Page 23 of Bearly Bewitched

“Don’t you have coffee to serve?” Kaine growled, but without heat. His bear actually liked Romi’s matchmaking schemes, traitor that it was.

“The café can survive five minutes without me.” Romi’s eyes sparkled. “Especially since I enchanted all the coffee mugs to play matchmaker. They keep rearranging themselves to spell out ‘Kaine + Vail’ in coffee stains.”

“You did what?”

“Oh, that’s nothing.” She waved dismissively. “You should see what the enchanted sugar bowls are doing. They’ve formed a little choir. Keep humming love songs whenever Vail walks past.”

“Romi—“

“The teaspoons joined in too.” She grinned. “They’re surprisingly good at harmony.”

Daisy giggled. “The ward stones are worse, Uncle Kaine. Look!”

The nearest stone now glowed like a miniature sun, its light somehow managing to form heart-shaped patterns across their faces. Kaine’s bear preened at the visible proof of its interest, even as Kaine wished the ground would swallow him whole.

“I had nothing to do with that one,” Romi said innocently. “Though I may have enchanted the fountain to sprout heart-shaped water spouts whenever you two get within ten feet of each other.”

“The entire town’s magical infrastructure is not your personal matchmaking service,” Kaine groaned.

“Tell that to the academy’s gargoyles.” Xabir approached, sliding an arm around Romi’s waist. “They’ve started arranging themselves to point at Vail whenever you walk past. Rather obvious, those stone fellows.”

Romi beamed up at him. “They’re just trying to be helpful, dear. Unlike the suits of armor.”

Xabir’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Did you know that Vail prefers walks to fancy restaurants, and she loves the view from Moonlight Ridge.”

“I didn’t?—“

“Ask? No, but you’ve been watching that fountain for five minutes straight.” Xabir nodded toward where Vail still demonstrated spells, her magic painting the air with light. “The whole town’s been watching you watch her. It’s getting painful.”

“Some of us have money riding on tonight,” Romi added helpfully. “No pressure.”

Before Kaine could respond, Vail looked up. Their eyes met across the crowded courtyard, and the air between them sparked with visible gold light. Her magic reached for his, fire and bear energy twining in the space between them. The ward stones hummed in harmony.

“Oh, for fluff’s sake, go talk to her,” Romi urged, giving him a gentle push. “Before the wards explode from all this unresolved tension.”

Daisy tugged his sleeve. “Can we show her my new spell? Please?”

TWENTY-ONE

Grateful 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?”

---