The Alchemist's Flame (15 page)

She studied me for one long moment, then abruptly wrapped me in a hug. “Thank you, Addie.”

James moved away from us. A shimmer of darkness, and he was the hellhound.

“I guess he’s ready to go,” Elysia said.

He walked to her, then rubbed his ribs against her hip like a cat would. A really big cat.

I snorted. “What was that?”

“Agreement?” Elysia said.

“Does he purr when you rub his belly?”

Elysia laughed. “I don’t know. I haven’t tried.”

I twitched a brow.

The portal whispered open, and James jumped through, one clawed hand reaching back to hold it open.

Behave, Addie.

“Like that’s going to happen.”

Elysia gave me a smile then stepped through the portal.

Shaking my head, I headed for the lobby.

Colby was moody and withdrawn on the way to the Offices. I suspected he wasn’t happy about his failure on his first bodyguard assignment. He leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Just enjoying the silence.”

I frowned. “Are you suggesting I continue it.”

He leaned up to look at me. “No, I meant the magical silence. I can truly relax.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry, Cole, but I can’t make the X Dust permanent.”

“You mean you won’t.”

“Yes.”

He frowned and turned his attention to the passing scenery.

“Cole—”

“Save it. I don’t want to hear about how the world needs me.”

“Well, it’s true, whether you want to hear about it or not.”

He didn’t respond, so I let it go. I would try to talk to him later when he wasn’t as upset. We arrived at the Offices a short time later. Marlowe circled the block to take the service entrance. He parked near the back door and Cole was out of the car before it even stopped moving. I sighed and slid out after him.

Marlowe arrived to hold the door as I got to my feet. I glanced at the limo. It looked like a delivery van.

I smiled at the clever illusion. “Thanks, Marlowe.”

“It was no trouble, ma’am.”

I hadn’t been in the kitchen here at the Offices much since the first night I had snuck in the building and ended up kissing Rowan. Smiling to myself, I hurried across the room, dodging a couple of liveried servants carrying trays of empty coffee cups.

Once in the hall, I debated between heading up to Rowan’s office or the library. He could be in either place. I decided to try the library and stepped into the main hall—nearly colliding with the man himself.

“Hey!” I almost said his name and stopped myself. Rowan’s hood was up and he wasn’t alone. The older man looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

“Good timing,” Rowan said. “Miss Daulton, I don’t believe you’ve met Dr. Steadham.”

I offered my hand, but it wasn’t until his hand gripped mine that I remembered why he looked familiar. I had seen his picture in the paper this mooring. Dr. Craig Steadham. The new director of the Burn Unit.

“Miss Daulton,” he said, his tone and expression neutral.

“Dr. Steadham was kind enough to take time out of his busy day to meet with me,” Rowan continued. “He’s intrigued by the work you’ve done in developing new burn treatments.”

“Is he?” Not that his interest was in any way connected to the possibility of needing such treatment himself if he hadn’t shown up at Rowan’s request.

“Indeed, I am,” Steadham answered. He folded his hands before him, the pose stiff and his knuckles white. Did his tension represent fear or fury?

“I suggested you provide a demonstration,” Rowan continued. “He’s only recently transferred to Cincinnati and has yet to witness what you can do.”

“I would be delighted.” I smiled, trying to hide my frustration with Rowan.

“Well, let me walk the good doctor out, then you can relay your purpose for this visit,” Rowan said to me.

“Thank you, Your Grace.” I nodded to Steadham. “Nice meeting you.”

“Likewise.” A muscle ticked in his jaw before he turned and followed Rowan down the hall.

I turned on my heel and jogged up the steps to the second floor and Rowan’s small office. Somewhere private where I could scream at him. Damn it. Hadn’t I told him
not
to take care of this problem?

I paced as best I could in the small space, growing more annoyed with each passing minute. When he finally arrived, I had already considered and discarded a half-dozen arguments.

Rowan closed the door and pushed back his hood. “I see you’re not happy.”

“No, I’m not.”

He circled his desk and settled into his chair with a sigh. “It’s imperative that your work be allowed to continue. If that means I have to play the Flame Lord card, so be it.” He picked up a manila envelope from the stack on his inbox and stopped to read a sticky note stuck to the cover. Did he think this argument was over?

