Page 20 of The Vampire’s Receptionist (Charmed Away Temp Agency #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Kian had fallen asleep during the blood transfusion.

He didn’t think he’d actually fall asleep, he wasn’t really a nap person, but apparently, he was more tired than he expected, and he woke up groggy a while later.

The nurse was gone, as was the IV, and the room was dark, the curtains closed to block out the sun.

The only reason he knew it was still daylight was the small amount of sun peeking out along the edges. Blackout curtains. Nice.

His magic tingled, which was weird, but he assumed it was because he wasn’t actively using it like normal.

He almost always had at least one spell active, so it was weird for him to not use it like he normally would.

He hated it, but the stupid doctor had a point.

If he did too much, it was Dorian who would suffer for it. He had to wait until he was healed.

Didn’t mean he had to be happy about it.

He tossed back the covers, intent on opening the curtains himself.

Sitting in the dark wasn’t helping his mood, and he didn’t feel like he was going to collapse again.

He could manage opening the curtains. But before he could put even a toe out of bed, the door opened a crack, and Avery poked his head in.

He noticed Kian sitting up and smiled at him.

“Hey! Dorian asked me to check in on you. He’s in another meeting. Are you hungry?”

Now that he’d rested, he could admit that he could use something to eat. “Yeah. I don’t suppose I can come downstairs to eat, can I?”

Avery’s smile was apologetic as he shook his head. “Sorry, no. Doctor Chapman was very… loud about your treatment plan. Bed rest except to use the restroom. Just give me a second. I’ll be right back.”

He scurried off, leaving the door open behind him.

It either wasn’t his first priority or he was doing it on purpose to make sure Kian would be heard if he got out of bed without permission.

He scowled and crossed his arms, glaring at the open doorway.

The next time he saw that druid, he was going to throw something at him.

Or maybe he’d wait long enough to be able to use his magic and hit him with a spell. Asshole totally deserved it.

Avery came back with a tray and an unfamiliar man behind him.

This one smelled like the earth before a storm, so he assumed it was a sorcerer.

Their magic was different from witches, but not by much.

They were like magical cousins. Why they felt a sorcerer needed to visit him, he wasn’t sure.

And he was apprehensive about finding out.

“Damn, it’s dark in here. Mind if I open the curtains?” the stranger asked.

“Go ahead,” Kian grumbled. “I was going to do it myself, but I assume I’ll be yelled at for it.”

The sorcerer snorted as he headed for the windows. He threw the curtains open, and Kian’s stomach flipped. He sucked in a sharp breath, looking around in wide-eyed wonder. That was why his magic was so active right now. At some point, while he was napping, someone filled the room with plants.

Avery grinned at his wide-eyed expression. “Dorian enlisted all his friends in bringing these in here. Isaac had to set a silencing spell around your bed so no one would wake you. I’m pretty sure he bought out all the plant shops in the area.”

Kian didn’t doubt that for a second. What was once a nicely decorated but plain room was now a forest of different kinds of plants and small trees.

It smelled like a garden, and every surface available was covered, including the floors.

A few hung off the posts of the bed and he could see more peeking out from the ensuite bathroom.

“Uh…” He wasn’t really sure what to say.

He mentioned to Dorian that he liked plants, and the vampire latched onto that idea hard and did all this.

It seemed a little excessive, but at the same time, sweet and thoughtful.

No wonder he slept so well. It felt weird sleeping in a room with no plants in it before.

“I know you can’t use magic right now while you’re healing, so I asked my cousin to stop by later to check on them,” the sorcerer added. “The shops swore up and down that all the plants were healthy, but I figured it’d make things easier on you if you were sure of that.”

“Thank you…” Kian breathed, still looking around the room. No one had ever done something so thoughtful for him before. He was a little overwhelmed by it.

Avery settled the tray on his lap, removing the lid to reveal a baked pasta with lemon ricotta, asparagus, and kale. It smelled delicious, and Kian had to hold back a moan when he tried his first bite.

Avery nodded emphatically at his expression. “I know. I got home just in time for Dorian to give me a plate. It was amazing. I feel like me and Ozen are going to be eating more vegetarian dishes, because Dorian doesn’t seem to know how to screw one up.”

