The Final Formula (7 page)

“It’s the same guys,” I whispered.

Rowan stepped forward. “By whose authorization—”

“Mine.” Crooked Teeth raised his gun and fired.

Rowan dove to the side, bullets kicking up chunks of asphalt where he stood.

“Move!” Rowan sprang to his feet beside me and pushed me toward the trashcans. More bullets whined down the alley as we squeezed in between the cans and the steps to the side door.

James didn’t follow us.

I pushed at Rowan, trying to see back into the alley. “James!” I screamed over the gunfire.

“Stay down.” Rowan’s warm hands gripped my upper arms and pushed me back against the wall. Bullets riddled the trashcans, setting the empty ones dancing and sending one lid rattling down the alley.

“Don’t…move.” Rowan let go of my arms and braced his hands against the wall to either side of my head.

Heat engulfed us. I gasped and hot air seared my lungs. The air grew hotter still, shimmering around us; little bursts of light exploded in the heat waves. It took me a moment to realize they were bullets.

Stunned, I looked up into Rowan’s face. He’d squeezed his eyes shut; a look of intense concentration laced with anger constricted his features. Several bullets smacked into the bricks to my right and he grunted.

“Stop! What are you doing?” a voice shouted from the alley. The gunfire tapered off. “He wants her alive. If you kill her—”

A snarl drowned out the voice, the sound not of this world. James had changed form. Someone screamed and then the scream cut out with an abruptness that turned my blood cold. Oh God, had James—

Machine gun fire cut through the sudden silence, but it wasn’t directed at us this time.

“James!” I lunged and almost got free. Rowan caught me around the waist with one arm, pulling me back down behind the trashcans. I gripped his forearm and he growled this time. My hand came away slick with blood. The wall hadn’t caught all the stray bullets.

“Hold still,” he commanded through gritted teeth. His arm tightened, pressing my back to his chest.

“Let me go!” I continued to struggle.

“Why? So you can get yourself shot?”

“There might be something I can do.”

“What could you possibly do?”

The pompous ass. I pulled the lid off the nearest trashcan and swung it back over my shoulder, trying to brain him. Unfortunately, I only clipped his upper arm.

“Pull out!” a voice shouted from beyond our trashcan barrier.

“Retreat!” someone else called from the opposite direction. God, they’d surrounded us. A vehicle door slammed, followed by the screech of tires.

“Did they—” I didn’t get to finish the question as Rowan released me and rose to his feet. I hurried to follow. The alley was deserted except for three downed men.

James wasn’t one of them.

“Addie?” James’s low voice carried easily in the silence.

I whirled to face him. He dropped to his knees, thumping the cobbles. Naked, he slumped forward, hands braced wide and head hanging.

I hurried over and knelt beside him. “James?” I tentatively touched his shoulder. The coolness of his skin surprised me.

“You okay, son?” Rowan asked.

“Yeah,” James answered, his voice soft.

“Wait here.” Rowan eyed me before he swung my pack over his shoulder and started down the alley. I frowned after him and then turned to James.

A sheen of sweat covered his pale skin, but he gave me a weak smile. “I think we’re being rescued by the Lord of Flames.”

“Or kidnapped.” The bastard had taken my pack with my robes and potions. I wasn’t going anywhere without them. Then too, James looked too ill to run. “You sure you’re all right?”

He glanced at the downed men. “I don’t know,” he whispered.

Oh God, were they dead? He hadn’t dismembered them as he had the zombie. From where I knelt, I couldn’t see any blood, but he wouldn’t look so stricken if he’d only knocked them out.

The rumble of an engine made my heart leap. A sleek black Camaro with orange and yellow flames across the hood and front quarter panels swung into the alley. I glanced at the front tag.
Etna.
Wasn’t that a volcano in the Mediterranean? I snorted as Rowan climbed out of the driver’s seat. And he accused me of breaking his cover.

