The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula Series, Book 2) (13 page)

My eyes gradually adjusted to the low light. I gasped and took a step back. Gavin stood only feet away, his nightmare form larger than James’s and his glowing red eyes focused on me.

Give me just a moment,
James said. The sinister voice didn’t mesh with the tentative request.

Is she as tasty as she looks?
Gavin leaned toward me, inhaling.

I didn’t consider myself a coward, but he completely creeped me out. I stepped closer to James, and my shoulder pressed against his fur-covered ribs.

She glows so bright.
Gavin’s eyes opened wider, and his pupils shrank to pin pricks as if he was looking into a bright light.

James’s arm slipped around my shoulders.
Back off.

Gavin took a step closer, sniffing the air.
A soul bright as a necromancer’s. Is that what attracts you, little brother?

James snarled, the sound so soft and low, I felt it in my bones.

Is her blood as sweet?
Gavin continued.
The necro that bound me had the sweetest blood. I often wished he’d been female.

Light flooded us, and Gavin snarled and jumped back. James had pulled the portal open—on the driveway in front of the manor. James nudged me toward the brightness, but I didn’t need encouragement. I stepped out onto the cobbled drive and the portal shimmered closed behind me. James didn’t follow.

“Oh God, I hate that thing.” I shivered.

Rowan and Gerald stood a few feet away, and I hurried to them.

“Your Grace?” Gerald tentatively reached out to Rowan, but pulled back before he actually touched him.

I saw Rowan sway and stepped up beside him, pulling his arm across my shoulders. “Hey.”

“What thing?” Rowan muttered. He must have heard my comment.

“Gavin.”

Gerald stood watching us, wringing his hands.

“I could use some help,” I said.

A quick nod and Gerald ran toward the side door. Apparently, he intended to look for help inside.

I sighed. I’d meant help me hold Rowan up. A snow-laden gust of wind hit us and my shivering increased.

“Damn, it’s cold.” I gripped Rowan’s wrist where it rested on my shoulder. The warmth of his skin surprised me. He felt feverish. “Rowan?”

“Y-yes. It’s cold.” He took a step, and then his weight took me to the ground.

“Rowan!” I crawled out from under him and touched his hot, mud-streaked cheek.

The side door opened and James ran out, wearing only a pair of sweatpants. He must have traveled to his bedroom after leaving me here.

Gerald, who was almost to the door, let out a startled squeak and vanished.

“Get inside,” James said to me and scooped Rowan off the cobbles as easily as a grown man lifted a toddler.

“James, what—” Era skidded to a stop in the doorway, Donovan halting behind her.

“They fell in a river,” James explained.

They stepped back to let him enter.

“And Rowan overdid it,” I added, following James inside. “Does he have any of his remedy left or do I need to—”

“He has another vial.” Cora said, stepping into the foyer. She stopped beside James and touched Rowan’s cheek. “Upstairs now,” she said to James. “Get him out of those wet things. I’ll be up in a minute with his medicine.”

James nodded and took the stairs two at a time.

Cora’s attention shifted to me.

“There was a w-wreck. On a bridge.” Now that the air around me was warm, I couldn’t stop shivering. “A car fell in the river. Rowan held back the w-water and I got the family out.”

“Rowan held back the water?” Era asked, her tone incredulous.

“Vaporized the water around the car—and us,” I clarified.

“Dear God,” Donovan muttered.

“It was pretty c-cool,” I agreed, pulling my now damp blanket closer.

Donovan stepped forward. “Here,” he said and then picked me up before I could understand what he wanted. “You’re soaked,” he said.

“He couldn’t hold back the whole river. I s-swam out to them.”

“In twenty-degree weather?” Era asked.

“Twenty-seven,” I clarified.

“Upstairs,” Cora said. “Era, get her dry and in bed. I’ll see if I can find an electric blanket.”

Donovan turned and started up the stairs.

I let myself relax, though I continued to shiver. My cheek came to rest on his shoulder, and I felt the warmth of his skin through the soft fabric of his flannel shirt. There was something comforting about the scent of his cologne. Fatherly. Which was odd since I didn’t remember my father. A sigh escaped. I hadn’t wanted to stay at the manor, but now I was glad I was here.

“Don’t fall asleep, Addie,” Era said. “I’ll have to get one of the guys to help me change you and tuck you in bed.”

