The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula Series, Book 2) (29 page)

Cora turned to Rowan. “And really, I don’t see the wisdom in letting her be seen with us. Xander won’t like it.”

“Xander’s concerns are not my own. Besides, he will be seen, and that is what he wants.”

“I’m surprised Xander wants to meet you at the Offices,” I said. “There are bound to be cameras around.”

“I suspect that’s why he chose to meet me there.”

“I thought he wanted to keep a low profile. Even if no one knows he’s the Deacon, they still might trace him back to his business and get him some unwanted attention.”

“He’ll be meeting me as the Deacon, robes and all. Necros might belong in the shadows, but he prefers the limelight.”

I thought about my interactions with the guy: his smiles, his flamboyance. “Xander is a showman. I guess it makes sense that he wants to meet us there.”

“Us?” Cora asked. “So, you consider yourself New Magic now?”

“I don’t consider myself any magic.”

“Oh right. Your alchemy left you.” Her expression turned smug. “That should cut down on the nasty alchemical problems that seem to surface around you.”

“Cora,” Rowan said.

“It’s cool,” I said. “Let her go. She’s on a roll.”

Cora eyed me before turning her attention to Rowan. “Are you letting her seduce you again?”

I snorted and pressed a hand to my mouth, but I couldn’t stop the laugh. At first, I laughed to hide my discomfort, but the more I thought about it, the funnier it got.

Cora looked like she wanted to rip off my arms and beat me with them.

“Sorry,” I said after a moment, wiping my eyes. “You weren’t trying to be funny?”

A final glare, and she turned her attention to the passing scenery. Score one for me. I pressed a knuckle to my lips, but couldn’t quiet the laugh.

“Addie.” This time Rowan reprimanded me.

I cleared my throat. “Sorry.” Like Cora, I turned my attention to the world outside the limo’s darkened windows. We rode the rest of the way in silence, pulling up in front of the Elemental Offices a short time later. The front lot and street were lined with news vans. Had they gotten word that Old Magic and New had a meeting this afternoon? It wouldn’t have surprised me if Xander had called to let them know.

I imitated the two Elements and pulled up my hood before leaving the car. Everyone might know who I was, but I didn’t want to make it easy on them.

“We need to talk,” Cora said to Rowan once we were inside.

“Why don’t you wait in the library?” Rowan said to me. He and Cora took the stairs to the second floor before I could answer. I frowned after them, surprised that Cora would bother with secrecy. I knew they would be discussing me, and she’d never been one to hold back what she thought on that topic.

The library was a large room on the first floor of the building. Rowan usually heard petitioners in this room rather than his smaller office upstairs. I’d never actually been in that room, but I knew he used it when he wasn’t meeting people here.

I stopped beside the oval table that took up half the room. What if Cora talked him into meeting Xander up there?

I moved to the curtained window and nudged the sheer drape aside to look out. I didn’t have long to wait until a limo pulled up to the door. It was smaller than the Element’s silver limo, and black. The driver climbed out and opened the back door. Two broad-shouldered figures in brown robes got out. It looked like Xander had brought Doug. Oh joy.

A click and the library door opened. I dropped the drape and turned as Rowan and Cora entered the room.

“They’re here,” I said.

“I know.” Rowan pushed back his hood and Cora did the same.

Cora ignored the exchange and walked over to the mirror on the opposite wall. She smoothed her dark hair—though I didn’t see a hair out of place. After Rowan’s comment in the river, I didn’t think she was checking her appearance for Xander or his son—necros or not.

A light knock, and one of the black liveried servants opened the door. “Your Grace? The Deacon and his son.” The servant stepped aside to let the two brown-robed men enter.

“Thank you, Bradley,” Rowan said.

The servant gave him a deep nod and left, pulling the door closed behind him.

Xander and Doug pushed back their hoods.

“And another stellar performance for the untalented masses.” Xander stepped forward and offered Rowan a hand. “Good to see you well, Rowan.”

“And you.” Rowan exchanged a handshake with him, then Doug.

“Was there more to your performance than climbing from your car?” Cora asked, joining them.

Xander gave her a wide smile, then bent over her hand when she offered it. “Charmed as always, my lady.”

I rested my backside against the edge of the table and watched Doug fawn over Cora next. She seemed to enjoy it—or at least, expect it.

“I see you still have the alchemist following you around,” Doug said. He eyed me, his look too knowing for my comfort—or was it just my imagination? Maybe it wasn’t Xander who had ratted us out.

