The Final Formula Read online

  He was protecting me.

  “Please, Addie. Don’t tell Rowan what I am. It wouldn’t end well.”

  I held his gaze, annoyed that he was trying to protect me, but worried for him all the same. I didn’t want the Elements coming after him.

  “Okay.”

  He nodded then turned and walked away.

  As I watched him go, I suddenly remembered one of Rowan’s many phone calls. He had requested a consultation with his seer. Could she tell Rowan what James was?

  I started for the road. Time to cooperate with His Grace—and get away from him as quickly as possible.

  Chapter

  8

  “Why are you taking us to the Alchemica?” I asked when Rowan took the exit to my former home.

  “It was on the way.” He drove the Camaro through the same streets James and I had traveled a few days ago. He seemed to know the route well. In minutes, he pulled the Camaro to a stop outside the locked gate and shut off the engine.

  I stared at the ruin through the windshield, noting how different it looked in the afternoon sunlight. Different, but not familiar.

  “I want you to show me what you observed,” Rowan said. “If it truly wasn’t the labs, then we might have been set up.”

  “You think the Alchemica was destroyed to get to you?” Did the man’s ego know no bounds?

  “It does seem an elaborate plan, but I won’t know until you show me what you found.” He pulled the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car.

  “Can you believe this guy?” I asked James.

  My buddy grunted and pushed the driver’s seat forward so he could climb out. Given no alternative, I followed.

  The broken shell of the Alchemica still stood within its chainlink enclosure. A bulldozer had been parked inside the gate, but it didn’t look like it’d been put to use yet.

  From up the street, the shouts of children at play drew my attention. Nestled in the wooded lot opposite the Alchemica, a park was visible. Several people strolled along the sidewalk bordering the street.

  “You know, it might be best if I waited in the car,” I said. “James can show you around.”

  Rowan turned to face me. “Why?”

  I patted my bare left arm. “The alterations you made to my wardrobe are a bit conspicuous.”

  “Any clothes in your pack?”

  “Just my robes.” And potions.

  He grunted and turned back to the car. “Come here.”

  Curious, I followed him to the trunk. It turned out that my backpack wasn’t the only piece of luggage. He unzipped a compact carry-on and riffled through the neatly folded clothing.

  “Prepared for every contingency?” I asked.

  “I was supposed to fly to California this morning,” he answered without looking up.

  “Business or pleasure?”

  He pulled a white button-up shirt from the stack and handed it to me. “Best I can do.”

  I accepted the shirt and let it fall open. “Thanks.” It was way too big, but I pulled it on anyway. “If you weren’t so paranoid, you wouldn’t have had to cancel your trip.”

  He ignored my comment and reached for the zipper on the suitcase. That’s when I noticed the bloodstain on his sweater sleeve. I’d forgotten about that bullet clipping him in the alley.

  “How’s the arm? I have some hydrogen peroxide in my pack.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Nothing doesn’t typically leave such a large bloodstain.”

  He studied me for one long moment and then pulled up his sleeve. Some dried blood matted the hair on his arm, but there was no other evidence of an injury.

  “What—”

  “One of the perks of being an Element.”

  Being an Element or being immortal? Or perhaps the terms were synonymous. Of course, he didn’t like me knowing about either.

  He snapped the truck closed. “Come along, alchemist. Give me the tour.”

  I glared at his back, but followed him to the gate. Maybe I’d pop a button or two off his expensive shirt.

  James raised a brow in question, but I didn’t respond. Busy cuffing my sleeves, I jumped in surprise as the chain and heavy lock slid to the ground with a thunk. Rowan had vaporized a link of the chain. Without comment, he pushed open the gate and walked inside.

  I glanced over at James, but he just shrugged. I guess I shouldn’t be too concerned. Since the building’s destruction had been deemed a laboratory accident and not arson, the site wasn’t off-limits for legal reasons. It was locked up for safety reasons—or to protect the earth-moving equipment from vandalism. Besides, Rowan was the Lord of Flames. He could probably do as he pleased.