James cleared his throat, but before he could speak, an explosion rocked the alley. He sprang into motion, tackling me so quickly, I barely had time to gasp. He pinned me to the asphalt, his body shielding mine. Over his shoulder, I watched the upper story of the shop blow apart. Huge flaming sections of wall spun outward and slammed into the taller building across the alley. Then gravity took over.

I pressed my face into James’s shoulder and squeezed my eyes closed, bracing for impact. No way those chunks of wall could miss us. The breath froze in my lungs as I waited…and waited.

“Come on, let’s go,” Rowan said from above us.

James pulled back and I opened my eyes. Small particles of soot floated to the ground around us. I sat up and found the alley unchanged. No debris. No flames.

“You ashed it,” I said, stunned.

“Yes.” Rowan held my gaze, eyes once more gray. The color of ash.

I’d grossly underestimated the man’s power. Perhaps it was naiveté or, more likely, hubris. I guess they called him the most powerful magic user in the country for good reason.

I got to my feet and looked up. Fire engulfed the top floor of the shop. A plume of black smoke rose skyward, and what structure remained fueled the flames. I stared at what had been my workshop. Three months I’d struggled to pull together a place I could call my own and in a single blast, I lost it all. Again.

“Can you stand?” Rowan offered James a hand.

“Yeah.” James let Rowan help him up, struggling to cover himself in the process.

Rowan helped him to the car and opened the passenger door. “There’s a gym bag on the back floor. Help yourself.”

James muttered his thanks and climbed inside.

Rowan turned to face me, his body between me and the passenger seat. “The vial.” He held out a hand. “In your pocket.”

His request confused me until I remembered the vial I’d threatened him with in the shop. I pulled it from my front pocket and placed it in his hand.

“It’s chicory root extract.”

“Any more?” he asked.

“No, that’s all.” It was my only vial of chicory extract.

“Any other
potions
?”

I looked up, surprised that he’d caught my subterfuge.

A slim orange ring encircled his pupils. “Shall I check?”

“You could?” I asked, more intrigued than afraid.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Your call.”

I pulled a couple of tubes of Knockout Powder from my back pocket and handed them to him. “That’s it. Had I known you were coming, I would have been better prepared.”

“Next time, I’ll call ahead.” He stepped aside. “Get in. We need to go.” He hit a button on his key fob and the trunk popped open.

I watched him set my pack inside. “Cocky son of a—” I muttered as I slid into the passenger seat.

“Addie.” James leaned forward to grip my arm. “I’m whipped and it’s not safe here. Whatever his intentions, I don’t think he’ll hurt you.”

I wasn’t concerned—not about me. As for James, the magical tended to take care of their own. I glanced back at him. He’d donned a black Under Armor shirt and a pair of sweats. The fit and color emphasized how thin and pale he was.

He stared out the windshield, his eyes on the flames.

“Your brothers,” I whispered. Had they been inside when the building went up? We’d have to go check—

“They’re all safe.” His eyes glowed faintly, just as they had when he’d surveyed the Element’s office the night we broke in. The time he’d been able to tell me how many people were inside.

“You don’t hear them; you see them.”

Rowan closed the trunk with a thump. Sirens wailed in the distance.

James glanced at me and then dropped his eyes. “Later.”

Rowan slid in behind the wheel. “Buckle up.”

“Are you a bad driver?” I asked.

He revved the engine and dropped it into reverse without warning. The force threw me forward against the dash until he squealed to a stop. Jerk. He glanced over with that smug smile curling to his lips. Without comment, he shoved the stick shift into first gear and raised a brow.

I reached for my seatbelt and snapped it on. “Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” I muttered.

Rowan chuckled and hit the accelerator.

Chapter
7

I
tapped my fingers on the
armrest as Rowan dialed another number on his cell phone. We were already half an hour west of town. I began to fear we’d arrive in Cincinnati before the man got off the phone.

He’d made several calls, though I learned little from them. Most of the time, he listened rather than spoke. When he did speak, he gave a few terse commands and then moved on to the next call.

“I ran into some trouble,” Rowan began his newest conversation. “I’m going to be late.”