“I already did the wet T-shirt thing for the local news.”

“What’s this?” Era asked.

“Then I went after the cameraman,” I admitted. I felt and heard Donovan chuckle.

“You need to stay awake to tell me that story,” Era said.

“I’ll try.”

For the first time in weeks, I slept through the night. I guess complete exhaustion will do that to a person. But when the sunlight finally drove me from my slumber, I was annoyed to learn I’d wasted half the morning. I had too much to do to lie here sleeping. As the saying went, I’d sleep when I was dead—as long as Ian had no say in things.

That reminded me, I needed to get back to the lab and check in with him. A stress-free day at the bench was what I needed. I should also speak with Rowan to see about contacting the landlord about phone installation and—

I gasped, remembering the events of the day before. Had Rowan recovered? Certainly someone would have come to get me if more of his remedy was needed.

Anxious now, I hurried through my shower. My new clothes were hanging in the wardrobe. I pulled on a pair jeans and one of the fitted, long-sleeve T-shirts Era was so fond of, then hurried downstairs.

I didn’t have to go far to find an answer for my concerns. No sooner did I leave the stairs for the foyer then Cora entered from a side hall, James at her side.

“Gone?” she demanded of my former sidekick. “What do you mean, gone? When did he leave?”

“Several hours ago.”

“Why wasn’t I told?”

“Cora.” James merely held her gaze, unruffled by her outburst.

She huffed out a breath. “Damn that exasperating man. He could barely stand.”

“Who? Rowan?” I asked. Was she referring to last night or this morning? In the past, my remedy had brought him back to full strength quickly.

She whirled to face me, and I realized she hadn’t seen me until that moment.

“I thought you said he still had some of his remedy,” I continued, walking over to join them. “Do I need to—”

“You’ve done enough,” Cora snapped at me.

I glanced at James, raising my eyebrows in question.

“Footage from the wreck made the news this morning,” James answered.

Shit. “Was his identity compromised?”

“Nearly. Some kid on the bridge recorded all of it with his phone. Fortunately the video was grainy and distant.”

I remembered the kid from the pickup truck and wondered if it was him.

“The news crew footage was much better,” Cora said. “They paint a charming picture of you—and by extension, him.”

“I was trying to protect him.”

Cora gave me a final glare and turned back to James. “I’ve got a meeting this morning. Head over to the Offices and keep the hot head out of trouble until I get there. Donovan will just go along with him.”

“What about Era’s—”

“I’ve already spoken with her.”

“Okay.”

Cora gave him a stiff nod. “Thank you, and be safe.”

“Always.”

She turned and left, slamming the front door behind her.

“Was it really that bad?” I asked now that we were alone.

“Era recorded it.” James gestured toward the hall that led to the den.

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“They made you look like a crazy woman, and portrayed Rowan as having no control over you. He’s gotten calls from the PIA, the Deacon, and even the European Elements.”

“What was I supposed to do? He was coughing up blood, and there’s a film crew not twenty feet away.”

“I know,” he said, his tone soft.

I looked up, meeting those solemn green eyes. God, I needed a hug.

He turned and headed for the stairs. “I’ve got to get going. Era can show you the clip.”

“Hey!” I called after him.

He hesitated, his foot on the bottom step.

“What about your brothers? Did you and Donovan find anything?”

“It wasn’t them.” He jogged up the stairs, leaving me alone in the foyer.

“So much for the stress-free day,” I muttered and went off to find Era.

I didn’t find Era in the den, I found her in the sunroom, standing before the bright wall of windows that looked out over the snow-covered backyard. The storm clouds were gone and the morning sun made the scene blinding.

“Hey,” I said by way of greeting. “What are you doing in here all alone?” The faint scent of bacon and coffee still hung in the air, but this late in the morning, the breakfast cart was gone.

“That’s about all I’m allowed to do.” Her tone sounded bitter, but when she turned, she offered me a smile. “If you’re looking for Rowan, he left a while ago.”

“I know. Actually, I was looking for you.”

“Really?” Her fair brows rose in a look of genuine surprise.

“I hear you recorded that news story. Do you care to show it to me?”

Her brows snapped back down. “I’m not so sure you’ll want to see it. Me, I’d rather find that reporter bitch.” Her eyes glinted in the sunlight.

