The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula Series, Book 2) (8 page)

“True.”

“Though, I have to admit,” Era continued, “that wouldn’t be a bad sight. I think James will have fun at college.”

“What? James is going to college?”

“Rowan wasn’t comfortable with me going off alone.” She rolled her eyes. “James volunteered to be my bodyguard, and I insisted he enroll.”

“That’s great!” I smiled, so pleased with this news. “What will he study?”

“He’s undecided, but I think he’s leaning toward chemistry.”

“Really?” My smile grew—if that were possible. “That would be a good choice. He’s got great potential as an alchemist.”

“A shame you two weren’t around when I had to take chemistry.”

Our drinks arrived, giving me a moment to think about what else Era had said. “You want to see James naked?” I asked once we were alone again.

“Well, what red-blooded girl wouldn’t?” She laughed. “But it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Because he’s dead?”

“To be honest, I don’t even think of him as date material. I don’t think it’s the dead thing, but I’d be lying to say it wasn’t in the back of my mind.”

I wanted to come to his defense, but stopped myself.

“He’d be a good one-night-stand guy,” she said, her tone considering.

“James isn’t a one-night-stand guy.”

“I know.” Era sighed. “It’s sad. He’s the kind of guy you marry, but what girl would marry a dead man?”

“It is sad.” I opened my straw and sank it into my iced tea. “But I’m so happy he gets to go to college. His brothers wouldn’t have let him.”

“I don’t understand how they had any power over him. He’s in a league of his own, you know?”

“They’re family. Both of James’s parents were gone before he was three. His brothers raised him.”

“They’re jerks.” She took a drink from her glass.

“Wait until you get to know them better. You’ll want a stronger adjective.”

Era laughed.

Rowan returned, a bundle of clothing tucked under his arm.

“How was the show?” Era asked.

“Behave.” Rowan took the chair beside mine. He picked up his straw and tapped it on the table to expose one end.

“So, naked guys don’t do it for you?” Era asked.

Rowan put the straw to his mouth and shot the paper toward her. It traveled half the distance before a puff of wind whipped it back in his direction. Era’s brows rose over her metallic amber eyes.

Rowan snatched the paper out of the air, his reflexes honed by years of studying martial arts. He claimed to do it to improve his mental control, but it clearly benefited him in other ways. The way the fitted turtleneck covered his chest for one.

“Era.” The twinkle in his eye betrayed the sternness of his tone.

“I’m scared.” Era grinned at him.

I watched them. Their relationship was so different from what it had been before I’d cured Era. Then, Rowan had only looked at her with sadness in his eyes.

Movement by the door drew my attention, and I looked up, expecting the waitress with an appetizer. I didn’t expect Ian.

Chapter
6

“A
h. Here you are.” Ian’s blue eyes locked on me. “You know, it’s considered polite to let your business partner know that you’ve been dismissed from the hospital.”

“Whoa,” Era muttered.

“Sorry.” I hadn’t considered that he’d come looking for me.

“How did you find her?” Rowan asked.

“I am an alchemist.” Ian walked to the table, stopping behind James’s empty chair.

I released a breath, glad James was no longer here. I was pretty sure I could trust Ian, but a grim might be too much of a temptation.

“Did you use a compass?” Rowan asked.

“A compass?” Ian’s eyes met mine.

“I once adapted a scrying potion to a compass in order to find someone.”

“Ah.” Ian looked amused.

“So, who’s your friend?” Era asked.

I opened my mouth, but Rowan beat me to the introductions, introducing Ian as Dmitri. I tried to hide my cringe, hating that I had to keep telling this lie.

“Won’t you join us?” Rowan asked.

“Or I can get mine to go, if you need to get back,” I spoke up. Ian didn’t eat.

“That won’t be necessary,” Ian said to me before turning to Rowan. “Thank you for offering, but I’ve already eaten.”

“Then perhaps a cup of coffee,” Era said. “You could tell tales about Addie and her Alchemica days.”

I wanted to kick Era under the table.

“I could.” Ian pulled out James’s empty chair, and to my surprise, sat down. “But she’d feel obligated to return the favor.”

“What about the shop?” I cut in. “Anything salvageable?”

