Loving the High Warlock: Daughters of the Warlock, #1

By Maggie Shaw and Amelia Shaw

I've always known ours was a love that could never be… yet still, I gave him my heart.

 

Matlock Adenolfi is destined to become the High Warlock of all the realms, and his marriage has been arranged since birth. I should have never allowed myself to fall so hard. And I certainly should have prepared myself better for our eventual and necessary break-up.

 

But the thought of being without him is nothing compared to discovering that I'm already pregnant with the future High Warlock's baby. A child that is now rightfully the heir to his immense power and prestige.

 

Because I couldn't control my heart, our child will enter this world with a target on their back. The Warlock Council will not stand for such an abomination to exist and if we're found out, our lives will be forfeit.

 

So, I do the only thing I can—I run. Away from love, from the Council, and everything I've ever known. But worst of all, Matlock can never know…

 

Loving the High Warlock is the prequel to the Daughters of the High Warlock series and is set twenty-two years before Sisters of the Coven.

 

The Daughters of the Warlock series is now suitable for all readers, with closed door/fade to black love scenes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harley Romance Publishing
• Release date: Jan 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393805892

Book preview

Chapter 1

SET 22 YEARS BEFORE Book 1- Sisters of Magic.

Genevieve Melfi

The last person I wanted to see when I walked down Seventeenth Street was Matlock Adenolfi. Nearly tripping and falling when my legs stopped working, I’d always known how powerful Matlock was, but this reaction was new. My traitorous body froze at the sight of his tall, muscular physique.

Damn it, I adored that man.

I forced my legs to move before he saw me, stepping around a thick oak tree planted neatly in a break on the sidewalk to give the streets more of a suburban feel. The trees adapted well, though they weren’t fans of being uprooted and deposited in the middle of an urban area just to get some green splashing against the steel-grey.

The magic realm was advancing both in population growth and technology, which meant buildings were starting to get taller, architecture was getting sleeker, and individuality was falling by the wayside. The trees were there to remind us of our roots, so to speak.

But regardless of why the tree was planted there, I was glad to have a place to hide. Hopefully, he hadn’t seen me. I might have made a spectacle of myself bolting behind the tree, but aside from an elderly couple who sneered at me, I don’t think anyone else noticed.

Genevieve? Matlock’s voice called out to me.

Of course, he found me.

Why was I not surprised? It would seem the goddess was not smiling at me today, probably because I’d missed the last few Sundays of Morning Ritual.

Oh, well. 

Religion was on its way out anyway.

I cleared my throat and stepped out from behind the tree, glancing at the ground as though I’d lost something...other than my mind, of course.

You looking for something?

Crap. That wasn’t Matlock’s voice.

I glanced up and finally saw that Matlock was with someone, an older man in his early forties with short brown hair combed to the side. He was one of the Council members.

My heart thudded against my chest and my palms started to sweat. I didn’t like being nervous, but the Council always sparked that reaction in me. They made me feel like I’d done something wrong even though I hadn’t.

At least, I didn’t think I had. You never knew with the Council. They changed laws at the drop of a hat. I could have committed a supposed crime by just speaking to Matlock.

Just m-my earring, I managed to say.

I forced my eyes to focus on the cement, even though I knew I wasn’t going to find anything. Hopefully, neither of them would notice my hands shaking. Although, if they did, I’d blame it on the cold, since I was only in a light summer dress with no sleeves, made of thin, worn material. It was still September, but fall was fast approaching. A chill lingered in the air even after the sun burned the morning dew away.

You mean the one right here? Without warning, Matlock stepped closer to me, brushed my long, blonde hair back and tugged gently on my earlobe.

If my skin could sizzle, it would have.

I didn’t want to react to Matlock, to his touch. It brought back memories that I desperately wanted to forget. Memories of us together, sneaking off. Talking for hours on end. Stolen glances. Swollen lips.

In that single touch, the emotions came flooding back, and they were too much for me.

I flinched, trying to ignore the way my skin clawed at me to get closer to him. I suddenly wasn’t capable of breathing, which, at twenty-one years old, was much more dramatic than I would like to think myself capable of. But Matlock made me feel things I’d never felt before. He always had.

Oh, right, I forced myself to say. Thanks.

Matlock narrowed his eyes. He could tell I was faking all this, which annoyed me. We hadn’t seen each other in months yet somehow, he still knew me.

Damn it. I needed to do a better job of masking my emotions. They’d be my downfall, especially if said emotions were inspired by Matlock himself.

I guess I was just confused. I curled my hair behind my ear, trying to conceal the way my fingers shook. I didn’t want him to notice that he still had a profound effect on me.

