The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula Series, Book 2) (31 page)

“I’ve been around James longer.”

“True,” James said. “But you didn’t know what I was until a few nights before we met Rowan.”

“On some level, I must have sensed something.”

James grunted, though his expression was skeptical.

“Perhaps,” Rowan allowed. “As I’ve said before, you notice things that others miss.”

“It’s an alchemist thing.”

“Is it?” Rowan trailed a finger along my biceps where my tattoos should have been.

My breath caught and I glanced up. His eyes met mine, a faint ring of orange encircling his pupils.

“Rowan,” Cora called to him and waved him over to where she and Donovan stood with two other women.

“Duty calls,” he said, and walked off to join her.

I watched him go, then turned to find James’s eyes on me. I cleared my throat. “What do you see?” I nodded at the photo.

“Me.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.” He fidgeted with his tie, knocking it askew.

I reached up and straightened it for him. “She should get a picture of you now. You look very nice.”

“So do you. That dress is amazing. I know Rowan likes it.”

“James.” I swatted his shoulder, then glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear.

“How about something to drink?” He offered me an arm.

Amused by his formality, I accepted and he led me over to the tables lining one wall. Elegant finger foods were laid out on fine china platters. A pair of men in tuxedoes manned the drink table. I wondered if they were the same servants who worked at the Offices. Not that it mattered. I was just glad they didn’t card me. It was such a pain living in the modern world without any identification.

Glasses in hand, we made our way up to the second floor.

“Pretty place, huh?” I stopped beside the rail, admiring the view.

James leaned his forearms on the banister. “Yeah.” He gazed out over the room, but I didn’t think he really saw it.

“Something up?”

He sighed, but didn’t look over. “Did I do the right thing? With my brothers?”

At Rowan’s direction, James had opened the portal into a PIA holding cell. If not for Era’s party, he’d probably be there now. As it was, Director Waylon was willing to take Rowan’s word and hold them until formal charges could be pressed.

“I think so. We can’t leave them out there with my bullets.”

“I know.” He sighed. “It’s just…”

“They’re family. I’m sure it hurts, but in the end, I think you’re better off. You have a new family.” I bumped his shoulder with mine. “Even if Rowan is checking out your butt on the sly.”

James snorted. “No, he’s checking out yours.”

I frowned, knowing he was right. Every time I was around Rowan, the barriers seemed to fall a little more. “I don’t understand why.”

He straightened and turned to face me. “Do I really need to explain it? He still has it for you.”

“After what I did to the girl who’s a daughter to him in every way but blood?”

“Yes.”

“Did he tell you this?” I glanced up, trying to read James’s expression, but he turned away. “James?”

“There was an…incident. My fault, despite what Rowan claims. I pulled him into my world and things got ugly fast.”

“Your world? You mean hell?”

“Whatever it is, the living aren’t supposed to go there. I almost killed him, Ad.”

“And that’s when you learned that he can’t travel through the portal?”

“Yes. It shames me to talk of it, even if he did forgive me.”

I gripped his biceps, though it was Rowan I wanted to hug. All the Elements had been so good to James.

“But in the process,” James continued, “he had his soul laid bare to me. He cares. Still. And that was after the funeral parlor.” He finished in a whisper.

I didn’t know what to say. James had been in love with me, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he still was. Yet he also loved me enough to want me happy. It reminded me of Lydia and how she’d tried to do the same thing. I blinked my eyes, longing to rub at the pain in my chest. It wouldn’t do any good. The pain wasn’t physical.

“Hey, James.” Era stood below us, her white dress standing out against all the black and jewel tones the rest of the crowd wore. “Come here?”

James gave her a wave, then turned to me.

“Go on,” I said. “Crowds really aren’t my thing.”

“I know.”

I realized that was why he’d brought me up here. Without a word, I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him. I wanted to tell him I loved him, but that hadn’t gone over so well last time.

He hugged me back, then gave me a puzzled looked when I released him. “What was that for?”

“Just for being you.”

“Okay. Think about what I said?” He didn’t wait for a response before descending the steps to join Era. She led him over to a group of young women and I smiled. Was she showing him off or setting him up?