“More of the equipment survived than I expected. But all our notes were lost to the fire—or the efforts to put it out.”

“Oh.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Do you have a place to stay?” Era asked Ian.

“He has a place separate from the shop,” I said. I didn’t want her making arrangements to have him in a place where he might bump into James.

“What about you?” Era asked me.

“I can bunk with, um, Dmitri.” I almost slipped up on the name. I actually had spent a few weeks in the crypt before I found the shop.

“That won’t be necessary,” Rowan said. “I’ve already had the clothing you purchased sent to the manor.”

“Excuse me?” I turned to stare at him.

Rowan ignored my protest and turned back to Ian. “I’ve also located a suitable storefront. It was once a bakery, so you have access to gas and some hoods, though those will have to be converted to suit your purposes.”

“If you’ve found us a lab,” I said, “I can move my stuff into a back room.”

“And what, sleep on the floor?” Era asked. “Don’t be silly.”

The waitress arrived with our appetizer, cutting off any further protest on my part. Ian surprised me again by taking Era’s suggestion and ordering a cup of coffee. What the hell was he up to?

Rowan’s phone rang again.

Era growled under her breath. “Seriously. You need to turn that thing off once in a while.”

Rowan ignored her protest and rose to his feet. “Excuse me. I need to take this.” He started for the hall without waiting for a response.

Had James found something? Had his brothers found him? I wanted to go after Rowan and find out.

“So, you’re an alchemist,” Era said to Ian.

“Among other things.” Ian gave her one of those cheek-dimpling smiles. Now I wanted to kick him under the table.

“What other things?” Era asked.

“I wouldn’t want to give it away on our first meeting,” he said. “That would destroy the mystery.”

Era laughed, putting more effort into the response than his quip warranted. “So, are you a lot older than you look? Like Addie?”

“Yes.” He leaned back in his chair, still smiling. He was all charm and confidence—clearly aware of the affect he had on women.

“Very much older?” Era asked.

“A bit.” Ian glanced in my direction.

“At least tell me where you’re from,” Era said. “I’m trying to puzzle out your accent.”

Late eighteenth century America, I thought, but said nothing. Ian did have a touch of an accent.

“I spent my formative years in England.”

I wondered if that was true. Era didn’t get to question him on it as Rowan returned, his lips pressed in a thin line and a frown shadowing his eyes.

I pushed up to my feet, gathering frowns from the others. “What happened?” I asked Rowan.

“I need to go. There’s been another…incident.”

“I’m coming with you,” I said.

“I was going to ask you to,” Rowan said, stunning me to silence. He turned to Era. “Cora is on her way over. She’ll be here in five minutes.”

Era crossed her arms. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Don’t start.” Rowan stared her down when she opened her mouth to argue.

Era was the first to look away. “Fine.”

I turned to Ian. “I’ll catch up with you later at…your place.” I didn’t like going back to the crypt—Neil knew its location—but the shop was no longer safe either.

“If Dr. Brant would give me the address,” Ian gave Rowan a respectful nod, “I could begin getting our new lab in order.”

“I’ll drop you there.” Rowan started for the door. “It’s on the way.”

I gave Ian a frown behind Rowan’s back, but he just twitched his fair brows. He was enjoying this ruse far more than I liked.

“A pleasure meeting you,” Ian said to Era. He followed the statement with a graceful bow then offered me an arm.

I ignored Ian’s arm and hastily bid Era goodbye before hurrying after Rowan. He was already halfway across the restaurant, heading for the front door.

“What the hell was that all about?” I whispered to Ian once we were alone.

“Should I not have bid her farewell?”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it. What are you doing here?”

“I told you: searching for you.” A hint of anger entered his tone. “Had you left some word—”

“You could have waited until I was alone.”

“You have given me a plausible cover. Why should I continue to hide?”

We’d almost reached the front door where Rowan waited. “It’s just a matter of time before he figures it out. He’s no idiot,” I whispered.

“I’d expect nothing less from the man you’re in love with.”

“What?” I came to a stop. “Did you—”

“Addie? You coming?” Rowan called.

Ian smirked at me, a twinkle in his blue eyes.

“Considering your age,” I whispered to him, “I expected more maturity.”