I resisted the urge to glance over. Instead, I quieted my breathing, trying to hear the other side of the conversation.

“No, no, it’s fine. Don’t reschedule,” Rowan said. “I’ll be there.”

I caught the rumble of a deep male voice, but I couldn’t make out the words.

“Late tonight,” Rowan answered. “Well enough,” he added. “Do me a favor. Call Waylon and find out if he had anything going in Portsmouth today.”

I did glance over on that one. Rowan frowned at the slow-moving logging truck ahead of us, but I suspected the truck wasn’t the reason for the frown.

“No,” he said. “I have the alchemist.” He gave me a quick glance. “And she’s listening to everything I say.”

I crossed my arms. What was I supposed to do? Plug my ears and hum? If he wanted to conduct sensitive phone calls, he shouldn’t do it with me in the car.

Rowan suddenly laughed. “You have no idea.”

I frowned, certain his laughter had been at my expense. He didn’t look at me, but continued to smile while he listened.

“Yes,” he said. “You know the drill.” His smile faded. “And one more thing, I want to see Marian.”

A pause.

“Yes, yes. She can predict my death all she likes, but I need her opinion.”

My brows rose, but he kept his attention on the road.

He chuckled. “That’s why you’re the man, my friend. Make it happen.” He took the phone from his ear and hit end.

“Someone threatening you?” I asked. Who’d be crazy enough to do that—aside from me?

He glanced over. “No, not like that. Marian is a seer. Ever met one?”

Maybe? “No,” I said aloud.

“They love to tell you when you’re going to die.”

“So, when will I be rid of you?”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “I’m supposed to meet death this fall.”

“Ah. Well, before you keel over, you mind telling me why you drove all the way to Portsmouth to kidnap us?”

“It was not my intention to abduct you—unless you couldn’t be reasoned with.” He looked back over his left shoulder before changing lanes. “It seemed in your best interest to get out of town.”

“How thoughtful of you to rescue us.”

He ignored my comment. “And men dressed in the same fashion tried to take you from the Alchemica?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” He glanced over, our eyes meeting for a moment before he turned back to the road.

“I don’t know.” I wished I did.

“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“So, you’ll let them hunt you down and destroy your next lab?”

I hadn’t stopped to think about it, but he did have a point. My instincts to lie low after the Alchemica’s destruction had been accurate. I had to assume they’d come after me again. But why did they want me?

“I’m not lying to you,” I said. “I don’t know why they want me. But I can take care of myself. Take us back to Portsmouth—”

“I can’t do that. You know too much about me.”

“So you’re immortal. Big deal.”

“You also know my name and face.”

And how he kissed. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to mention that.

“Plus there’s the boy,” he continued. “I need to make certain you’re not controlling him as you did me.”

I snorted. “You hear that, James?” I turned to look in the back seat. James slumped in one corner, his long legs stretched across the leather seat, his eyes closed. He still looked unnaturally pale.

“James?” When he didn’t respond, I unhooked my belt and climbed into the back seat. It wasn’t easy in the tight confines of the sports car, but I managed. Being small is sometimes a good thing.

I touched my fingers to his cheek and found his skin chilled. A blue tinge colored the nails of the hand resting on his stomach. But his chest rose and fell in a slow, regular rhythm.

“He’s freezing,” I told Rowan. “Turn up the heat.”

“I’d rather not.”

I met his eyes in the rear view mirror. “You’re an ass.”

“When the situation warrants.” He slowed the car and pulled off onto a narrow side road. A few winding turns later, he stopped the Camaro in a wide gravel berm.

“What are you doing?” I gripped James’s cool hand, wishing he’d wake up.

“You said the boy was cold.” Rowan set the parking brake and opened the door. “Is his magic new to him?”

“How is that pertinent?”

“Sometimes there’s an adjustment period. How old is he?”

I wanted to tell him none of his business, but that would be foolish. This guy knew magic like I never could. “Eighteen.”