“I agree that my work needs to continue, but I want to earn that right on my own.”

“You’ve already proven that you can do it.” He opened the folder and began flipping through the pages. “This is simple bureaucratic red tape. Much like this.” He picked up a pen and scratched his name across the bottom of the document. I was close enough to see that he had written
Flame Lord
. Even on paper, he kept his identity secret.

“Don’t tell Cora I didn’t actually read this.” He flipped the page and signed another line. “Contrary to what she thinks, it’s a waste of time. I trust her not to give me something I wouldn’t want to sign. Besides, she’s the one with the law degree.”

“Seriously?”

He looked up. “You didn’t know that?”

“No. But I can see that. She’s certainly a straight-shooting, take-no-shit-from-anyone kind of person.”

“True.” He studied me. “Addie, I want you to keep healing people, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. I’m sorry you don’t approve of how I handled it.”

“You basically went behind my back. I wouldn’t have even met Steadham if I hadn’t shown up when I did.”

He frowned. “It wasn’t my intention to do this without your knowledge. You were busy, so I thought I could take care of this.”

“You’re taking all the fun out of this argument.”

He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Sorry.”

I sighed. “I want to show the world what an alchemist can do.”

“You have.”

“No, the world is only interested in what the Flame Lord’s girlfriend can do.”

Rowan rose to his feet and walked over to me. “So? Use it. This isn’t about your pride, this is about helping people.”

I gave him my back and walked to his desk, trying to find a way to argue that didn’t make me sound like a conceited ass, more interested in her own reputation than the good of others.

“Or do you not want to be the Flame Lord’s girlfriend?” Rowan stopped behind me.

I turned to face him, noting the slim band of color around his pupils. Rowan was all about control and confidence. These little glimpses of insecurity took me by surprise every time. “I very much want to be the Flame Lord’s girlfriend.”

“Good.” His hands settled on my hips.

“But I also want to be Addie Daulton, master alchemist.”

“I don’t have a problem with that.”

“I know you don’t.” I still remembered how he had praised me to those reporters.

“So, how do I fix this?”

“
You
can’t. I have to do this on my own.”

He frowned, his eyes holding mine. “Okay. I won’t follow up with Steadham. I’ll leave it up to you to secure the contract.”

I stared at him, unable to believe that he had given in so easily. “But this means so much to you.”

“I know, I trust you.”

Words failed me.

“Addie?”

“If you’re trying to get in my good graces, it worked.”

Rowan smiled. “Well, that wasn’t my intent, but I’ll take it.” He pulled me closer.

I rested my hands against his chest. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be perusing that document?”

He glanced over my shoulder at his desk and his lips curled. Without comment, he wrapped his hands around my waist and lifted me up to sit on the edge of his desk. “I would rather be perusing you.” The fire stretched deeper into the gray of his irises as he released more of his control.

I snorted. “How does that work?”

“Beats me. If I’m going to come up with good innuendo, you need to give me more to work with.”

“And how do I make reading legal documents sexy?” I looped my arms around his shoulders. “Hey, baby, let’s get naked and read each other some legalese. Or is that Cora’s thing?”

“Don’t know, don’t want to know. Let’s go back to the ‘Let’s get naked’ line.”

I snorted, remembering his “Too much clothing” comment from last night. “Someone has a one track mind.”

“Yes.” He leaned down and kissed me.

Oh God, I loved kissing this man.

He pushed closer, standing between my knees, and deepened the kiss. I tightened my arms around his shoulders as he leaned me back over the desk. He braced a hand against the surface and reached down to grip my leg just above the knee, then tugged me to him, lining up our lower bodies.

I released his shoulders and reclined against the surface of the desk, arching my back as he moved against me. Papers crinkled and I bit back a laugh. Would Cora be appalled to see what he was actually doing with her documents?

I glanced down, thinking to ask him, and found him watching me, eyes on full glow. Gold crackled through his orange irises like actual flame. He slid his hand up over my body, and I swore I felt the heat of his palm through my clothes. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back, the cords in his neck standing out in sharp relief.

Without warning, his office door banged open. I scooted away with a gasp. Had Gavin followed me here?

Rowan whirled to face the threat and the air around us exploded in blue-white flame.

