Lost In Magic: In Magic Series, #1

By KJ Warawa

Enjoy this fast-paced, steamy, witchy series by paranormal romance author KJ Warawa.

 

Magic destroyed her family…
but embracing it is the only way they can be together.

 

Until Meredith Williams was brutally attacked and almost kidnapped, she had no idea that magic existed—or that she was born with it. But when her family friend and secret crush, FBI Agent Jack Knight, rescues her, she learns that her mother bound her powers for her own safety.

 

Jack knows it's time to come clean about his role as a special agent in the undercover magic task force. He's protected Meredith from afar since tragedy struck her family twenty years earlier, loving her but never being able to reveal his true feelings.

 

Now Meredith must accept who she is, because if she doesn't, the spellbinding will sentence her mother to death. Yet accepting her magic when it's caused so much heartbreak and lies isn't just difficult for Meredith, it's almost impossible. 

 

But the evil that shattered their pasts is back and seeking revenge. And this time, unless Meredith can embrace her magic, it could spell destruction for all of them…

 

** The In Magic Series is best read in order although each book features a different couple and has its own Happily Ever After. **

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purple Turtle Press
• Release date: Apr 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781738803613

KJ Warawa

Hope, love, and magic are strong themes within author KJ Warawa’s paranormal romance novels. She began dabbling in writing in 2018 and published the first book in the In Magic series in 2023. Although she describes herself as kind of serious and boring, her résumé is anything but. KJ has been a sign language interpreter, massage therapist, Canadian soldier, and continuous improvement advisor. She holds certifications only business people appreciate, and while she insists she’s entirely mundane, she works magic with spreadsheets. Lined yellow sticky notes are among KJ's essential writing tools, and she’s rarely caught without her e-reader in hand. At her current rate of reading about 250 books a year, KJ should be able to work through her TBR of more than 1,500 books by 20—Oh, who is she kidding? TBRs grow, not shrink!

Book preview

PROLOGUE

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy Lost In Magic, be sure to check out my offer of a FREE In Magic novella at the end. With that, happy reading!

Twenty Years Ago

Elise Williams kneeled on the ground next to where the children lay on the blanket. She smoothed back Meredith’s curly brown hair. Meredith looked so much like her twin, Molly. Elise’s heart tightened at the reminder that Molly was gone, that Meredith would never again have her twin by her side.

The tears that were always so close to the surface these days threatened to fall, but she blinked them back. Elise would never see Molly again. She would forever be seven years old, while Meredith would continue to grow and age. Her sister’s unchanging memory a constant at her side like a shadow.

It was such an eerie sight, the four children lying perfectly still, as if dead, like the children they’d lost.

The sleeping spell Elise and her sisters had put on the children wouldn’t harm them and would last long enough to do what needed to be done. Then they would wake, none the wiser, their lives simpler and, more importantly, safer.

Meredith slept next to her three cousins—Elise’s remaining nephew and two nieces. Her other three nephews had died in the fire with Molly. Four children gone and only four remaining. She wondered for what felt like the millionth time if she and her sisters were doing the right thing. Elise blinked again and pushed all thoughts of self-doubt from her mind. Whether or not it was the right thing to do, it was the only way to save their remaining children.

Binding the children’s magic and taking their extra magic wasn’t a crime. Not like siphoning it from another person. Although some may argue that it was immoral. Elise knew that those who would disagree with her and her sisters weren’t mothers who had lost their children.

If Meredith ever found out what Elise had done, her daughter might hate her, but she and her sisters could see no other choice. She was changing Meredith’s life forever, but sometimes mothers had to make hard choices for their children’s own good. She would do anything for her daughter.

They were magic people, and she and her sisters knew better than most that evil lived amongst their kind. Now they had to do everything to protect the children against the evil in their world that had already taken enough from them. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before turning to her sisters, Lillian and Beatrice. Did you find the right page?

Lillian, the eldest of the three sisters, looked up from the pages of the ancient magic book she’d spread open on another blanket she’d conjured in the large field. Yes, I’ve got it. But before we begin, Beatrice, I need you to tell us who gave you this book. This book is unlike any spellbook I’ve seen before. I need to know we can trust it, and you being so secretive makes me feel like you’re hiding something.

Beatrice looked around as if someone might suddenly flash up next to them in the field. Located several miles outside of the city of Blue Mountain, Colorado, it was unlikely that anyone would happen by. Beatrice looked as nervous as Elise felt, but they’d talked about this, and they knew of no other way to keep the children safe.

I put word out with some people I knew. I said I needed a binding spell and someone said Daniel Knight had a spellbook that held one.