“She’s like a piece of gum stuck to your shoe,” Cora said. “Impossible to scrape off.”

I crossed my arms and arched a brow. Apparently, she hadn’t finished slinging insults.

“I assume this meeting is in response to Megan Fields’s last story,” Rowan said to Xander.

“Indeed it is.” Xander folded his hands behind his back and looked Rowan in the eye. “We’re going to make an example of her.”

Chapter
23

I
straightened. “An example?”

Xander’s pale blue eyes settled on me. “Yes. I tire of the untalented using us for their entertainment. You would do well to pay attention.”

I crossed my arms, refusing to break eye contact first. It occurred to me that Xander’s irises were the same hue as Doug’s, only faded. Did it represent that he’d used his gift more—or was he just that much closer to crazy? His insane sister’s eyes had been completely white.

“She’s not the problem,” Rowan said.

Doug snorted.

“Not the problem?” Xander demanded. “Your Grace, alchemy is the very heart of this problem.”

“Does that include your nephew?”

“Absolutely.”

Rowan studied him with an intensity that would make most people squirm. To Xander’s credit, he didn’t.

“How
is
your nephew involved?” Cora asked.

I glanced over, surprised by the question. She hadn’t been present when I shared my theory with Rowan. Did she have her suspicions about Xander as well?

“I haven’t seen him since the day I had his name stricken from the family records.”

I must have made some sound, because Xander’s gaze settled on me. “Family means something to us, Ms. Daulton. Lines of power stretch back for centuries.” His attention remained on me, though I suspected I wasn’t the one he was truly addressing. “To be banished from one of the great families is a terrible punishment.”

“If you say so.” I shrugged. “I’m a bit of a loner, so I don’t get it.”

“What do you have in mind for this reporter?” Rowan cut in, and I suddenly realized I’d been monopolizing the conversation. Oops.

“She needs to learn respect.” Xander held his gaze. “Fear.”

“I already told you no,” Rowan said.

Xander turned away, but I caught the disgust on his features before he got control of himself.

“I’d like to schedule a press conference tomorrow,” Cora said. “Would you like to attend, Xander?”

“And give them more fodder?” Xander turned to face her. “No disrespect, my lady, but that plays right into their hands.”

I knew I shouldn’t speak, but I couldn’t help myself. “It would be another opportunity to perform before the untalented masses.”

Xander gave me a glare.

“Are you requesting a show?” Doug asked me. His bright blue eyes faded to white for an instant. From what Ian had told me, a necromancer couldn’t just make his eyes turn white, he had to actually animate something. Unless Ian had been lying.

“Question.” I didn’t wait for Doug’s permission to continue. “The eyes. It means you’re exercising your gift, right? How does that work when no dead are nearby?”

“Are you certain of that?” Doug asked.

“Unless Rowan has a body stashed in the closet, yes.”

Rowan watched the exchange. I took the slight tightening around the corner of his mouth to indicate amusement.

“He needs to reprimand the cleaning staff. There are a couple of dead flies in the window sill.” Doug nodded toward the window on the other side of the table.

I’d seen Ian animate a dog, so I knew necromantic power wasn’t limited to human bodies, but bugs? “Impressive,” I said. “So how far away can you be?” The window was at least fifteen feet from where he stood.

“For me? About thirty feet.” His cheeks dimpled. The narcissistic bastard was proud of that fact, which meant it was probably an impressive number.

Xander cleared his throat. Was Doug giving away too much?

“Then you don’t want to attend the press conference?” Cora asked Xander.

“Since that seems to be my only recourse, then yes, please include me. Perhaps it would be good if Old Magic is seen more. I grow tired of the media’s lack of respect.”

“I wouldn’t open with Doug’s fly trick,” I said.

“How about an autopsy?” Doug said. “I seem to recall how much that impressed you.”

“Oh, that would slay them.”

Doug’s cheeks dimpled. “You know, in a twisted way, I like you.”

“Now that’s just plain terrifying.”

It was Rowan’s turn to clear his throat. I guess it was time to stop antagonizing the necromancer.

“Shall we meet tomorrow morning to discuss our plan for the press conference?” Cora asked.

“Very well.” Xander released an impressive sigh. “Care to walk us out, Your Grace, my lady?” He gave Cora an elegant dip of his head.