Chapter
15

B
lue-white flames encircled us, forming a protective barrier and blocking my view. I slipped a finger into the front pocket of my jeans and pulled out a vial of alchemical mustard gas.

“What the bloody hell?” an accented voice demanded.

The flames vanished, and I could see David standing on the threshold.

“Exactly,” Rowan said, his voice low and dangerous. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I thought it was the boy. I thought he had lost it.” David was just as angry. “You
let
yourself get that far out of control?”

“Out of control?” Rowan demanded. “I was nowhere near out of control.”

I slid off the desk and hurried to step between them. “Thanks for your concern,” I said to David. “But everything is fine here.” I gestured at the open door behind him.

“Everything is not fine here. He was
in
you. Hell, he was in most of this upper floor. Do you understand what that means?”

“Yes.” I held his gaze. It meant that Rowan could ignite the whole top floor, me included.

David shifted his frown to Rowan. “That is not control.”

“How would you know?” Rowan took a step toward him. “I would rather feel than lock myself down like that.”

David calmly met Rowan’s glowing gaze, his cool blue eyes giving no hint of any emotion he might be feeling. “Then you will pay the price. Again.” He walked to the open door, but hesitated on the threshold. “You do the boy a disservice. Next time, he will take the plane out of the air, and those deaths will be on your head, as well.” He turned on his heel and left the room.

“Shall I chase him down and kick his ass?” I asked.

“No.” Rowan’s tone was subdued.

Concerned, I closed the door and faced him. “The pompous ass doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Actually, he does.” Rowan turned away and walked around his desk to drop into his chair. He braced his elbows on the desktop and covered his face with his hands.

Unease gripped my stomach. “Rowan?” I circled the desk to join him.

“He was right; I was in you.” He lowered his hands and looked up at me. “I shouldn’t let that happen.”

I touched his cheek. “I trust you. Besides, I like it when you’re in me.”

The corner of his mouth twitched upward.

“I’m a bit better with the innuendo.” I winked.

“Maybe I gave you more to work with.”

“Are you inviting me to slide in that chair with you?”

His expression sobered. “I’m probably going to need a few minutes.”

I grew serious, as well. “That’s fine. All you have to do is tell me. I could do with a cold shower myself.”

He chuckled and leaned back in his chair. He looked so tired.

“But I’ll settle for a glass of cold water.” I hooked a thumb toward the door. “You want me to bring you some?”

“No, I’m good.” He closed his glowing eyes.

I watched him a moment, my concern growing. “Okay, I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

“Thank you.”

I let myself out of the room, then slumped against the closed door. That was twice now that I had heard another Fire Element criticize Rowan on his control. Was there more to this than I realized?

A clink of what sounded like china echoed out of the stairwell, and a moment later, Cora emerged, a cup and saucer in each hand. I suppressed a groan.

“Since when does a Brit turn down a cup of tea?” she muttered, then looked up and saw me. Her eyes narrowed. “Let me guess. You’re the reason David’s pissed off.”

“Not directly.”

“That’s a first.” She stopped in front of me. “Well, open the door so I can offer Rowan some tea.”

“He’s cooling down.”

Cora eyed me a moment, then walked to the open door across the hall. “Come talk to me.”

Great. I pushed off Rowan’s door and followed her into what I assumed was her office. It was certainly neat enough to be. Nothing but a blotter, a letter tray, and pen caddy occupied the wide desk. Bookshelves lined every wall, loaded with thick hardbacks that I suspected were law books.

“Close the door and have a seat.” She circled around behind the desk and set the cups on the blotter.

I wanted to protest at the commands, but bit my tongue and did as I was told. It would mess up her neat office if she killed me in here, so I should be safe.

She settled in her dark blue chair and waited until I dropped into one of the color-coordinated floral chairs across the desk from her. She folded her hands on the blotter and studied me.

“Do Era and Donovan have offices, too?” I asked, not caring for her scrutiny.

“They do, but Donovan is not a desk man, and Era…”

I tensed. Oh shit, why did I go there?

“…has been away at college,” Cora finished.

I released a quiet breath. “Right.”

“So David,” she began.

“Is an ass.”

“Well, yes, but I’ve rarely seen him emotional.”

“He has control issues. Specifically issues with other people’s control. Namely, Rowan’s.”

“David and Rowan have different philosophies about how to handle their Element.”

