Chasing High Noon: Star Crossed, #3

By J.R. White

Meredith Blackburn finds herself between a rock and a hard place now that her relationship with Malcolm has led her to magical breaking and entering. Someone is playing around with the rivers of magic that flow over the planet and the oldest library around expects her to figure out who.

All Malcolm Blackwood wanted was a handful of new tracking spells. What he got was an angry lover, a conflicting revelation from his brother and some old kook trying to start a war. Now it's up to him and Meredith to set things right.

Will they save the day? Or will family get in the way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.R. White
• Release date: Feb 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393074021

Book preview

Chasing High Noon

By

J.R. White

© J.R. WHITE 2019

Terms and Conditions:

The purchaser of this book is subject to the condition that he/she shall in no way resell it, nor any part of it, nor make copies of it to distribute freely.

All Persons Fictitious Disclaimer:

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

Star Crossed Series

Just Beyond Daybreak

Caught by Nightfall

Chasing High Noon

Witching Hour Madness

Knot in Destiny

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter One

Malcolm woke up to the lonely darkness and the cool touch of the empty sheets beside him. The room was silent, even though just hours before it had been filled with passionate sounds. He remembered drifting to sleep with Meredith in his arms. It had taken him hours to coax his lover out of her study. To wake up without her still in bed caused a knot of worry to tighten in his gut. He knew where she was. It was the same place she'd been for days.

Rolling onto his back, Malcolm stared up at the dark ceiling. He missed his fiery witch, but it couldn't be helped. As the head of the Blackburn family, Meredith had responsibilities that were going to pull her attention away from him. Being the second son of the Blackwood family, he should be used to it. Family needs always came first. But something was off this time.

The Lunar Shadow, a magical event that followed every solar eclipse, was just a day away. Most of the families and groups were planning something for the event, but the Blackburns were going to be doing something bigger.

Knowing the sun was hiding behind the thick curtains, Malcolm let out a sigh and threw the blanket aside. The soft carpet tickled his feet as he threw on a pair of sleep pants and made his way towards the kitchen. Meredith was his first concern, but coffee was his second thought of the day. 

A quick glance across the living room showed the study door shut with a single line of light shining out from underneath. Locked away in her study, Meredith had barely set foot into the rest of the apartment in a week. There was a lot of work going into preparations for the Lunar Shadow, and she had hunkered down in that little room with her books and magical tools to finalize every detail. She hadn’t told him much, but Malcolm was sure the elders of her family should have been doing more to help. Instead, it looked like his lover was doing most of the work herself. For a second, he thought about intruding on her and dragging her out of the study again. She needed sleep and a decent meal.

Padding on into the kitchen, Malcolm pushed back his worries and flipped on the light. At once he noticed the little things that had changed since Meredith had secluded herself. A handful of glasses and mugs were scattered across the counter and there were even a few plates in the sink. A cabinet door was left half open and he was sure she hadn't bothered to go grocery shopping.

Getting the coffee going, Malcolm set to washing the dishes. When Meredith did appear again it would be best to have things back in order. If he couldn’t drag her back into the world of the living, then he may as well offer some silent support. 

Dishes dried and the kitchen set back to rights, Malcolm poured two cups of coffee and headed to the study. Maybe he could distract her long enough to get a conversation out of her. He wouldn’t ask her about whatever she was working on. That was none of his business. It was family business and he’d leave it alone, but he would suggest Meredith get some rest.

Without bothering to knock, Malcolm nudged the door open and set eyes on his beautiful girlfriend. Meredith was hunched over, sitting in the middle of the floor with papers and books spread out around her. Her deep red hair was pulled back into a high, messy ponytail. With her back to him, she was clearly oblivious to his entry. 

Noting that Meredith had thrown on a tank top and a pair of sleep pants when she’d left him, Malcolm smiled a little. At least she’s trying to be comfortable. Stepping further into the room, he toed the door closed and announced his presence. Morning, Meredith.

Her head jerked around so fast the tip of her ponytail whipped against her face. Light brown eyes went wide and Meredith let out a frustrated huff once she realize it was him. You startled me.

Smiling, Malcolm lifted up the mugs and said, "I was just bringing you some coffee.

Thought you might need a quick break." He refused to say that he missed her company. Knowing she had to focus on family business, he was willing to wait. Still, he’d do what he could to make sure she took care of herself.

Meredith’s eyes twinkled and her face softened when she saw the coffee. Thank you, she said, reaching out for a mug. Handing the coffee over, Malcolm lowered himself down to sit on the floor behind her. He politely ignored the clay turtle that sat nestled in front of her.

There was no reason for him to know she was working on a new family relic. I really can’t take a break right now.

It was a sweet and regretful dismissal. Meredith wasn’t kicking him out, but Malcolm felt his chances of taking her away from her work deflating. He watched her sip on her coffee and turn back to the book she was leaning over. She’d been researching and crafting. The new magical container for her family took up all of her time and was slowly eating her alive. He could see it in the darkness under her eyes and in the way her fingers fidgeted.

After taking a drink, Malcolm smiled down at her hands and said, I have a meeting with the council today.

Meredith reached out and grabbed a small stack of papers. As she started rustling through the pages, she said, Is that right?

A spark of mischief raced through Malcolm’s mind and just before lifting up his coffee and taking a sip, he said, Yeah. I'm being sent off to hunt a unicorn.

The papers crinkled under her fingers. Uh huh. Malcolm held back his laugh and listened as his words finally sank into Meredith’s mind. She dropped the pages, and turned her head to look at him again. Wait. What?

Letting out the deep-chested laugh he’d been holding, Malcolm had to set his mug on the floor to keep from dropping it. The look of pure confusion in her eyes and the shock that laced her words was just too cute. As he laughed he could see anger start to filter over