Cora and Rowan agreed, and after pulling up their hoods, the four of them headed for the door, Cora on Xander’s arm.

“Until next time.” Doug smiled and his faded-blue eyes met mine.

A fly buzzed past my ear, and I took a hasty step to the side.

Doug laughed and turned to follow the others from the room.

I wanted to give him a finger gesture, but I settled for glaring at his back until the four of them stepped through the doorway that opened into the waiting area.

“I didn’t think he’d ever leave,” a familiar voice said.

I gasped and spun around to face Ian. “What are you doing here?” Heart in my throat, I hurried to the open doorway. No one came running down the hall—yet. I pushed the door closed. “What if Xander senses you?”

“It would be more likely to be the son than the father, but neither will feel the call of my death.” Ian frowned. “I told you: they are nothing like their ancestor.”

“Their ancestor is
you
.”

His cold glare silenced any further comment I might have made. “What are you doing here?” I repeated.

“Since you refuse to give me the courtesy of letting me know that you still live, I decided to come looking for you. This seemed a likely place to start.”

I glanced toward the door, but all remained quiet. “I ran into some trouble.”

Ian continued to frown. “I am not without resources. I might have assisted you.”

“Rowan and I were abducted—by some goons from my past.”

“Goons?”

“Thugs. Miscreants. Bad guys.”

Ian pursed his lips. “Did you intend to let me know you survived? I spoke to Era on the phone. She had no answers.”

“We just got back this morning, then there was this thing with Xander.” I made myself stop giving excuses. I should have let him know I was okay. “I’m sorry. I need to have a phone installed in the new building.”

“Yes.” Ian studied me. “I assume you escaped these
goons
.”

“I blew up their cabin.”

He snorted. “Intentionally?”

“Of course.” It was my turn to frown.

“What did you brew?”

“No alchemy, remember?”

“Right. Sorry.” He gave me an apologetic look. “So, what happened?”

“As it turns out, I don’t need alchemy to succeed.” I shrugged, then smiled. “Maybe I can be more than just an alchemist. Rowan seemed to think so.”

“Really?” Ian glanced toward the door. “He sounds supportive. The two of you have made up?”

“Not completely, but…” I shrugged. I felt like a kid sharing her first crush with a friend. “And what’s up with your interest? Are you trying to make him jealous?”

“Yes.”

I blinked. “Uh, why?”

“The man wishes to court you, and you clearly wish to let him. He needed a…push.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Had he just used the word
court
? “Is this really the time or place to discuss my love life?” If Rowan or Cora walked back in, how would I explain Ian’s presence here?

“Perhaps not. Do you need transport back to the lab?”

“No, I’m good. I won’t be in today. I’ve got a thing this evening.”

“A thing?” Ian smiled. “Is that a modern euphemism for—”

My cheeks heated. “Nothing like that. It’s a party at the Cincinnati Art Museum.”

“That’s right. I recall Era speaking of it. I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

The doorknob rattled.

Oh God. “Ian, go!” I whispered.

The portal appeared and with a final grin, Ian stepped back and vanished.

The door opened. “I’m glad Xander made us come all the way down here,” Cora was saying as she and Rowan walked into the room.

“It needed to be done.” Rowan’s eyes met mine. “Addie?”

“Hey.” My heart pounded in my ears.

“You look a little pale.”

“It’s been an eventful weekend.” I tried for a reassuring smile. “Did you get Xander calmed down? No mad necro rampage on the horizon?”

“I believe we avoided that. We were discussing how we wanted to handle the press conference.”

“Are you sure you want to do one with Xander?” I asked. “I don’t trust him.”

“Xander intimidates you,” Cora said.

“He makes my skin crawl. Though he doesn’t seem to bother you.”

“Please. The man’s full of himself, the son, too. Maybe you should consider playing to his vanity instead of making yourself a target by antagonizing him.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

She gave me a glare then turned to Rowan. “I need to go finalize things with the caterer. I’ll be in my office.”

“We won’t be long.”

She waved a hand, acknowledging that she heard him, and left the room.

Once the door was closed, Rowan pushed back his hood and turned to face me.

“What?” I asked. My heart still beat faster than it should. “I like antagonizing Xander and his narcissistic offspring.”

The corner of Rowan’s mouth kicked up.

“Seriously, I don’t trust him. I wish you’d listen to me.”

“I always listen to you. You have a way of seeing things that most people miss, but I think you’re biased in this case. You don’t trust necromancers.”