“I gathered that, but…” How did I phrase this?

Her dark brows rose, waiting for me to continue. Lawyer, I reminded myself. She wouldn’t fill the silence with useless chatter; she would let me hang myself. I didn’t want to give her more ammunition, but she was someone who could validate my newest worry.

“Do David’s concerns have merit?” I asked.

“What specifically are his concerns.”

“That Rowan isn’t really in control.”

Cora frowned.

“The other night, Colby questioned Rowan on the same thing.”

“In what way?”

“They both accused Rowan of being
in
the things around him, and when I asked, Rowan told me they were right.”

Cora glanced toward her closed door, her brow wrinkling in genuine concern.

My pulse surged once more. “This is bad, isn’t it?” I whispered.

Her attention returned to me. “In the early years, Rowan would have put David’s icy demeanor to shame. Then we found Era.” She smiled at the memory. “Raising a child tends to thaw a person. But it wasn’t until this past fall that he really began to let go.”

This past fall, when he met… “Me.”

“Yes.”

I pushed up out of my chair, then paced to the door and back as I struggled to find an outlet for the anxiety that had seized me. “None of this was ever my intent,” I told her. “All I wanted was to find out what happened to the Alchemica, and to me.”

Cora watched me with those eyes of multi-hued blue, but again said nothing.

“And all the crap that happened after that, it might have been
because
of me, but I didn’t instigate it.”

“You slept with him.”

My cheeks warmed. “I didn’t instigate that, either.”

“I doubt that.”

“You think I seduced him?” I wanted to laugh. “Do I look like a seductress?”

Cora frowned. “You’re attractive, but artless. Perhaps it was alchemical?”

I growled at the ceiling before I got control of myself once more. “To what purpose? What has his attention given me?”

“A job?”

“I didn’t ask him for a job. It was his suggestion that I work for the hospital. I’m an Alchemica alchemist. Would I have thought of that on my own?” I might as well play to what she thought of me. “And every time I turn around, someone calls me the Flame Lord’s alchemist. As if I need his name before mine to prove myself.”

She snorted. “True. That would wound your pride.”

“I’m so glad you understand.” I didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm. “I don’t care if you believe me, but I am telling you the truth. I didn’t set out to seduce him, but I do care about him,” I finished in a whisper. “I don’t want him hurt. I’ve been racking my brain to find a way to help him.”

“If you care about him, then leave.”

“What?”

“He’s a Fire Element. Emotion will destroy him. It almost destroyed him once before, and I’ve watched it destroy many Fire Elements since. Add to that the sheer chaos that defines your existence, and I don’t expect him to make it to spring.”

“But—”

“Leave him.” She rose to her feet. “That’s the solution if you really want to save him. And look at the plus side, perhaps everyone will stop calling you the Flame Lord’s alchemist.”

“You’re a bitch, you know that?”

“Perhaps, but he’s my brother. I care about him far more than you ever could.”

I held her gaze, but didn’t respond. I recognized a losing battle when I saw one. Plus, I now knew why Cora hated me. It wasn’t because of what I had done to Era; it was the potential I had to take Rowan away from her, permanently. The worst part was that I was starting to wonder if she was right.

“This isn’t a contest,” I told her and left the room.

There was no one in the hall, and Rowan appeared to still be in his office. For that, I was grateful. I needed time to think, and the best place to do that was the lab. I stopped at the head of the stairs and pulled out my phone. I glanced at Rowan’s door. I really needed to tell him about what had happened at the morgue, and about my concerns regarding Colby, but not now. Rowan needed a quiet moment.

I selected the lab’s number from my contacts list. “Hey, Ian,” I said when he answered the phone. “I’m at the Elemental Offices. Want to come get me?”

“Yes, the foundation for Elysia’s cure is prepared.”

Good, she had spoken with him. “Perfect.”

“I kept it warm, expecting His Grace to bring you home.”

“He has things to do.”

“Let me turn off the gas and I’ll be right over.”

I thanked him, ended the call, and headed downstairs. A hum of excitement tingled through my veins. If I could get the azoth to work consistently, I was well on my way to stopping Neil. I reached the bottom of the stairs and turned toward the library. The last time Ian had shown up at the Elemental Offices—unexpectedly—he had appeared in the library. I assumed that was where he would come now.