  We gave Rowan a quick tour, stepping carefully through the debris. Broken masonry shifted underfoot, stirring up the scent of damp cinders. We showed him the basement location of the labs with respect to the far more damaged auditorium. He showed us where he and the other Elements had been standing. They’d been close. Very close.

  “We were set up,” Rowan said. “It was a bomb.” He stood frowning at the hole in the auditorium floor. I hadn’t noticed it during our last visit, but in the bright sunlight, it did appear to be the epicenter of an explosion. The walls closest to the hole had been blown outward. No basement lay beneath this side of the building, only a crawl space. A good place to plant a bomb.

  “You’re sure?” I asked.

  “It wasn’t the lab and it wasn’t me. What do you think?”

  I stared at the blackened hole in the scattered remains of the hardwood floor. My Grand Master had invited the Elements.

  “It couldn’t have been Emil. This place was his dream.”

  “It does seem unlikely that he would destroy it,” Rowan said. “It’s also possible that the invitation I received wasn’t from your Grand Master. Someone else wanted to take out both problems with one bomb.”

  “The ones who tried to kidnap you,” James said to me.

  “But they were caught in the explosion, too.” I hadn’t really thought about that. “Did they forget to synchronize their watches or is there even more going on here?” I rubbed my forehead before looking up at Rowan. “You’re sure it was a bomb?”

  “I have experience with what things look like after an explosion.”

  “So does Addie.” James flashed me a grin.

  I rolled my eyes, though deep down, I was relieved to hear him joking—even if the joke was at my expense.

  “I’m sure that’s true,” Rowan said, “but I referred to my doctorate in volcanology. I spent several years in the field before magic returned.”

  I couldn’t imagine him stumbling through sulfur fumes and ash on some volcanic mountainside. I tried not to laugh and failed.

  “You find that amusing?”

  “Please. You’d smudge your loafers.”

  Rowan gave me a dark look and walked around to the other side of the crater. His interest in volcanology wasn’t a surprise. It was a common phenomenon for the magical to have had an occupation or hobby similar to their talent prior to magic’s return. Then there were people like James who had some forgotten magic awaken and take a bite out of them.

  Rowan continued to study the blast site, and I felt a twinge of guilt for laughing at him. “So, what do you do with that degree now?”

  “I used to teach. Now it’s just the occasional guest lecture.”

  “Seriously?” I glanced back at his car and the Etna license plate. “The Camaro. It’s a pun on your profession, not your talent.”

  “Technically, it’s both.” His attention returned to the crater. “I want a sample.”

  “What?” James asked.

  “A soil sample. I have a friend who can analyze it for me and determine the type of bomb.”

  “Good idea, but that was three months ago,”
I said. “It’s hopelessly contaminated now.”

  “I’d like to try.” Rowan turned to James. “The water bottle on—”

  “I have sterile vials in my pack,” I said.

  Rowan pulled out his keys and tossed them to James. Without comment, James turned and jogged back the way we’d come, circling the bulldozer to reach the open gate. Once at the Camaro, he opened the trunk and ducked under the lid. I guess James had no qualms about taking orders from the Flame Lord. He hadn’t even glanced at me.

  “You bossing around my buddy now?” I asked.

  Rowan smiled. “Did I undermine your authority?”

  “You implying that I like to boss him around? He’s my friend.”

  “He’s magical.”

  “So?”

  The chain-link rattled, and we glanced over to watch James take a shortcut and vault the fence. Show off. No need to hide what he was from us. He jogged up and handed Rowan the vial, and then gave me a frown. “What?”

  “She’s offended that I gave you an order and you obeyed.” Rowan ripped open the packaging.

  “I am not.” I cringed at how childish that sounded.

  Rowan gave me a smirk and squatted beside the crater.

