29. Rowan
Rowan
“Iswear I’ll be sixty before I’m fully caught up,” I grumbled, running a hand through my hair. It had been a long day, and I was run-down and felt like crap.
Exhaustion did that, unfortunately.
Nina nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it’s brutal. I think most people avoided coming to Jenkins for help because he made everything worse, but now you’re here, they know you can help.”
“That makes sense.”
“I think it is starting to ease though… a teeny tiny bit.”
There had been a bug going around the horde. It wasn’t terrible, and most of the dragons got over it quickly, but it had increased my workload significantly over the last few days, on top of checkups, the dragons coming off Jenkins’s harmful medications, and any injuries.
“Can I get you anything?” Nina asked.
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. You should go home, it’s getting late.” My body was heavy and sluggish, but I still had a lot to do. There was no point keeping Nina here, even though she made good company.
Nina frowned. “You look tired.”
I resisted the urge to snort. I was run-down. I had been working nonstop for days, and sleep had become optional. The few times I did manage to drift off, I was woken by nightmares. I wasn’t going to admit to anyone just how badly being kidnapped had affected me.
The fact that Colin and Allison were safe with Baby Rowan brought me great joy, but that small moment of terror when being kidnapped seemed to have awoken a lot of my past fears.
“It’s all part of the job,” I assured her.
“I can stay…”
I waved off her concern. “No, you’ll just be bored. I’m going to get a few teas steeping and make some notes, and then I’ll make my way back.”
Nina nodded, her gaze shrewd. “Okay, but only if you’re sure. Leave the herbal mixes, though. You don’t need to do that yet, and I will do them in the morning while you’re seeing patients.”
“Thank you. I’ll be fine. One of my guard dragons is nearby, no doubt.”
“Fine, but I changed your calendar around a little so you don’t start until late tomorrow. The only patients coming in the morning are check-ups and rebandaging. Things I can easily take care of. Try to sleep in? You look exhausted.”
“I’ll give it a shot.” I chuckled. Realistically, I highly doubted I would be able to get much more sleep, but I appreciated Nina’s attempt to help.
She was becoming a competent healer. As soon as things were a bit more quiet, I would be giving her training a lot more attention because she deserved it.
She took a few moments to gather her things, then left.
When the front door closed, echoing throughout the empty clinic, I sank back in my seat with a sigh.
My head was pounding, pressure gathering between my eyes.
I was uncomfortably warm, so I shrugged off my cardigan before getting to work.
I didn’t wear professional clothing that doctors typically wore.
I had found over the years that people found healers who wore casual clothing far more approachable, so jeans and cardigans and band tees it was.
Sometimes, it was a cute workout set; it really depended on my mood.
I didn’t have time to focus on myself, though, since I had a million and one things to do. Standing, I slowly made my way over to my brewing station, which kind of looked like a mad scientist’s workshop.
I had teas to brew and poultices to make.
Plus, my notes were severely underwhelming.
I really needed to get Nina in on my sessions, taking notes for me, because my current system of taking notes after the patient left wasn’t working.
I had so many patients that I didn’t have enough time between appointments to even take a drink, let alone make notes.
My stomach cramped uncomfortably, and I placed my hand over my abdomen, needing a little pressure to make it slightly better.
God, I needed a vacation and a strong drink.
It took a few hours to get on top of everything, but I did it, all the while feeling like ass. When I put the last file into the tray for Nina to organize tomorrow, it was dark outside. After pushing my chair back, I stood, the room spinning uncomfortably as I did so.
Maybe I’m more exhausted than I thought.
Taking slow steps toward the door, the room continued to spin, my stomach churning. Brilliant—I was getting sick. Hopefully, a glass of orange juice and some sleep would knock it out before it got any worse, because I could not afford to take time off.
When I opened the door to the clinic, I couldn’t help but notice the way my hands shook.
There were a few steps to get from the clinic’s wraparound porch to the path, and in that moment, those steps seemed monumentally difficult.
I considered going into the clinic and taking a nap on the couch.
It was fairly comfortable and had several blankets, so it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
It was a more appealing prospect than clambering down the six steps and walking back to the den.
“Rowan?” Bastian’s rough voice called out, but I didn’t have the strength to look up.
Just get back to the den. Sleep, eat, then you’ll feel better.
My head was spinning so severely that my balance was going out the window. Every time I looked up, my vision swam, so I kept my head down.
A large hand gently took one of my elbows, the other tucking under my chin and lifting my gaze to meet Bastian’s very worried one.
Clearly, I was dying because there was no other reason this dragon would look at me with concern.
“What?” I asked, my words slightly slurred.
His eyes roamed over me, taking in my wobbly state and glassy eyes. “You’re unwell?”
“Gee, what gave it away?” I asked, swaying on the spot. “Leave me be. I’m going to go back in there to take a nap on the couch.”
He placed his hand on my forehead, frowning. “You’re hot.”
“Yeah, I am!” I declared with a giggle.
Maybe it was the sickness, but I could have sworn the corner of his mouth tugged up ever so slightly in a smile.
Why did the biggest asshole of the horde have to be so freaking hot? His dark hair was brushed back, grazing the top of his shoulders, emphasizing his angular jaw and deep eyes.
Handsome idiot.