Matlock’s deep brown eyes lingered on me much longer than was comfortable.

It was like he could read my thoughts. I often wondered if that was one of his magical abilities. Granted, I had never heard of someone having that ability before, but anything was possible. Some magic was kept a secret.

Matlock...

The voice behind him broke through our awkward tension. I was grateful for it, even though I didn’t like the guy who was interrupting.

Graham Hollow. Twice Matlock’s age and a junior Council member.

Ah, Graham. Matlock laid on the charm, flashing a smile. How easy it was for him to switch over to High Warlock mode.

I wanted to scream at him. To demand to know if any of our love had been real, but I kept my burning thoughts to myself.

He gestured to me. This is an old school friend, Genevieve Melfi. Genevieve, this is my colleague, Graham Hollow.

I knew exactly who he was, and the last thing I wanted was to be introduced to the man. But I couldn’t let either of them know that, so I forced myself to stick out my hand and plastered a cheery smile on my face that I definitely didn’t feel.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Hollow.

Graham glanced at my hand before looking at me. The expression on his face didn’t falter, as though he were some kind of marble statue with a perpetual sneer of disgust. He shifted his eyes over to Matlock, his expression unchanged. He seemed to be telling Matlock that he would rather swallow fire than touch me, which was fine by me.

The sun was already beginning to set, the blue sky sprinkled with darkness. In less than an hour, the sky would be ink-black, speckled with sparkling stars and a waning moon slowly fading to darkness itself.

I wanted to go home. My father would probably be working late. We weren’t exactly the wealthiest family here, so if he could take extra shifts, he did, even if it meant working consecutive sixteen-hour days. Sometimes we didn’t see each other for a week.

My mother died in a magical accident at her job when I was young, so it had always just been my dad and me.

Matlock, Graham said in a low voice. We really must be moving along. They’re expecting us.

Matlock looked back at me. I arched a brow at him, surprised. It almost seemed like he cared about my thoughts on the situation, as though he didn’t want to leave.

But that couldn’t be. Matlock had made it clear when he broke things off between us that his priority was the Council. His future. He’d said he had no choice, but it was obvious he did—and he’d made it.

I couldn’t even be upset with him because he was going to be the most powerful and renowned warlock in all the realms.

The High Warlock.

Who would choose to give all that up just to follow his heart?

Go on, Graham, Matlock said, though his dark eyes stayed fixed on me. I’ll be there in a bit.

Matlock, need I remind you they are expecting you? Graham demanded. "The Council is waiting on our arrival, and if you’re late... if we’re late—"

"I said. Matlock finally ripped his eyes away from mine so he could glare at the other warlock. You go on ahead. I will be there momentarily, Graham."

There was something in his tone I’d never heard before. A strength and a warning. A shiver crawled down my spine. I’d never expected Matlock’s voice could be so cold.

Instead of listening, Graham stayed where he was. We cannot be late, Matlock, he said, his voice hard and unflinching. You know the consequences. Especially if they find out the reason for your tardiness is—

They won’t learn the reason for my tardiness because you won’t tell them.

Matlock was making a play I didn’t understand.

Do you understand, Graham?

The Council gremlin clenched his teeth together so hard they cracked. You know, he said, each word clipped, just because you’ll be High Warlock someday doesn’t mean you are now. Might I remind you that your affections have been spoken for already?

My jaw dropped at the exchange. Their conversation was like a match of wills, one battling the other for supremacy.

If you’re referring to my engagement, then say as much, Matlock snapped. My affections have nothing to do with the person I’m forced to marry.

Whoa.

I caution you regarding to whom you speak about such things, Graham said, his gaze sliding over to me for a long moment before returning to Matlock. I don’t think I need to remind you that words have consequences. We are magic, after all. Slip up and say the wrong thing, and there may be grave consequences.

Even I wanted to roll my eyes at that. This guy was a pain in the ass. But a dangerous one, and I wasn’t stupid enough to speak at this point in time.

I’ll endure the consequences if any come my way, Matlock replied with a lift of his chin and a hard glint in his eye. I will not tell you again, Graham.

Is that an order?

Matlock’s eyes narrowed. If it needs to be.

Graham lingered a moment longer, and it was obvious that he wanted to say something more. The man appeared resentful of taking direction from Matlock, and I couldn’t blame him. The man was older, more experienced. But Graham was not the High Warlock, and would never be. Which meant Matlock could get away with giving him orders.

Don’t linger, Graham warned.

Before Matlock could reply, he spun on his heel and resumed walking away with