“You’re making me jealous,” the sorcerer said with a smirk. He came to join them, wiggling his fingers at Kian. “I’m Isaac.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “The dragon’s mate.”

Surprised, Isaac’s eyebrows shot up. “Yeah. You remember? You were really out of it when I was in the room with you after.”

“I remember you because I was the paramedic on the scene when you and your mate fell. I had to make a vow to return you to him in order to get him to let you go so we could treat you. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

Isaac looked stunned at this revelation. Kian wasn’t surprised the sorcerer didn’t know of him. He was unconscious the entire time he was under Kian’s care. Kian didn’t recognize him after the incident with Dorian, things were chaotic then, but he recognized him now.

“That’s a crazy coincidence,” Avery commented, sitting on the edge of the bed beside Kian. “Ozen wouldn’t let me go visit them in the hospital. He was worried that Maverick was too unstable for me to get near him. If I had gone, I might’ve been able to meet you sooner.”

“All mates are overprotective,” Isaac said, finally shaking off the shock. He gestured lazily toward the door. “Take my mate, for example. I could very easily kick his behind, and yet he still hovers and growls if anyone gets anywhere near me.”

Kian didn’t doubt that. The amount of power coming from Isaac was intense.

He wasn’t someone Kian would want to be on the opposite side of a battlefield from.

Not that he’d ever use his magic for violence.

But mates were notoriously protective, no matter the power disparity.

His own father’s magic vastly overshadowed his mother’s, but that didn’t stop her from getting up in arms if other women looked his way.

He listened to both men chatting while he ate his lunch.

They included him in the conversation without interrupting him too much, and Kian enjoyed the company.

But once lunch was finished, and they had to get back to their jobs, Kian found himself alone in the plant covered room.

It didn’t take long for him to get bored.

He couldn’t even do anything about it, since using his magic was off limits, as was getting out of bed.

Frustrated, he put the pillow over his face and groaned.

“Is something wrong?”

Dorian’s voice drew him out from beneath the pillow, and he resisted the urge to pout at the man. Putting on his best attempt at easygoing and not at all annoyed with the world, he shook his head.

“Everything is fine. Thanks.”

Dorian’s head tipped ever so slightly as he studied him. “You’re bored, aren’t you?”

With a huff, he pulled his knees closer to his chest and dropped his head onto them. “Yes…” he replied, voice muffled.

It felt wrong to complain, especially to Dorian. He was supposed to be getting better so Dorian could feed without worrying about him. But sitting still had never been his thing. He didn’t even own a tv, because he never sat still long enough to enjoy a show.

He heard Dorian chuckle, but he didn’t look up. He was too annoyed with himself and the world at large for keeping him trapped in bed. He didn't want to take his mood out on Dorian.

“If I may,” Dorian requested, gesturing at him as Kian looked up.

“Wha– Woah!” He scrambled when Dorian easily scooped him out of the bed, despite them being nearly the same height.

Kian latched onto Dorian’s shoulders, gaping at him as Dorian carried him out of the room and down the stairs, where even more plants were spilling out of the media room and the library, too.

“Did you fill the entire house?” he blurted out, gaping as Dorian brought him into the media room and sat him on the deep couch.

“I wanted you to feel comfortable in whatever room you were resting in,” Dorian replied easily. “Would you like a movie or to play a game? Avery showed me a closet full of games he and Ozen have collected since he moved in. There’s quite a variety.”

So he was just going to skip past the fact that he filled a house that didn’t belong to him full of plants just because they made Kian happy? Kian felt a little like the vampire needed to come with a warning label. If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up falling for the guy.

“Harlem has taught me how to play a few of them, but not all, I’m afraid. He asked to stop by later, though, so he can explain any you aren’t familiar with, I’m sure.”

The sudden reminder that Dorian was taken hit Kian like a sledgehammer.

He couldn’t fall for the guy, because he had no chance with him.

Dorian was taken and Kian… Kian would go back to his tiny apartment with his plants to keep him company as soon as the doctor figured out how to help Dorian.

This was all temporary. He couldn’t forget that.