The Catalyst of Corruption (The Final Formula Series, Book 4) Read Free

his brother were identical twins.
    â€œI’d say Lex fathered a fourth daughter.”
    â€œThere was no record of that.”
    â€œAnd the records you found were so accurate?” He did have a point. Alexander had altered the birth certificates of Ian’s three youngest sons making them appear to be his.
    The lich faced him once more.
    â€œPlay along,” I muttered.
    Ian frowned, but didn’t refuse. “Can you prove who you are?” he asked her. “Who were your parents?”
    You named me Psyche, Father. She took a step toward Ian. Did you find a suitable vessel? Shall I try again? She took my uncle’s journal. She waved a hand at Elysia. But I have it memorized.
    â€œWhat—”
    Suddenly, a portal whispered open behind her. A clawed hand reached out and caught her shoulder.
    â€œJames, no!” Ian shouted.
    James had left the portal open, and though the darkness masked him, I could tell by his height that he was in his true form—as he called it. A mesh of hellhound and human, he towered over the lich, his glowing green eyes now on Ian.
    â€œDon’t take her across,” Ian said.
    James released her shoulder, then leapt from the portal, landing on four paws.
    Hellhound! Look out, Father! Psyche pulled a dagger from her belt and lunged at James.
    â€œNo!” Elysia sprang forward and caught her arm. The move did nothing to slow Psyche. Instead, Elysia was pulled off her feet.
    â€œStop!” Elysia shouted.
    This time, Psyche stumbled. She recovered quickly and spun toward Elysia, lifting her dagger.
    A shimmer of darkness, and James was human, yet he moved so fast, I barely followed it. He caught Psyche from behind, seizing her wrist before she could bring the dagger down.
    Release me, dead man.
    James snarled, but did as commanded.
    Psyche still held the dagger aloft, but before she could continue the downward motion, Elysia shoved her bloodied hand into Psyche’s hood. “Do not give him commands.” Elysia’s eyes went white.
    â€œElysia, don’t,” Ian said.
    Elysia spared him a glare. “Back off, Ian.”
    Ian? Psyche’s voice was little more than a whisper. She shoved Elysia away and with a single sidestep, vanished.
    I blinked. “Where did she go?” She hadn’t opened a portal.
    â€œShe’s in the veil,” James said, then shifted into the hellhound.
    Four portals simultaneously opened around the room. For an instant, I thought James was behind it, then four…things ran out, one from each opening. The first was canine, the limbs realigned so it ran on two legs. The other three were human—or had once been. Their bodies had been disassembled and reattached in bizarre ways that made my stomach turn. They were all little more than skeletons now. I didn’t even want to think about what they must have looked like before they decayed.
    â€œJames, get Elysia out of here.” Ian’s eyes flickered white. “Take her to the lab. Now.”
    A portal opened behind Elysia as James sprang toward her. He bumped into her, and she stumbled back into the portal, then he followed.
    â€œJames—” The rest of Elysia’s words were lost as the portal closed behind them.
    The four creatures continued to close on us—or that’s what I thought before the dog thing ran right past me. They were going after Ian.
    â€œStop!” he shouted.
    The things slid to a halt. None of them breathed, or made a sound. They just watched him with eyeless faces.
    Ian’s white eyes glanced in our direction. “You two get out of here.” He spoke the words between clenched teeth, his attention immediately returning to the things around him.
    One of the humanoid creatures dropped into a crouch, its legs folding backward like a grasshopper’s.
    â€œI said, stop,” Ian repeated.
    The grasshopper thing froze, but the one on Ian’s other side took a step toward him. I