My eyes drifted over the crowd, and even though every man in the room wore a dark suit, I picked out Rowan easily. Maybe it was the red hair, though from this distance, the dark auburn wasn’t that distinctive. Donovan stood beside him, and they smiled at something one of the two women standing with them said. The one closest to Rowan laid a hand on his sleeve, and he leaned down to let her whisper in his ear. Whatever she said must have been funny because he laughed.

I turned away from the rail and walked down the hall behind me. I still didn’t know what to think of the story James had shared with me. Had Rowan told him how he felt about me? Had he been hurt that much? I wanted to kick James’s butt for putting him in that kind of danger.

Continuing along the hall, I could no longer hear the sound of individual voices, just a muffled mumble of the distant party. My heels clacked against the marble, the sound loud in the quiet. Partitions created little rooms to either side, offering a lot of wall space to hang framed pictures. I didn’t stop to admire any; I walked until I found a large floor-to-ceiling window.

Sipping from my glass, I leaned against the window frame and watched the lights twinkle in the darkness. My mind drifted back to this afternoon in Rowan’s office. The things he’d said and the way he let me into his personal space gave me hope that James was right.

I sighed and my breath fogged the window. Rowan had gotten one thing right. If my confidence was damaged, my alchemy would follow. But I didn’t see how Neil could be behind it. I had to be sabotaging myself. All that had happened in that room above Xander’s funeral parlor must have slowly worn away at me. Maybe it was denial that allowed me to retain my ability for a while.

“Why are you up here all alone?”

Heart in my throat, I turned with a gasp. Rowan stood a few feet behind me. I’d been so distracted, I hadn’t even noticed his reflection in the glass.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He moved closer.

I released a breath, not sure if it shook because he’d startled me, or simply because he was here.

“I guess I was lost in thought,” I said.

“About?” He unbuttoned his jacket and leaned against the window across from me. He seemed relaxed, at ease—just the opposite of how I felt.

“What we spoke of in your office. Neil or not Neil. I have to find him.”

“
We
have to find him.”

I wasn’t going to argue semantics. “I could make Megan tell us, but how do I do that without alchemy?” I turned back to watch the lights beyond the window.

Rowan’s fingers on my jaw made me jump again. With gentle pressure, he turned me to face him. “You once told me that you create magic from knowledge and skill. That hasn’t changed.”

“But my formulas are failing,” I whispered.

“Because you don’t believe.” He took his warm fingers from my cheek. “Remember, alchemists believe they can do the impossible.”

I smiled. “You do listen to what I say.”

“I told you I do.”

“Yes, but what about the salve? It worked before and now it doesn’t. What about the antidote?” I finished in a whisper.

“You just have to believe again.”

I dropped my gaze. “There was a time when I think it would have pleased you if I lost my ability.”

“No, that’s not true. But I do worry about your colleagues leading you astray.”

“So, I’m weak-willed.”

“Most certainly not.” He spoke with such heat that I looked up. “Maybe a little naive.”

I looked away again. Thanks, Rowan.

“You don’t agree?” he asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t do anything without alchemy.”

“You could kiss me.”

I turned to stare at him.

“Or does that require a near death experience?”

I frowned, though heat warmed my cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” His expression grew serious.

“What’s
wrong
? My world is falling apart and you’re teasing me.”

“I wasn’t teasing.” He frowned. “You don’t want to kiss me?”

I resisted the urge to grab my hair and pull. “When I thought I’d die by my own bullet, I decided to spend my last ten seconds kissing you.”

“Yes, I know. Why?”

“Do I
really
need to explain it to you?” I pushed off the window and gave him my back. He caught me before I could take a step.

His hands gripped my biceps and his warm breath brushed my cheek as he leaned down. “I would have done the same.”

I turned to stare up him. “Why?”

He held my gaze, fire burning in his eyes. “Do I
really
need to explain it to you?”

Even if I could have voiced a response, he didn’t give me a chance before his mouth covered mine. He pushed me up against the glass, his body holding mine in place.

