While Irena was trying to get a look at the book title, Nova swept over and snatched it away -- much more hastily than was necessary -- offering an awkward smile that might have passed for apologetic if you didn't give it much scrutiny. If you did, there was a touch of menace in it.

Ugh. This was getting silly. He needed to get her out of his lab before he lost his mind over nothing.

"You know, I don't feel like trying to do any alchemy tonight after all," he said.