Elise reeled back like someone had punched her. What? Beatrice, are you fucking crazy? You went to the man who killed our husbands and children? Why would you even trust anything he gave you? Her sister had gone to the very man they suspected of killing their family. A sense of betrayal pushed aside the anger and sadness that she lived with daily as she glared at Beatrice.

Don’t yell at me, Elise! We needed the bloody spellbook, and I got it. And we don’t know for sure it was Daniel who killed them. Anyway, it’s not like he can kill them again, and yes, he handed over the book as soon as I asked for it. We got the book, and that’s all that matters. I know it seems suspicious, but I had several people I trust check it and they say it hasn’t been tampered with.

Beatrice is right, Elise. We can’t bring them back, but we need to do whatever we can to protect our remaining children. We talked about this. If the children keep their magic, they’ll be as much of a target as our children who died. Lillian choked on the last words and her eyes welled with tears. Elise knew both her sisters were hurting as much as she was; it was just so much to wrap her mind around.

Lillian waved her hand in front of her face and magically dried her tears before continuing. With their magic bound, they’ll be just like every other boring, non-magic person. With them being bound, no one will consider the kids a threat. And hopefully, this will guarantee that no one will try to take the children’s magic. It doesn’t matter where the spellbook came from, it’ll still be the same spell.

Elise hated when Lillian used her calming, psychologist’s voice. Elise was still so angry all the time that she wanted to yell and blame anyone she could for anything and everything. Lately, she bounced between overwhelming sadness and out-of-control anger. Would it ever end?

Sorry, Beatrice, you’re right. Let’s just do this so we can wake the children.

She tried not to think of them as their remaining children because it made it too easy to focus on what they’d lost and not what they still had. It had only been two months since their husbands and children died, but they had to move on.

Each sister had lost her husband in the fire, and along with that, Elise had lost Molly, Lillian had lost her two sons, and Beatrice had lost one of her sons.

Elise’s throat tightened; the pain threatened to suffocate her when she thought of her family and what they had lost. She wanted to collapse on the grass and let herself be absorbed into the ground. She wanted the dirt to cover and bury her in its cold depths so she’d never have to feel again. But Meredith needed her. Lillian, Beatrice, and Elise’s nephew and nieces needed her too. She had to remember that.

The spell seems simple enough. Almost too simple, really. Lillian ran her finger down the open page of the heavy, leather-bound book. I think the only reason words are needed at all is to serve as a kind of catapult to signal our energy to pull the magic from the children.

I thought it was a binding spell. It actually takes their magic?

Lillian looked down at the book again. The spell says the essence of the children’s magic remains the same because they were born with it. It’s their magical energy and any additional power they’ve gained during their life that will come to us. We’ll just need to be careful during the spell because we’ll have to pull more energy from our surroundings than we’re used to when we perform magic. I’m not sure how steady we’ll be once the spell starts so it might be better for us if we kneel by the children.

Good idea. Elise knelt beside Meredith, who was on one end of the row of children, whereas Lillian sat on the other end beside her daughter Rowena. Beatrice kneeled down by Reece and Jo, completing a sort of circle around the kids.

Lillian used her magic to float the book to her and it landed softly on the blanket beside her. When we take the children’s magic from them and pull it into ourselves, we’ll need to brace ourselves as our bodies won’t be used to holding that amount of power. With the kids being so young and not yet having their full magic, it won’t be a lot for us to take in. I’m hoping we’ll be fine. Once the spell’s finished, their magical essence won’t be usable to them and they won’t know they have it. Lillian checked the book again and then looked at her sisters. Someone has written in the margin of the page that when the spell is complete, the book disappears. It says it returns to where it was found. It might be a warning to get everything out of the book that we need before we cast a spell.

I won’t want to see that book after this, anyway, Beatrice said.

Same. Lillian glanced between them. Ready?

Elise kept her gaze on Lillian and nodded, but from the corner of her eye she saw Beatrice nod as well.

Following Lillian, all three of them raised their arms and pulled energy from the air and their surroundings to enable their magic. Their hands created a conduit of energy between them.

The massive shift in energy caused the wind to pick up. Within moments, leaves and dirt churned around, hitting them from all angles. The quiet of the field was no more as the wind created a loud disturbance, growing in intensity. A stick flew into Elise’s face, but she held her position, her arms outstretched. A bubble of energy surrounded the small group. Bouncing between their hands, the energy formed a canopy of light above the children, ready to pull their magic from them and transfer it to their mothers.

