The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula Series, Book 2) by Becca Andre Read Free Book Online Page B

fell.
    “She’s not doing well, Miss.” Marlowe rung his hands, glancing from me to where Era paced behind the limo. Even from the distance, I could see the bloodstain around the quarrel had grown. That concerned me. Shouldn’t her rapid healing slow the bleeding? Or did she keep aggravating the wound? I needed to quiet her to give me a chance to dilute Emil’s potion for her.
    “What happened to her before,” Marlowe said, his voice a whisper, “is it happening again?”
    “No. She’s just freaking out. I’ll take care of it.”
    I rushed back inside, returning to my rack of formulas. I selected a vial of Knockout Powder and a second vial of lime-green liquid—the antidote for the Knockout Powder. I removed the cap and downed the liquid.
    “Rowan’s on his way over,” I called, heading for the back door. “Stay alert.”
    “I can’t leave this.” Intent on his work, Ian didn’t look up. “Keep him outside.”
    I huffed out a breath and headed for the back door. Anything to complicate my life.
    No one had moved in my brief absence. Marlowe still waited on the stoop, his expression anxious as he watched Era pace. I didn’t stop to reassure him.
    I hurried down the steps and popped off the vial cap with my thumb. With the way she was acting, I might have to move fast.
    “Era?” I stepped into her path. “You’re making the bleeding worse. Let’s get back in the car.”
    She skidded to a stop, her wide amber eyes on the vial in my hand. “An alchemist. It was an alchemist.”
    My blood ran cold. Did she remember?
    Abruptly, she turned and ran.
    “Era!” I sprang after her. Once she got moving, I’d never catch her. She had at least seven inches on me. Those long legs would outdistance me in no time.
    Era glanced back over her shoulder just as her foot hit a patch of oil and slipped out from under her. She slammed into the back of the limo and cried out when the impact drove the quarrel deeper.
    I gripped her arm, intent on pulling her around to face me so I could throw the powder in her face.
    “No!” She grabbed me by the upper arms, and before I could react, slammed me against the alley wall a few feet from the car. Her fingers dug into my biceps. “I’m not going back.”
    Her eyes darted to either side and her grip loosened. She was about to run.
    Freed of her grip, I flicked the vial upward and the powder hit her in the face.
    Tires squealed behind me, and I spun to face the sound. Rowan’s Camaro slid to a stop beside the limo. The driver’s door flew open.
    “Stay back!” I shouted at him. “It’s Knockout Powder!”
    Era gasped, jerking my attention back to her. She doubled over, her grip so tight I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out. She started to fall, but I caught her. My back groaned as I struggled to keep her from landing face down on the quarrel.
    Fire ignited the world around us, burning away the powder. Suddenly, Rowan was there, catching her around the waist and keeping her upright.
    “Era,” he whispered.
    She lifted her chin to stare up at him, then her eyes rolled back and she went limp in his arms.
    Rowan’s attention shifted to me. “You hit her with Knockout Powder?” Fire still burned in his eyes.
    “She was losing it. I was afraid she’d hurt herself.”
    Rowan grunted and lifted Era in his arms. “Marlowe!” His sudden shout caused me to jump. “Help me get her in the car,” Rowan said when Marlowe joined him. “We’ll take her to the clinic and get the quarrel removed.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The two men gently loaded Era into the back seat, careful not to jostle the quarrel.
    Rowan straightened and pulled out his cellphone. “Go ahead,” he told Marlowe. “I’ll have Donovan meet you there.”
    Marlowe nodded and hurried to climb in the car. I retreated to the steps while he backed out.
    Rowan spent a few minutes making calls before he finally hung up and turned a frown on me. “What happened?”
    “I told you what happened. James’s