  “I thought it was a good idea to learn more about the bomb,” James said to me. “Plus, I don’t want you wandering around by yourself after what happened last time.”

  “What happened last time?” Rowan capped the vial and stood.

  “Addie was attacked by a necro and her slave.”

  “Here? In Cincinnati?” Rowan’s look of surprise shifted to me. “So much for the ordinance prohibiting zombies within city limits.” He looked annoyed.

  “Perhaps you should keep better tabs on your people,” I said.

  “The necros aren’t mine.”

  “Because they’re old magic?”

  “Because they’re sick bastards.”

  I snorted. “Good reason, Your Grace.” I glanced over at James, but he was studying his toes.

  Rowan tucked the vial in his pocket. “Let’s go.” He pulled out his cell phone, typing what appeared to be a text.

  “You’ll take us home now?”

  Rowan started walking toward the gate. “You’re not going back to Portsmouth. You’re the key to this, alchemist, so I’m keeping you close until I figure out what this threat is. Consider it protective custody.”

  I hurried after him. “An Element protecting an alchemist?” Uttering the sentence made me want to laugh.

  Rowan grunted. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you put something in my water.”

  “Trust me; if I had, it wouldn’t be in an effort to spend more time with you.”

  He glanced over. “I’m crushed. I thought I’d made a better first impression.” His lips curled into a knowing smile.

  I remembered our first meeting and my cheeks heated. “Whatever,” I muttered, praying he wouldn’t notice my blush.

  He chuckled. “Not much of a comeback.”

  I stopped, but he didn’t. “If you think I’ll be your meek little captive, you’re in for a surprise.”

  He took a few more strides before he turned to face me. “I doubt I’ll be surprised. Annoyed, possibly pissed, but not surprised.”

  I gritted my teeth and marched past him toward the car.

  “Addie?” Rowan called.

  I stopped and looked back. Would he apologize? Make some excuse that this wasn’t captivity? Relent and take us home?

  “You’re cute when you blush,” he said.

  James actually put a hand over his mouth in an effort not to laugh. The traitor. Thank God he didn’t know the true reason for the blush. I spun on my heel and headed for the car.

  I climbed out of Rowan’s Camaro and looked up at the small farmhouse. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. I tugged at my over-sized shirt, wishing I didn’t look like a refugee. Rowan had told us that the scientist who’d be analyzing the soil sample lived here. I wanted to make a good impression on a potential colleague. Who knew when I might need a lab.

  James and I followed Rowan along the front walk and up onto the wrap-around front porch.

  We didn’t need to knock. A woman opened the door and invited us inside before we’d stepped on the welcome mat. Something about her face seemed wrong, but it wasn’t until she smiled, or attempted to, that I understood. Her face had that uneven look of someone who’d undergone reconstructive surgery, but whether from a birth defect or injury, I wasn’t certain.

  “Please, come in.” She waved us inside. The place smelled of freshly baked cookies.

  “I’m sorry about the short notice,” Rowan said.

  “It’s no problem.” Her eyes shifted to me, then James.

  “Lydia, allow me to introduce Addie and James.”

  She offered us another lopsided smile. “Now which of you is the alchemist and which is magical?”

  “Alchemist.” I raised my hand.

  “And that must make you magical by default,” she said to James.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And so polite.” She patted his arm and then turned to Rowan.

  I frowned at her back. I guess I’d been dismissed. No need to give the non-magical more attention than she deserved.

  “Gerald brought the little one over,” Lydia said. “They’re waiting for you in the den. Shall we?” When Rowan agreed, she led us through a narrow hall and into a modest book-lined room that I loved immediately.

  “Roe!” A young girl of about seven or eight years came running, her blonde ponytails flying out behind her.

  Rowan dropped to a knee and caught her in a hug. She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek before leaning back to grin at him.

  “I told Gerald you’d be on time,” the girl said. She waved a hand at the room’s other occupant: a mousy-looking man in thick glasses.

