now there’s a betting pool I’d join,” Romi stage-whispered to Xabir. “Ten gold pieces says they figure it out tonight.”

“Twenty says they need at least another week,” her husband countered. “They’re both remarkably stubborn about happiness.”

Heat crept up Kaine’s neck again. Vail suddenly seemed very interested in adjusting her sleeve cuffs, though her magic still curled contentedly around his.

Before anyone could place more bets on their love life, multiple ward anchor points destabilized simultaneously. The protective shield surrounding the event began to fracture, magical energy whipping through the air like invisible lightning. Acting on instinct, Kaine pulled Vail against him. Their combined aura radiated outward, desperately trying to contain the cascading surges. She pressed closer, her fire igniting in perfect harmony with his grounding bear force.

“Uncle Kaine!” Daisy’s frightened cry cut through the chaos. Her curse reacted to the ward fluctuations, creating spiraling streams of unstable magic around her small form.

Kaine extended his free arm, and Daisy rushed into their circle of protection. Together, he and Vail created a sphere of combined energy around the girl. Several seasoned witches gasped audibly at the display of raw magical compatibility.

When the surge finally subsided, Kaine became acutely aware of Vail’s body pressed against his. Her fingers clutched his shirt as she caught her breath, her scent mixing intoxicatingly with residual fire magic. Their eyes met, and his bear roared with primal certainty: mate, protect, claim .

But Vail had made it clear she wasn’t looking for complications. He forced himself to loosen his hold, though every instinct screamed to keep her close.

“That was amazing!” Daisy bounced between them, apparently recovered from her fright. “The way your magic worked together—it was like watching the northern lights! Can we practice that more? Please?”

“Maybe we should start with simpler spells,” Vail suggested. Her voice trembled slightly, and her fire magic still wound around his, reluctant to separate.