“Expectations are a dangerous thing, Miss Daulton. You’ll be taken by surprise at every turn.” He walked past me to join Rowan at the door.

I huffed out a breath and frowned after him—until I noticed Rowan watching. Exasperating men, both of them.

“So, you’ve known Addie for over a decade,” Rowan said to Ian once we were on the road.

I’d opted to sit in the Camaro’s small back seat while the two men sat up front. I now regretted that decision.

“Addie, no,” Ian answered. “She is new to me.”

“Ha ha,” I said, trying to insert myself in the conversation. “Why don’t you—”

“Amelia then,” Rowan cut in. “Has she changed so much?”

I slumped in my seat, surprised yet not surprised that he would ask. No, I was surprised that he’d have this conversation in front of me.

“Memory is the core of our identity,” Ian said. “It makes us who we are. Environment, life experiences, everything you interact with colors your perceptions, your beliefs.”

Great, now he was going to share the wisdom of age. Maybe I could ram my knee in the back of his seat.

“So, she’s not the person you knew?” Rowan asked.

“You must realize that her memories weren’t taken from her in their entirety. Who she is now, is who she’s always been.”

Forget the knee in the back; a boot in the ass was more appropriate. I wanted Rowan to forget that I was the blood alchemist who’d had Era abducted. I didn’t need Ian telling him that I hadn’t changed.

“She’s always been confident, driven,” Ian continued, “and much too conscientious for her own good.”

Rowan glanced over on that one. “Go on.”

“Take Neil for example. The little leech exploited that side of her nature for all it’s worth. He used her.”

I leaned forward. “He told you that?” After all, Ian really had known Neil.

Ian shifted in his seat to look back at me, his expression serious. “Yes. Gloated on it, as a matter of fact.”

Regaining my memories was no longer a dream I sought to obtain; it was a nightmare I tried to avoid. Had I been too overzealous in avoiding any return of my memories? I hadn’t considered questioning Ian about Neil. Perhaps I should.

“And what of you?” Rowan asked Ian. “Did you use her?”

“I’m using her now.” Ian gave me a big smile before straightening in his seat. “But she knows that.”

“Using her how?” Rowan kept his eyes on the road, but it was clear his attention was focused on the man beside him.

“We’re using each other,” I said, attempting to join the conversation.

“Mmm, true,” Ian amended.

I cleared my throat, afraid he might give away too much.

“I’d be an idiot not to use the most brilliant alchemical mind of our time,” Ian added.

Rowan spared him a glance—and a frown. “You’re not like the other Alchemica alchemists I’ve met.”

“I’d imagine not,” Ian agreed.

“Before you begin extolling your virtues,” I cut in, “tell me what equipment was salvageable and what I need to obtain.”

Ian glanced back, the corner of his mouth curling. He knew what I was doing, but to my relief, played along. The rest of the drive I managed to keep him on the topic of the lab rather than me.

We arrived at the new building Rowan had selected ten minutes later. It was indeed a storefront with two plate-glass windows to either side of the full-glass door. Across one window, faded white letters declared it to be Curie’s Bakery. Could that be removed, or would the glass need to be replaced? I knew nothing about such things, though I could design a formula to—

“The keys,” Rowan said, passing a ring with two keys to Ian.

“Thank you,” Ian said, his tone sincere. “We really appreciate this.”

“Put it to good use,” Rowan said.

Ian opened his door. “You can believe Addie will.”

“Just Addie?”

“Most of the formulas I brew are hers.” Ian stepped out of the car.

I pushed the seat up and followed him. We stood on the sidewalk, staring up at the much nicer building. I really wanted to go inside and look around, but someone else had been killed with my bullets. That came first.

“Move our things in?” I asked Ian.

“Do what you have to; I’ll get the lab set up.” He leaned down, his breath cool against my ear when he spoke. “You’re welcome.”

I took a hasty step back. “For what? The ulcer?”

A flash of dimples and he turned and started for the front door.

I shook my head. God, the man was an enigma.

Rowan revved the engine, jerking my attention to my newest problem. I climbed into the car and pulled the door closed, noting that the seat beneath me retained no warmth from its previous occupant. I reached for my seatbelt before Rowan could remind me.

“The two of you seem close,” Rowan said.