Rowan grunted. “A little old for it to be new. Magic often manifests at puberty. If it’s going to kill you, it’ll do it then. Your friend has been living with this for several years—if he wasn’t born with it.”

Before I could question him, he was out of the car and rummaging through the trunk.

The car idled, a soft rumble beneath my feet. I eyed the empty driver’s seat and glanced behind me through the back glass. The trunk lid obscured my view, but the soft thumps indicated that Rowan was still rooting around back there.

I sprang forward, squeezing between the front seats, and dropped into the driver’s seat. I didn’t have time to adjust the seat. Sliding up until my butt rested on the edge, I gripped the wheel and shoved in the clutch. I had to extend my leg until the tip of my toe depressed the petal. Clinging to the wheel, I pushed the gearshift into first and released the parking break.

Gravel flew as I hit the gas. My opposite foot slipped off the clutch and the car lunged forward. I wrapped my arms around the wheel to keep the momentum from slinging me back into the seat. Somehow I managed not to kill the engine.

The car fishtailed a little on the loose gravel, but I kept my foot on the gas, angling for the road at the far end of the berm.

Suddenly, the back end dropped on the left side, the undercarriage dragging the ground. Had I hit a pothole? The car continued to spin out, slinging me to the side. My foot slipped off the gas, and it was all I could do to cling to the wheel.

The car rolled to a stop, and I scooted forward, reaching for the gas as the engine sputtered and died. For a moment, the only sound was my rapid breathing, then the driver’s door flew open.

“Out!” Rowan commanded.

I released the wheel and slid back. Damn. I’d almost made it. Perhaps I should have taken a moment to adjust the seat then I wouldn’t have lost control.

Rowan stepped back as I climbed out. A muscle ticked in his jaw and fire burned in his eyes, literally.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He enunciated each word, the tension keeping the words short and clipped.

I raised my chin, refusing to back down. “Did you think I’d sit back and let you kidnap us?”

“I’m not kidnapping you.”

“I’m not a willing passenger on this road trip. How would you describe it?”

He stepped forward, keeping me backed against the side of the car. “I—”

A thump sounded on the far side of the car and the passenger door opened.

Rowan shifted to the side, keeping both me and the door in view.

James rose to his feet. “Addie? What’s wrong?”

I released a breath, relieved that he was better, but didn’t immediately answer.

He circled around the back of the car. “Oh.” His attention focused at my feet, and I looked down. The back wheel was missing—or the tire was. The rim was buried several inches in the gravel, a long rut trailing behind it.

I looked up at Rowan. “You ashed the tire?”

“Would you have preferred the gas?” Rowan leaned in the driver’s side and pulled out the keys. “You’d better hope the spare has air in it.”

“What happened?” James asked.

“She tried to steal my car.”

“Borrow.” After all, I hadn’t intended to keep it.

“Seriously?” James asked.

A final glare from Rowan and he went to dig out the spare.

James watched him go before turning to me. “You stole his car?” He slumped against the fender, his complexion still too pale.

“Are you all right?” I asked. “You were so cold earlier that your nails were blue.”

James glanced toward the trunk and the racket Rowan was making. He pushed off the side of the car. “I just need some air.” He didn’t wait for a response before walking off into the trees.

“James?” I called after him, but he didn’t answer.

Rowan dropped the jack in the gravel by the back wheel. “Is he okay?”

After the anger, his concern surprised me. “I don’t know. He didn’t look so good. What if he’s sick?”

“Of course he’s sick. Taking life is never easy, even in self defense.” He squatted beside the wheel and began wiggling the jack into position. “I wish I’d realized his intent. I would have stopped him.”

I almost asked how and caught myself. Rowan didn’t know what James was, and it wasn’t my place to reveal it. I took another approach. “Is that why you didn’t kill those men?”

“Burning is a terrible way to die.”

Something in his tone suggested a story, but I didn’t know him well enough to ask.

“Usually, the threat is enough. Often my title restores order before a confrontation is necessary.” The arrogance had crept back into his tone. “Unfortunately, that option wasn’t open to me.”