  Rowan rose to his feet, taking the girl with him, and propped her on one hip. “Thank you for playing chauffeur.”

  “It wasn’t any trouble, Your Grace.” Gerald tugged at his sweater vest. “It’s never any trouble.”

  “You want me to meet someone,” the girl said to Rowan. It wasn’t a question.

  “Yes.” Rowan turned to us. “Marian, meet Addie and James.”

  My breath caught in my throat. Marian. Wasn’t that the name of Rowan’s seer?

  The little girl’s bright blue eyes shifted from me to James and back to Rowan. “Ha,” she gave him another big grin. “I told you you’d meet death this fall.”

  Chapter

  9

  “What does that mean?” Rowan’s tone held a calm that made the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I expected to see fire in his eyes, but for the moment, they remained gray.

  “She doesn’t mean you’re going to die,” James said. “She means you’ll meet the personification of death.”

  “He’s a grim.” Marian gave James a big smile.

  Lydia gasped and stepped forward to take Marian from Rowan’s arms.

  “Where are we going?” Marian asked as Lydia whisked her from the room.

  I started to comment when Rowan’s eyes, which had never left James, went completely orange.

  “James!” I stepped between them, not sure what I could do.

  “No!” Gerald sprang forward and grabbed me by the front of my shirt. Did he think I’d given James some sort of command?

  A wave of vertigo hit me, distorting my vision. An instant later, something slammed into my back, or perhaps I slammed into something. My head spun and the sunlight hurt my eyes. Sunlight?

  I squinted at the blue sky and finally made sense of my surroundings. I was outside, on my back in the grass. Somehow Gerald had teleported me outside. And he had his hands around my throat.

&nb
sp; “I won’t let you kill him,” he whispered. He straddled my body, both hands squeezing my throat. “Send your pet back to hell!” He pulled me off the ground and slammed me back down again. My head collided with the earth and sparkling stars swam across my vision.

  I gripped his wrists, trying in vain to pull away his hands. Darkness haloed my vision and I dug my nails into Gerald’s wrists. Panicking, I twisted and thrashed, trying to find some leverage, anything to get him off me.

  Suddenly, his hands left my throat and his weight no longer pinned me to the ground. I sat up, coughing. An animal snarled and gooseflesh pebbled every inch of my body. Gerald screamed. I twisted around and found him lying several yards away, pinned beneath a massive black dog. Or more accurately, a hellhound.

  I’d seen James furry before, but never in the bright light of day. His shaggy coat was a slash of darkness that, like his growl, didn’t belong in a world of sunlight and bright fall foliage. But more disturbing than the wrongness of his presence was his size. This form had to outweigh his human body. Gerald wasn’t a big man, but James came close to making two of him. He flexed his paws, unsheathing ebony claws like a cat. They sank into Gerald’s shoulders, and he screamed again.

  “James! Don’t!” Rowan ran around the side of Lydia’s house. Gerald had put me down in her backyard.

  Rowan picked up a wooden Adirondack chair and without slowing, slung it into James. It hit him broadside, and I cringed. The impact knocked him off Gerald, rolling him several feet. Concerned, I cleared my throat in an effort to call out to him, but I needn’t have worried. James rolled to his feet, his claws digging into the turf to stop himself.

  Gerald got to his knees before James turned back to him with another hair-raising snarl. Gerald’s scream cut out in mid-crescendo. He was no longer there.

  James whirled to face the house and darkness swallowed him. I didn’t know how else to describe it. For an instant, less than an instant, he wasn’t the hellhound and he wasn’t the boy I knew. He was something in between. He stood on two legs, but that’s where the semblance to humanity ended. Covered in black fur, he still had the muzzle and pointed ears of the hellhound. His clawed hands held open a rip in the darkness, and beyond him, I caught a glimpse of other eyes. And then he and the darkness were gone. If I’d blinked, I would have missed it. Like Gerald, it seemed that he’d simply vanished.