along, alchemist. Give me the tour.”
I glared at his back, but followed him to the gate. Maybe I’d pop a button or two off his expensive shirt.
James raised a brow in question, but I didn’t respond. Busy cuffing my sleeves, I jumped in surprise as the chain and heavy lock slid to the ground with a thunk. Rowan had vaporized a link of the chain. Without comment, he pushed open the gate and walked inside.
I glanced over at James, but he just shrugged. I guess I shouldn’t be too concerned. Since the building’s destruction had been deemed a laboratory accident and not arson, the site wasn’t off-limits for legal reasons. It was locked up for safety reasons—or to protect the earth-moving equipment from vandalism. Besides, Rowan was the Lord of Flames. He could probably do as he pleased.
We gave Rowan a quick tour, stepping carefully through the debris. Broken masonry shifted underfoot, stirring up the scent of damp cinders. We showed him the basement location of the labs with respect to the far more damaged auditorium. He showed us where he and the other Elements had been standing. They’d been close. Very close.
“We were set up,” Rowan said. “It was a bomb.” He stood frowning at the hole in the auditorium floor. I hadn’t noticed it during our last visit, but in the bright sunlight, it did appear to be the epicenter of an explosion. The walls closest to the hole had been blown outward. No basement lay beneath this side of the building, only a crawl space. A good place to plant a bomb.
“You’re sure?” I asked.
“It wasn’t the lab and it wasn’t me. What do you think?”
I stared at the blackened hole in the scattered remains of the hardwood floor. My Grand Master had invited the Elements.
“It couldn’t have been Emil. This place was his dream.”
“It does seem unlikely that he would destroy it,” Rowan said. “It’s also possible that the invitation I received wasn’t from your Grand Master. Someone else wanted to take out both problems with one bomb.”
“The ones who tried to kidnap you,” James said to me.
“But they were caught in the explosion, too.” I hadn’t really thought about that. “Did they forget to synchronize their watches or is there even more going on here?” I rubbed my forehead before looking up at Rowan. “You’re sure it was a bomb?”
“I have experience with what things look like after an explosion.”
“So does Addie.” James flashed me a grin.
I rolled my eyes, though deep down, I was relieved to hear him joking—even if the joke was at my expense.
“I’m sure that’s true,” Rowan said, “but I referred to my doctorate in volcanology. I spent several years in the field before magic returned.”
I couldn’t imagine him stumbling through sulfur fumes and ash on some volcanic mountainside. I tried not to laugh and failed.
“You find that amusing?”
“Please. You’d smudge your loafers.”
Rowan gave me a dark look and walked around to the other side of the crater. His interest in volcanology wasn’t a surprise. It was a common phenomenon for the magical to have had an occupation or hobby similar to their talent prior to magic’s return. Then there were people like James who had some forgotten magic awaken and take a bite out of them.
Rowan continued to study the blast site, and I felt a twinge of guilt for laughing at him. “So, what do you do with that degree now?”
“I used to teach. Now it’s just the occasional guest lecture.”
“Seriously?” I glanced back at his car and the Etna license plate. “The Camaro. It’s a pun on your profession, not your talent.”
“Technically, it’s both.” His attention returned to the crater. “I want a sample.”
“What?” James asked.
“A soil sample. I have a friend who can analyze it for me and determine the type of bomb.”
“Good idea, but that was three months ago,” I said. “It’s hopelessly contaminated now.”
“I’d like to try.” Rowan turned
I glared at his back, but followed him to the gate. Maybe I’d pop a button or two off his expensive shirt.
James raised a brow in question, but I didn’t respond. Busy cuffing my sleeves, I jumped in surprise as the chain and heavy lock slid to the ground with a thunk. Rowan had vaporized a link of the chain. Without comment, he pushed open the gate and walked inside.
I glanced over at James, but he just shrugged. I guess I shouldn’t be too concerned. Since the building’s destruction had been deemed a laboratory accident and not arson, the site wasn’t off-limits for legal reasons. It was locked up for safety reasons—or to protect the earth-moving equipment from vandalism. Besides, Rowan was the Lord of Flames. He could probably do as he pleased.
We gave Rowan a quick tour, stepping carefully through the debris. Broken masonry shifted underfoot, stirring up the scent of damp cinders. We showed him the basement location of the labs with respect to the far more damaged auditorium. He showed us where he and the other Elements had been standing. They’d been close. Very close.
“We were set up,” Rowan said. “It was a bomb.” He stood frowning at the hole in the auditorium floor. I hadn’t noticed it during our last visit, but in the bright sunlight, it did appear to be the epicenter of an explosion. The walls closest to the hole had been blown outward. No basement lay beneath this side of the building, only a crawl space. A good place to plant a bomb.
“You’re sure?” I asked.
“It wasn’t the lab and it wasn’t me. What do you think?”
I stared at the blackened hole in the scattered remains of the hardwood floor. My Grand Master had invited the Elements.
“It couldn’t have been Emil. This place was his dream.”
“It does seem unlikely that he would destroy it,” Rowan said. “It’s also possible that the invitation I received wasn’t from your Grand Master. Someone else wanted to take out both problems with one bomb.”
“The ones who tried to kidnap you,” James said to me.
“But they were caught in the explosion, too.” I hadn’t really thought about that. “Did they forget to synchronize their watches or is there even more going on here?” I rubbed my forehead before looking up at Rowan. “You’re sure it was a bomb?”
“I have experience with what things look like after an explosion.”
“So does Addie.” James flashed me a grin.
I rolled my eyes, though deep down, I was relieved to hear him joking—even if the joke was at my expense.
“I’m sure that’s true,” Rowan said, “but I referred to my doctorate in volcanology. I spent several years in the field before magic returned.”
I couldn’t imagine him stumbling through sulfur fumes and ash on some volcanic mountainside. I tried not to laugh and failed.
“You find that amusing?”
“Please. You’d smudge your loafers.”
Rowan gave me a dark look and walked around to the other side of the crater. His interest in volcanology wasn’t a surprise. It was a common phenomenon for the magical to have had an occupation or hobby similar to their talent prior to magic’s return. Then there were people like James who had some forgotten magic awaken and take a bite out of them.
Rowan continued to study the blast site, and I felt a twinge of guilt for laughing at him. “So, what do you do with that degree now?”
“I used to teach. Now it’s just the occasional guest lecture.”
“Seriously?” I glanced back at his car and the Etna license plate. “The Camaro. It’s a pun on your profession, not your talent.”
“Technically, it’s both.” His attention returned to the crater. “I want a sample.”
“What?” James asked.
“A soil sample. I have a friend who can analyze it for me and determine the type of bomb.”
“Good idea, but that was three months ago,” I said. “It’s hopelessly contaminated now.”
“I’d like to try.” Rowan turned
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