From child to mother, magic to magic we transfer … Lillian shouted so the spell could be heard above the wind and the crackling energy that pulsed between them.

Elise strained to hear the words as Lillian finished the spell. As soon as she spoke the last word, Elise felt the energy around her become heavier as the children’s magic was sucked from them and pushed into their mothers. Pressure smacked against Elise’s palms like hundreds of tiny needles driving into her skin all at once. She sucked in her breath against the pain as the extra energy traveled down her arms and settled in her chest. Taking another large breath, she tried to expand her lungs against the overwhelming feeling.

Elise’s heart ached, and not just from the extra power flowing into her, but from what she was doing to her daughter. Never had she thought she would deny her daughter the joy that came with being a magic person. She let the tears fall freely down her cheeks, leaving a trail of grief, as she robbed her daughter, nieces, and nephew of their innate gift. Tensing her muscles, she braced herself as her hands vibrated from the surge of magic.

Now the memories, Lillian yelled over the deafening sound of the wind, and she recited the rest of the spell.

The three sisters had talked about what to do with the children’s memories of magic and decided it was best to remove all traces that it even existed. It would mean removing some memories of their fathers, siblings, and friends, but they couldn’t take the chance that the children might remember something magic related and ask questions.

Wait! Three heads turned toward the shout from across the field, but their arms remained in the air as they pulled the last of the memories from their children.

Elise and Beatrice dropped their arms when Lillian did and the quiet returned. The three sisters stood and watched as Ben and Frank Davis appeared by their sides, having flashed across the field.

You shouldn’t be here. You don’t need the magic council to think you had anything to do with this. Elise looked at the men, both FBI agents, one a consultant to the magic council, and both of them friends of her late husband and his brothers. Their presence was yet another reminder of all she had lost.

You can’t do this, Elise. Ben’s pleading voice was almost enough to do her in.

It’s done, Ben. The kids no longer have their magic and their memories of magic are all gone. Only their base magic essence remains, and they’ll never know what we’ve done. Her voice sounded heavy and solemn even to her own ears.

Frank came closer and took Elise’s hands in his larger, warmer ones. If only his heat was enough to erase the cold that had permeated her body for the last two months. Elise, you can reverse it. Don’t deny the children their magic. We’ll keep them safe.

Frank’s words made something inside Elise snap. Anger welled up in her once more and she whipped her hands away from Frank’s and took a step back. No, you can’t! No one can keep the children safe if they still have their magic. As the council’s consultant, Frank, did you or the council themselves keep our husbands and our other children safe? No! So don’t tell me that you can save the four children we have left when you’ve already proven you can’t!

Elise felt the scream rip from a place deep inside her and some distant part of her felt more tears run down her cheeks, but she couldn’t stop them. The day Thomas and Molly died with the others, her heart cracked down the middle. But now it felt like the two halves had crumbled into a million tiny pieces and she’d never be able to pick them up and put them back together. We had to take the kids’ magic or they’d never be safe! Elise was shaking now, uncontrollable shivers taking over her body.

She took another step back from the men and glanced at her sisters. Lillian had wrapped her arms around her body like she was trying to protect herself from further pain. Beatrice’s tears continued to fall down her cheeks as fast as she magically dried them. Tears or no tears, the pain was inside each of them. It was inside all three sisters and she didn’t know if it would ever go away.

Elise waved her hand in front of her face, her tears instantly gone, and took a deep breath. Lifting her head, she looked at the two men who were like brothers to her. You’ll never know what it’s like to carry a child for nine months and feel them grow and move inside you. To push them into this world and try to give them everything. Watch them become their own person, see their personality flourish and then boom! In an instant it all changes. Her voice caught and her throat constricted as the roaring pain threatened to strangle her.

Ben and Frank’s images blurred as she gave up trying to dry the tears that flowed down her face, but they had to understand. To see their bodies charred beyond recognition. To wonder if they felt pain when they died, were they scared, did she think I was coming at a time when she needed me the most… did she wait for me…? She choked on the last words and couldn’t continue.

Strong arms encircled her, and she leaned into a chest that did not belong to her husband. She would never feel Thomas again, never again hold Molly.

Okay, Elise, we’ll watch over them. We’ll keep them safe. Ben’s words were quiet, but it was a promise she knew he would try to keep, no matter what was to come.

1

Meredith Williams parked her car in the back lot of her family’s restaurant, The Magic Plate, in Blue Mountain, Colorado. She looked at the Rocky Mountains in the distance—a view she never tired of—and took in a deep breath. Living close to the mountains, but in a city big enough to have everything she could want, gave her the best of both worlds.

