Page 51 of Bearly Bewitched

“Not scared anymore?” His thumb traced her cheekbone with exquisite gentleness.

“Terrified,” she admitted with a shaky laugh. “But the good kind of terrified. The kind that comes with realizing you’ve found something precious and real and absolutely worth the risk.”

He pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers. His solid warmth chased away the morning chill. “I love you,” he murmured. “All of you. The fierce headmistress, the powerful witch, the woman who puts everyone else first. I love watching you with the students, seeing how your strength guides them. I even love how stubborn you can be.”

“I am not stubborn,” she protested automatically, then laughed at his raised eyebrow. “Okay, maybe a little.”

“Does this mean you’re finally going to be my aunt for real?”

They turned to find Daisy watching them with bright interest, her earlier magical exhaustion apparently forgotten in the face of potential family developments.

“Because that would be really cool,” she continued earnestly. “And maybe you could have babies too? I could teach them magic, just like Sabine’s teaching me. Oh!” Her eyes lit up as she spun to address their gathered friends. “You should all have babies! Then we’d have lots of little witches and shifters to train.”

Romi choked on her cookie while Xabir suddenly developed a very suspicious cough. Rook’s ears turned red again as Clover dissolved into giggles. Ren merely raised an eyebrow while Sabine tried and failed to hide her grin.

“Daisy,” Kaine started, but his niece was on a roll.

“Think about it! Sabine and Ren could have little dragon-tiger-witch babies. And Romi and Xabir could have witch-wolf babies. And Rook and Clover could have witch-tiger babies. It would be amazing!” She turned back to Vail with hopeful eyes. “And you and Uncle Kaine could have witch-bear babies. I’d be the best teacher ever, I promise.”

“Well,” Madame Zephyrine observed dryly while everyone else tried not to laugh, “it seems our young curse expert has her future career planned out.”

“And excellent matchmaking instincts,” Neve added with a wink.

FORTY-EIGHT

Vail felt her cheeks heat but couldn’t stop smiling. She knelt to meet Daisy’s eager gaze. “I would love to be your aunt for real. As for the rest...” She glanced up at Kaine, her heart skipping at the soft look in his eyes. “Maybe we should take things one step at a time?”

“Fine.” Daisy heaved a dramatic sigh. “But you’re not getting any younger, you know.”

This time everyone lost it. Even Burke’s usual dignity cracked as laughter echoed through the garden. Kaine pulled Vail back to her feet and into his arms, his chest rumbling with mirth.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” he murmured against her hair.

Vail buried her face in his chest, shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles. “She’s not wrong though,” she admitted quietly. “About taking too long. About wanting a future with you.”

His arms tightened around her. “We have time,” he promised. “All the time we need.”

“Okay, that’s enough being cute in public,” Romi declared. “Inside, all of you. We all need food after that mess.”

Vail let Kaine lead her inside, his hand warm and steady in hers. Looking around at their gathered family—because that’swhat they all were now, bound by love and choice rather than just blood or magic—she felt something settle in her chest. Something that felt like coming home.

Later, there would be time to plan and rebuild. To strengthen the academy’s restored wards and help their students process recent events. But for now, she was content to lean into Kaine’s solid warmth, surrounded by laughter and love, finally ready to embrace every part of this future they’d build together.

Even if that future apparently included a very determined young witch with grand plans for the next generation of magical education.

When they got to her home, Vail showered and slipped on her pajamas before Kaine came into the bedroom with a cup of tea for her.

“Madame Zephyrine said this would help you relax and sleep.”

She took the tea, sipped and set it down. “Thank you, Kaine.”

“You don’t need to thank me for caring.” He pulled her close, giving her a gentle kiss. Vail leaned into it, tightening her hold on him. He cupped the back of her neck, prolonging the kiss.

Kaine pulled her off the ground, turning them. Their noses bumped as she leaned back, taking in his scent. He smelled like sweat and liberty. He set her on the bed and crouched in front of her. He grabbed her hands, looking deeply into her eyes as she looked down at him. He kissed her hands, gently brushing his lips against her skin.

She swallowed as he looked at her like she was his world. “Vail, I love you.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she felt a rush roll over her body.

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