A split-second’s hesitation, then I slipped my hands beneath his coat, sliding them up over the silky smooth shirt that covered his chest. The hard contours under the warm fabric tensed against my exploring fingers. His own hands found my waist and trailed along my sides, raising goosebumps.

He finally let me up for air and his blazing eyes met mine. I expected him to speak, but he simply watched me.

“The window is cold.” I needed to say something. “This dress isn’t as substantial as it looks.”

He took a step back, pulling me off the window. “This dress is driving me insane.”

“If it offends you, I could take it off.”

His lips curled into that smug grin. “I am
so
offended. Maybe we should go find a broom closet.”

“Rowan!” I laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

“If I wasn’t expected to lead a toast here in five minutes, I might surprise you.”

“I’m really not surprised, though you would rumple this fine tuxedo.” I ran my hands along the lapels.

“I thought you wanted me to wear jeans.”

“Your ass looked great in them.”

His smile grew and gold flickered through his irises.

“Though my favorite was those tight little briefs I woke up and found you in.”

He took my mouth once more, and I clung to him, my head spinning. If he offered the broom closet again, I would agree.

A throat cleared.

Rowan didn’t pull away, but finished the kiss before he turned to face the interruption. My cheeks heated when I realized it was James.

“Cora sent me to collect you.” The corner of James’s mouth twitched. “It’s time for the toast.”

“Tell her I’ll be right down.”

“Will you?”

“If not, stall.”

“Rowan.” I gave him a frown. “This is Era’s big night.” I glanced at James. “He’ll be right down.”

“I’ll go stall.” James turned and walked away.

“He’s a good boy.” Rowan smiled, watching him go.

“He said he almost killed you.”

Rowan turned to face me. “He told you about that?”

“Just that much.” I didn’t want to betray James’s confidence, but I did want to learn more about this incident between them.

Rowan’s still glowing eyes shifted to the window. “I wish he’d let that go.”

“What happened?”

“He got angry and ended up stranding us both at this haunted crematorium.”

“Haunted? Necros?”

“No, ghosts.”

I arched a brow. “That caused a problem for James?”

“I wasn’t the only one who nearly died.”

“James?”

“He almost bled out.”

“Rowan!” I smacked his chest. “God, I leave him in your care and he almost dies?”

He smiled and cupped my cheek. “Addie, I—”

“Rowan? Addie!” The voice was James’s, but the panicked tone wasn’t like him at all.

I met Rowan’s eyes and saw that he’d picked up on the same thing.

We turned toward the sound. Rowan caught my hand and we hurried along the partitions trying to find him.

“James?” I called. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer.

As we looked in the last partition on the right, I stumbled to a stop. The air stilled in my lungs. James knelt on the floor at Ian’s feet.

Chapter
25

“W
hat are you doing?” My voice was little more than a whisper.

“He felt me come through. I was afraid of that.” Ian shrugged. He had dressed for the occasion in an old-fashioned coat with tails. Really old fashioned. I wasn’t well versed on such things, but I’d guess vintage nineteenth century. Was it the same suit he’d been admiring in his wardrobe? Where did he find this stuff?

“Rowan, don’t,” James said. “He’s given me a command. But he’s nothing like Clarissa. I don’t think I can resist even if you ash him.”

Rowan released my hand. “Addie, exactly how many Alchemica Masters are necromancers?”

“Just Neil, I think.” I took a breath. This was going to get ugly. “This isn’t Dmitri Rey. This is Ian Mallory.”

A pause, then the air temperature soared. Even Ian took a hasty step back.

“The lich king from the mausoleum?” Rowan demanded, his tone incredulous. “You’ve been working with the necromancer who tried to kill me?”

I whirled to face him, my anger replacing my apprehension. “What was I supposed to do? You left me with nothing and commanded I heal Era. I had no ingredients, no lab. I knew it would take the Final Formula to heal her.”

“And you gave it to him?”

“I traded it—for his lab. Besides, I wasn’t about to experiment on Era until I was sure it would work.” I rounded on Ian. “And you. What the hell?” I waved a hand at James. “Let him go.”