She pushed through the back door and stopped at the sight facing her. Two of her cousins, Jo and Rowena, sat at the small table in the back of the restaurant’s kitchen. Each woman held a half-filled glass of wine and an empty bottle sat on the table. Meredith dropped her bag on the counter at the back wall and cautiously approached the prep table. What are you two up to? The looks her cousins were giving her meant they were preparing for an interrogation. What’s up? Where’s Reece? Meredith sat in the third chair they’d obviously pulled up for their little gossip session-slash-grilling. Reaching over, she relieved Jo of the glass in her hand and took a drink.

Hey, that’s mine. Why don’t you take Rowena’s?

Because I expect this little inquisition is all your idea, so I’ll drink your wine until you tell me what’s up. So I suggest you hurry while there’s still something left in this glass.

Rowena laughed. I told you she’d know, Jo.

Well, it’s not every day you both hang around the restaurant kitchen drinking wine. Okay, the drinking wine part is normal, but you usually do it in the restaurant, not the kitchen.

Right. To answer your first question, my brother is in the restaurant and this is girl talk. And this isn’t an interrogation, although I’d like to learn about your date. This is more of a support group.

What? Jo, I told you I thought the guy seemed nice and I was going on the date, regardless of what you said.

No, it’s not about that. Aunt Elise invited Jack and Damon to dinner.

With her glass halfway to her mouth for another drink, she froze and stared at her cousin. It felt like Jo had dropped a ten-ton brick right into Meredith’s lap. Why?

Aunt Elise said she has something to tell all of us, and Jack and Damon haven’t been by for a couple of weeks, so she invited them. But something’s up because she also invited Ben and Stella. Meredith loved Ben and Stella like an aunt and uncle and they were always welcome, but usually they came with the kids to hang out for a Sunday afternoon, not a Thursday evening when Jack and Damon were also invited.

Jo took the glass that Meredith still held in mid-air and drained the rest of the wine. I’ll get another bottle.

Meredith turned to Rowena. Do you think something is up?

Rowena twirled strands of her long blond hair around her finger. I don’t know, and since when do we all get together on a weeknight anyway? Maybe it’s because we close the restaurant early tonight. They should be here in an hour.

Jo returned with another bottle of wine and a glass for Meredith. After pouring, Jo lifted her glass and turned toward Meredith. The sly look Jo was giving her meant the grilling was about to start.

So… how was the coffee date?

It was okay.

Jo raised one eyebrow, sending her eyebrow piercing into her purple bangs. Okay? That’s it?

This was the actuary guy, right? Rowena couldn’t keep a straight face, the corners of her lips turning up in amusement.

I know, I know, I’ve gone from dating accountants to actuaries, but I want someone organized.

Jack is organized. I mean, he’s an FBI agent, so you’d think he’d have his shit together.

Leave it to Jo to bring up Jack again. Meredith huffed out a breath and took a sip of her wine. He’s organized, but he’s not interested. I’ve been flirting with him for years and he friend-zones me every time. Sometimes she thought he liked her too. He always made a point of dropping in to see her. He’d left Blue Mountain for a few years for university, but after he came back and joined the FBI, he stopped in almost every week to see how she was. She wondered if she was misreading his signals; his actions were confusing.

When she was younger, she used to draw hearts around their names in her notebooks and dream about their lives together. Lately, she had upped the flirting, when he dropped by, but he never flirted back.

The last time she saw him and felt his rejection, she’d decided it was time to put an end to the fairy-tale dreams. She’d keep dating and hope that eventually she’d find someone who made her feel special, like Jack did. Someone who cared about what she was doing and who really listened like he did. Someone who was sexy and got her heart pounding like he did. Someone who always seemed to know when to show up when she needed someone to talk to like he did. This someone would also want to be with her, and not just as a friend.

But if she was going to find that special someone, she’d have to put Jack out of her thoughts and move on. She’d just have to get through this dinner first.

Jack Knight flashed into the back alley, out of sight of non-magics. He looked around as he walked to the front of the restaurant. Damon’s car pulled up as he approached the front door. Jack waited for his friend to approach. Hey, why’d you drive?

I was visiting with some business clients, mostly non-magics. Besides, it’s nice to take her out for a spin now and then. He grinned as he looked back at the Jaguar F-Type, silver and shiny, parked behind them.

Yes, Mister Money Bags. Don’t rub it in. Public servant here, remember?

Oh, please. Don’t give me that crap, Jack. I know you have more investments and money than I do.