“Come on, let’s get you back to the den,” he said, trying to guide me down the stairs.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone belligerent as I refused to move. “I’ll go nap in there,” I said, my voice a whine.
“What else would I be doing? I’m on babysitting duty. Also, there’s no way in hell I’m going to allow you to sleep on a couch when you’re sick.”
“I’m not a baby,” I mumbled.
“Sure.” Bastian sighed, attempting to gently guide me off the porch once more.
My stomach twisted, and the world spun again. Bastian let go of me for a split second as bile rose in my throat.
Before I promptly vomited on his shoes.
Everything became a bit of a blur after throwing up all over Bastian. One moment, I was crouched over, hurling, and the next, he had me scooped up in his arms, not saying a word about how I had ruined his shoes.
The cool night air was refreshing. I really needed to open my windows at the clinic. It was a weird thought to have while the grumpy dragon carried me to the den, but in my defense, I wasn’t fully lucid.
When a particularly vicious wave of vertigo hit, I pressed my face into Bastian’s neck, letting his masculine scent soothe me. Not only was he handsome, but he smelled good. The universe really wasn’t fair.
Thankfully, he didn’t make any snarky comments. In fact, he muttered soft words, saying I was okay and reassuring me.
I was vaguely aware of our change of location, because one moment, the cool air was lapping at my exposed arms, and the next, I was inside with no breeze. Only, I had no idea where I was, because my face was still plastered against Bastian’s chest.
“Don’t go through the main doors,” I muttered into his neck.
Despite the state of me, I still had an errant thought about biting that skin beneath me. Clearly, I was severely unwell if I was considering biting Bastian. Any of the other dragons, sure, I would get chompy, but this one was the asshole… or at least, he usually was.
“We’re already inside, but I didn’t go through the main doors,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
My head swam. I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going until I felt myself being placed on the rim of the tub. Looking around, I blinked at the bright light after having my face pressed up against Bastian.
I was in my bathroom, the one connected to my bedroom. When had he carried me to my room? When had he gone up the stairs? I had been so busy hiding my face in his chest that I hadn’t noticed.
“Here,” he said, handing me my toothbrush, toothpaste already on it. “You’ll hate going straight to sleep after vomiting,” he explained when I gave him a confused look.
Had I entered the twilight zone?
After taking the toothbrush, I weakly started brushing my teeth. A small part of me wanted to refuse simply because it was Bastian who had asked me, but I fully believed he would start brushing my teeth himself if I didn’t.
Stupid, stubborn, body-snatched dragon.
“You should get someone who actually likes me,” I muttered, rinsing my mouth out. “Or at least someone who doesn’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I have many feelings, princess, but none of them are hate.” He spoke softly, taking the toothbrush from me and handing me a washcloth for my face.
“I smell bullshit,” I mumbled, shocked when he chuckled in response.
“The sickness is making you smell things that aren’t there.” He turned and left the room. For a moment, I stared after him. Had he just left me?
He came back a few moments later with a frown on his face. “Where are your pajamas?”
“Ma probably kidnapped them for laundry.”
Bastian frowned for a moment, thinking. “Okay.” He gently grasped the hem of my T-shirt, pulling it over my head. I wanted to shout at him, but I was too exhausted.
“Excuse me?” I grumbled.
“You can’t sleep in that,” he explained, his hands going to my back, to the clasp of my bra.
“Hey!” I growled, but it came out weak and pathetic.
“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. Do it yourself, and I won’t look.” He ripped his own T-shirt off, holding it out and looking pointedly at the ceiling.
Sitting in my bathroom, half-naked with him, shouldn’t have felt so weirdly normal.
“I feel like we’ve had this argument. I’m not wearing your shirt,” I grumbled, ignoring the way the world tilted as I spoke.
“Well, I can’t find any of your pajamas, so do you want me to find Ma and tell her how you’re feeling?” The subtle threat in his voice was evident.
I glowered at him, or at least I think I did. My gaze was pretty unfocused as I took the shirt, grumbling while I quickly took my bra off, throwing it to the floor, and slipping his T-shirt over my head.
“Done.”
“Now, jeans,” he said, looking back down at me.
I was unsteady. I highly doubted I would be able to stand without assistance. And as much as it pained me, I didn’t want to sleep in thick denim, so I did need help, but I wasn’t going to let him ask anyone else and draw anyone’s attention to how sick I was.
“I may need help there,” I admitted softly.
Surprisingly, Bastian didn’t look smug. “Can you put your hands on my shoulders?”
I nodded, doing as I was told. In a matter of seconds, he had me standing, pulled my jeans off, and helped me to sit down, leaving me in just his T-shirt and my underwear.
“Sorry about the vomit,” I whispered as he carried me through the room toward my bed.
“It’s not the first time you’ve hurled on me. I’m sure it won’t be the last,” he said, reaching down and taking my shoes off.
“You’re going to have to explain that one,” I muttered sleepily.
Another chuckle escaped Bastian. “Before… you and Nix discovered tequila one night, and let’s just say, it ended in a very similar way to this.”
“Sounds like Nix.” I laughed weakly, my eyes already closing.
“Sleep, princess,” he said, kissing my forehead before pulling the blankets higher around me.
“Nina sorted the clinic, so I can sleep in.” I sighed. “I think I’ll do that.”
Bastian chuckled. “I think that’s the smartest thing you’ve said.”
I was passed out before he even left the room.