A crash sounded, followed by the sound of raised voices. Oh crap. I had forgotten all about David being here. I broke into a run.

The doors to the library stood open a few inches, letting the voices out, but not enough for me to see into the room. I shoved open the door and found what I expected. David and Sebastien were on their feet, facing Ian. An overturned chair lay beside the table. The cause of the crash I had heard?

“I can’t,” Sebastien was saying. “He contains no water.”

“That’s because he’s dead,” I said, joining them.

Sebastien turned with a gasp, then visibly relaxed when he realized it was me. David simply regarded me with that same cool expression.

“Sorry,” I said to Ian. “I forgot the room was occupied.”

He straightened the waistcoat he wore beneath the dark coat. “No harm done.”

“What do you mean, he’s dead?” Sebastien asked.

“Just that. He’s a lich,” I answered.

“Lich king,” Ian clarified.

I smiled. “Undead necromancer,” I added for clarification. “He’s also my lab partner, and my ride.”

“Your ride?” Sebastien asked. “How—”

Did I hear footsteps on the stairs?

“Rowan can explain it.” I gave him a smile. “Gotta run.”

I gave Ian a nod and the portal whispered open. A few steps later, the Offices were behind me.

“That was rather abrupt,” Ian said.

“It’s been a long day. I just want to get back to the lab.”

“Your wish, my command.” The portal opened in our lab.

“Thanks, Ian.” I stepped through and stopped.

James looked up from the test tube he was rotating in an open flame and gave me a grin.

Elysia sat on a stool a few feet away. “That took a while.”

“Sorry. The new burn unit director was there.” I shrugged off my coat and walked over to the rack to exchange it for my lab coat.

“How did that go?”

“It’ll work out.”

Ian returned to the workbench carrying a first-aid kit and set it on the counter before me. “You figured it out.” The azoth.

“Yes.” I kept my tone confident, refusing to let any doubt creep in. “Ironically, it was something Doug Nelson said that provided the epiphany.”

“Nice that the bastard is good for something.”

Elysia snorted and I glanced over. She never reacted favorably to anything Ian said.

“That’s Grams’s pet name for him.”

“Grams sounds like a fine woman,” Ian said, his words soft as if he feared to anger her by speaking.

“She is,” Elysia agreed.

Ian popped open the first-aid kit and withdrew an alcohol swab.

“You have to cut yourself again?” Elysia asked, her brow wrinkling in concern.

“It’s no big deal. I heal fast.”

“Why are you cutting yourself?” James asked. He hadn’t been here this morning.

“It’s a new skill.”

Ian cleaned a small lab knife with the alcohol wipe then laid both on a clean paper towel before me.

“Give me a minute and I’ll explain.” I closed my eyes and focused on what I wanted to do. What I wanted my blood to do. I thought about Elysia and the good person she was. How I wanted to make her whole. My mind drifted back to this morning, watching her and James transfer the contents of those heavy skillets to serving bowls. They had stood close, comfortable with each other, content to work together to accomplish a simple domestic task. And I heard Doug’s words.
She loves him—whether she realizes it or not
.

I opened my eyes and picked up the lab knife. Keeping myself centered, my thoughts on the problem at hand, I nicked my left ring finger.

Ian picked up a vial of translucent, mint green liquid, and I held my finger over the open mouth. A single crimson drop fell into the vial, the thick droplet falling through the green liquid to the bottom of the vial. Ian capped the vial and shook it while I wrapped a tissue around my fingertip.

“Here.” Elysia selected a bandage and ripped it open.

I smiled and wordlessly watched her bind my minor wound.

Ian set the vial on the counter before us, the faint clink loud in the silence.

I offered the vial to Elysia, but when she wrapped her hand around it, I didn’t immediately let go. “You truly mean him no harm,” I whispered.

“No harm will come to him,” she whispered. “And I will Make anyone who tries.” Her white eyes bore into my own.

I smiled, then released the vial.

She pulled off the cap and, without hesitation, drank it down. Setting the empty vial on the counter, she bent over and gripped her knees.

James walked around the end of the counter and placed a hand on her back. No one spoke. I suspected we were all holding our breath.

Elysia straightened. Her golden-brown eyes met mine and a grin curled her lips. Before I could ask, she pulled me into a tight hug.