I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t peg you as a pacifist.”

He didn’t look up, but I caught his frown. “I’m far from a pacifist.”

“Right. You did track me halfway across the state. Did I shame you that much?”

“No, alchemist. You’re a pain in the ass, but at least you have the courage to face me rather than go after…” He stopped. “Nevermind.”

“What happened? Did somebody hurt someone you care about?” I didn’t think he had any children, but I wasn’t certain.

“It’s none of your concern. Why don’t you stop prying and go check on the boy. This won’t take long.”

Prying? What an asshole. I gritted my teeth and bit back what I really wanted to say. Instead I spun on my heel and marched away.

I found James down by a small creek a short walk from the Camaro. Or rather, he found me. I jumped when he stepped out of the trees to my right.

“Sorry,” he said. “Does Rowan need help?”

“Nah. I’m sure he can just command the spare to jump on the car.” I walked over and plopped down on a log beside the stream. “Self-absorbed jerk.”

James walked over, but didn’t sit beside me. Instead, he sat on the ground at my feet. “You really don’t like the guy.” He braced an elbow on the log and looked up at me.

“I
really
don’t like the guy,” I agreed.

James frowned.

“But that doesn’t mean you have to dislike him.” It wouldn’t please me, but it wasn’t my place to pick his friends. “After all, you’re magical, and he leads the magical community.”

His brow wrinkled, but not in anger. He pulled his elbow from the log and leaned back beside my knees. “He doesn’t know what I am, just that I can…take life if I choose.”

I could tell his thoughts had returned to the alley behind the shop. “They were shooting at us. You acted in self-defense.”

“Very little can harm me, and Rowan had you. I knew that and still…”

I leaned forward and gripped his shoulder. “It’s okay.” I gave him a squeeze.

“No, it’s not. I ripped their souls from their bodies.”

“What?” Did he mean that literally? I remembered the bodies. No blood. No obvious injury.

“I tore out their souls and took them to hell,” he whispered.

A chill slid up my spine, but I forced myself to keep my hand on his shoulder. “Actual hell? Fire, brimstone, and all that?”

He pulled away from my hand and spun to face me, his movement so fast that my hand hung in space before I could pull it back. “I’m a hellhound, remember?” A faint glow backlit his green eyes.

I gripped my hands, but held his gaze. If he was testing me, I wasn’t going to fail. His revelation might be terrifying, but he would never be. Not to me.

“You’re also my friend,” I said. “My best friend.”

He dropped his eyes, and I could see how much it cost him to confess this. Time to swallow my shock and roll with another of his revelations. Though, maybe I should have seen this one coming. I leaned forward to grip his shoulder once more. “You probably saved my life—again. How many times does that make?”

“Rowan saved you this time.”

I blew a raspberry. “No way in
hell
will I ever concede that.”

He’d bowed his head, but I still caught a glimpse of a smile. Good.

“Who’s to say you didn’t save me
and
Rowan? What if you hadn’t drawn off their fire and scared them away? Rowan couldn’t catch every bullet.”

He didn’t respond.

“James?”

“It was so easy,” he whispered. “And it…”

“Don’t do this to yourself. Please? You’re a good person. If you weren’t, this wouldn’t bother you.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m right, you know. I’m always right.”

He snorted. “Except when you’re wrong.”

I mussed his hair. “Watch it, Fido.” He didn’t deserve this. “Why couldn’t one of your worthless brothers end up with this curse?”

He looked up. “Maybe because they wouldn’t view it as a curse.”

“Yeah, punish you for being the conscientious one.”

“Nice guys finish last.”

“You could apprentice yourself to Rowan. He does jerk with such class.”

James smiled and without warning, rose up on his knees and wrapped me in a hug. “Thanks,” he whispered close to my ear. “You ground me.”

Before I could return the hug, he released me and got to his feet. “I’ll go help Rowan with the tire.” He started to turn away, then stopped. “It’d be best if we don’t tell him what I am.”