Jack chuckled. Damon was right, but it was still fun to rib him. They turned back to the restaurant and Jack sobered. His steps faltered for a minute and he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. That usual sensation—the one that hit him in the pit of his stomach whenever he was about to see Meredith—hit him again. He wanted to see her as much as he didn’t want to and it was becoming harder and harder to endure the torture of being around her and only being her friend.

Why do you do this to yourself?

Jack looked over at Damon and shrugged. I don’t have a choice. I made a promise years ago to Ben and Elise to protect her. And you know why I can’t be anything more than her friend.

Speaking of Ben. Damon raised his chin, looking over Jack’s shoulder.

Jack watched his mentor and his wife as they caught up to him and Damon. Ben and Stella held hands and appeared to be whispering to each other. They were so in love, even after over twenty years and all the hell they’d been through together. Jack wanted that type of love, but the only woman he wanted it with he couldn’t have.

When Ben had recruited Jack into the FBI eight years ago, he never knew it would mean he’d be tortured watching Meredith from afar. Ben had wanted to pass the mantle of protecting Meredith and her cousins to the next generation, mainly him. But it was times like this when Jack wondered if he should have walked away instead.

Hi. I didn’t know you’d both be here tonight. Stella hugged Jack and then Damon. It’s so good to see you both here. Damon, is your mother going to be here tonight?

No, she’s out of town with my sister.

Hopefully we’ll see them soon. Stella turned to Ben as if passing on a silent message to take over.

Jack, I think Elise wants to tell the Little W’s. The moniker Little W’s started when everyone tired of saying all four of the cousins’ names, and it stuck. Little W’s could refer to two, three, or all four of the Williams’ children. Jack assumed he meant all of them.

Tonight? Why now? he asked. Since it had already been twenty years, he figured this day would never come.

We’ve heard some whisperings. Frank is concerned that someone might come for the Little W’s and it would be better if they knew the truth.

Frank, Ben’s older brother, was also the director of the FBI, which made him Ben’s boss, and Jack’s boss’s boss.

Ben paused for a moment before continuing. Elise is also concerned about her health, but she won’t tell the kids about that yet. Elise doesn’t want them to worry about her so close after Beatrice’s death. Revealing the binding will be enough for them to deal with tonight.

Jack scoffed. You’ve got that right. Figuring they should go inside and get it over with, Jack held the door open for the others. At the same time he steeled himself for what was to come.

They walked in, receiving greetings from everyone. When Elise had called him with the invite, she said she’d have the chefs make up a bunch of the restaurant’s most popular dishes before she dismissed the staff when the last of the patrons left. Elise, Rowena, Stella, and Ben went to the kitchen to bring out their meals while Meredith and her only surviving male cousin, Reece, opened bottles of wine and poured drinks.

Jack stuck his hands in his pockets when Meredith approached. Whenever she was near, he wanted to reach out and pull her toward him. He’d avoided giving her a hug when he walked in because one hug was never enough. Once she was in his arms, he’d never want to let her go. She was so beautiful. Her bright hazel eyes, full lips, and thick, dark, wavy hair were just some of the many things he loved about her.

Here, Jack, your favorite red. I’m sure the scotch will come out after dinner.

Thanks, Bubbles. She scowled at the nickname but didn’t say anything. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but she knew what he liked. Just like he knew everything about her. How her smile and her laugh could make anyone feel welcome, how she bit her lip when she was nervous, how she made list after list so she would never lose track of anything, and how she loved spreadsheets. He didn’t understand her spreadsheet obsession, but it was one more thing that made Meredith unique. And only a small portion of what made her beautiful to him.

She turned, but he didn’t want their time together to end quite yet. How’s work going? He wouldn’t let himself touch her, but he couldn’t stop from torturing himself. He loved listening to her.

It’s fine. The renovations for the new condos in the south building and the retail spaces in the north building are coming along fine. She answered him politely, but not with the warmth she usually exuded.

That’s great. Man, he felt like he was in high school all over again. He tried to think of something else to say, just to keep her talking and maybe get her eyes to light up like they did when she discussed something she was passionate about.

Dinner’s ready. Elise summoned everyone to the table.

I guess we’d better sit down. Gesturing to the table, he hoped she’d sit near him, wanting to continue their time together. He never knew when he’d get to talk to her again. Just call him a glutton for punishment.

Ah… I’m going to sit by Rowena.

Meredith turned and walked to the other end of the long line of tables pushed together before he could say anything else. She sandwiched herself between Stella and Rowena. Having no other choice, he took a seat at the other end of the tables, with Ben beside him and Damon sitting across from him.

You’ll be able to tell her soon. Ben spoke only loud enough for Jack