“It can’t be that bad.”

“Come on, I’ll show you.”

Ten minutes later, I was as pissed off as Era. They had cut the footage to make it appear Rowan had tried to stop me from throwing a vial and failed, then the mud splattered across the lens. They never explained that it was mud and not a potion.

“They showed you rescuing that family for like ten seconds,” Era complained. “Then spent the next five minutes calling you crazy.”

“Technically, they only showed Rowan’s fireworks in the rescue,” I clarified. “Perhaps I should just be grateful they fuzzed out my revealing shirt.”

“Rowan was livid,” Era said. “It’s probably a good thing Donovan went with him, or this evening, we’d be seeing a new story.”

“He was
that
mad?”

“Nobody likes to be made to look a fool,” she said. “Especially with clever editing.”

True. The video did make Rowan look anything but in control, and control was something he took very seriously.

I sighed and scooted to the edge of the leather couch. “Nothing I can do about it,” I said. “I need to get back to the shop. I’ve wasted enough time.” I rose to my feet. “Do you think Marlowe would give me a ride?”

“I could.” She stood beside me. “I can even give you a hand. Or are you going to refuse me again?”

How could I say no now? “Very well. Let’s see how much of that chemistry you remember.”

The building Rowan had chosen for my new lab was an excellent one. The kitchen was spacious with lots of counter space and shelving. The gas range and hood were in good working order, and there was even a convection oven and a commercial grade refrigerator. Though I couldn’t decide if the lingering scent of donuts was a blessing or a curse.

Ian had done wonders bringing our new lab up to speed. Without the need to eat, sleep, or even keep warm, he’d worked through the night to transfer all our salvageable equipment to the new building. My only complaint was that, although the gas had been switched on this morning, he hadn’t bothered with the heat.

He made an excuse to Era about the recent arrival of the gas company, but I could tell by his sheepish expression that he hadn’t even considered warming the place up. After nearly two hundred years in a crypt, he hadn’t had to bother with such things in a long time.

He excused himself not long after we arrived, claiming he had an appointment with his financial consultant. I figured he was meeting with his book dealer. I gave him some of the burn salve I’d just mixed up to deliver to the hospital, and sent him on his way.

The building warmed quickly, or maybe, as was usually the case, I just didn’t notice the chill once I became absorbed in my work. And we had a lot of work: burn salve, bullet antidote, more remedy for Rowan—though I’d need his blood to finish.

Things were going so well that it surprised me when, a few hours later, Era told me she needed to go.

“Bored already?” I asked.

“Already? It’s been three hours.” Era laughed. “Besides, James is the one who wants to be a chemistry major. I was just hoping for a chance to ogle your assistant.”

I almost dropped the test tube I was filling.

“Don’t look so shocked. You’re a woman. You must have noticed that Dmitri is smokin’.”

And dead. “He’s not your type,” I blurted.

Era crossed her arms. “Oh, really. And what is my type?”

Come on, Addie, think. “He’s gay.”

Era’s arms dropped to her sides. “No way.”

“Afraid so.”

“What a waste.”

“Yeah. I’ve been trying to keep him away from James. Dmitri is a hopeless flirt. He’d make James uncomfortable.”

Era snorted. “A flirt. I second that.” She shook her head. “Damn.”

I turned back to my test tubes, congratulating myself on a crisis averted. I’d even found an excuse to keep James and
Dmitri
apart.

No, this was wrong. All I was doing was digging myself deeper. I needed to come clean on this.

“Era—”

“Hey, I’m cool. I was just crushing on him a little.” She turned and headed for the coat rack. “Better to know now.”

I lost my nerve. “Are you going back to the manor?”

“Eventually.”

“You shouldn’t be out running around. If—”

“God. Not you, too. I thought you were cool.”

“Did I just lose my cool cred for caring about you?”

She gave me a dark look as she pulled on her coat.

“Era, please.”

“If I told you I was going back to the manor, would that make you happy?”

“It would make me more happy if you actually went.”

Her lips curled into a smile. “You’re scary good, you know that?” She turned and headed for the door.

“Era.”

“See you at dinner.” She pushed open the door to the front room and was gone.

I removed the test tube I was heating from the flame, then hunted around for a rack. By the time I reached the front door, her car was pulling away from the curb.