“Dearheart? Are you coming inside?” a gentle male voice asked, causing Peri to look up. An Asian man with silky-looking short black hair and a pristine suit stood by a side door out of the way of the throng of employees. It might have been a trick of the light, but it almost seemed like his hair flowed around him like he was under water as he came closer to join them. He laced hisfingers with Kian, his expression kind and a little curious as he took in Peri. “Are you from Charmed Away?”
Kian answered for him, taking Peri’s phone and typing something in before handing it back. “He’s the new rotation. I’m going to show him to the research floor and give him a general overview of the company. I’ll meet you upstairs. Don’t forget you have a meeting in an hour with Ozen.”
The man–vampire, Peri saw a hint of fang when he smiled–kissed Kian on the back of the hand. “Of course. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll see you upstairs.” He dipped his chin at Peri politely. “Nice to meet you.”
Kian had a fond smile on his face as the vampire walked away, and Peri couldn’t help but ask, “Is he your mate?”
Kian nodded, then shrugged. “Yep. We’re still new.” He waved toward the building, leading the way inside while speaking over his shoulder. “Come on. Your badge should be waiting at the front desk, then I get to explain the joys of the elevators.”
Three
Kian was a friendly person, despite the few side eyes he got while waiting for an elevator. When he noticed Peri’s confusion, he explained that he was part fae and that made people uncomfortable. Peri understood that. Fairies were distant relations to fae– somewhere somehow pixies and fae intermixed and fairies were born– so he didn’t have a problem with them, but he knew some people who did. Kuzmila was one of them and a little standoffish with him too until he won her over.
While they rode a silver elevator up to the research floor, Kian explained the basics. When the rush hours were for the elevators, how to navigate the cafeteria, and how to call down to the directory. He magicked up a piece of paper with a list of contacts that Peri might need, pointing at his number on the top.
“This one is my desk phone. I already put my cell number in your phone. If you ever feel uncomfortable or that you’re being treated unfairly, call me immediately. I’m like Morana. I don’t let people mistreat my temps. I'll handle the problem. And if you ever feel like you can’t say anything, just ask me to join you for steak. It’s a code a friend and I came up with. I’ll know you need help.”
Peri hadn’t ever felt uncomfortable at work before so he didn’t think he’d need the numbers, but he appreciated it anyway. Morana had been just as adamant when hiring him to inform her if anything ever made him uncomfortable. He loved how protective she was. Kian was apparently the same.
“Thank you. I’ll keep this with me. Can I ask, how often will I be switching jobs?”
Kian tipped his head thoughtfully. “On average, weekly. Different departments have different needs, but you’re usually around to replace someone on sick leave or take the spot of someone who left their job for one reason or another until a replacement is found. I haven’t had anyone stick to a single job for more than two weeks so far. Your first assignment is covering for an assistant on the research floor. She got sick and had to take the week off on doctor’s orders. You’ll mostly be doing the basics, picking up coffee orders, making copies, that sort of thing. But don’t worry, Morana told me you wanted to try new things. I’ll make sure you’re not stuck in admin your whole rotation.”
Pleased, Peri bounced on his toes and smiled brightly. “Thank you! I don’t really know what I want to do as a career, and Morana said she’d send me to a variety of positions so I can figure it out.”
Kian nodded. “That’s pretty normal for temps. Either in school or trying to find their path in life, that kind of thing. Only I ever planned to stick with it long term.” He smirked and lifted a shoulder at Peri’s curious expression. “I like to mix things up.”
The doors opened to a wide open room with high ceilings and sectioned off areas with people gathered in small groups or temporary plexiglass walls keeping people out who didn’t belong. The room was bright, the sunlight streaming in, and the energy was buzzing even so early in the morning. Peri looked around with fascination, taking it all in. An experiment on thefar left was sparking with electricity, and the ghost handling the device talked a mile a minute to the centaur standing on the other side of the safety glass who was furiously taking notes. Closer to the center of the room, someone pressed a button on a small box, and it exploded into an array of medical supplies. The researchers jumped back with a shout, and someone started complaining that they said that was going to happen. It was noisy and chaotic, but the vibes in the room were positive, and the receptionist who greeted them smiled brightly as they stepped up to her desk.
“Kian. I hope that’s our new temp. I’ve had six different requests for assistance this morning, and most people have only just arrived. It’s like they don’t remember that I can’t leave my desk. I swear– Oh, Mister Washburne. I have a few messages for you,” she called out, her focus switching to a demon who was stalking past. His footsteps halted and a muscle ticked in his jaw. Reluctantly, he turned toward the desk, his expression pinched as he changed directions.
Peri felt a flutter in his chest he couldn’t explain, his wings lifting him to his toes for a moment before he settled himself back down. The demon, with crimson skin, dark horns, and black hair pulled back into a messy ponytail with a few strands escaping, didn’t look friendly at first glance. His barely masked scowl said he didn't appreciate being called over. He wasn’t as tall as most demons, only a handful of inches taller than Peri’s 5’4”, but his presence felt bigger. He wore a loose hoodie and jeans with sneakers, not the business attire most people wore, and carried a messenger bag over one shoulder. It was in his interaction with the receptionist that Peri felt his perception might be off.
“Thank you, Dakota. I appreciate it,” he said gruffly, polite despite the scowl on his face.
Dark eyes swung Peri’s direction and that flutter happened again, making Peri’s wings flutter the same way. His gaze was there and gone again, and Peri couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed when the man looked away.
“Please tell me Ozen didn’t send a temp to help me,” he said to Kian, his scowl growing. “I said I don’t need help.”
Kian crossed his arms, eyebrow raised in challenge. “And if he did? I won’t have Peri around people who won’t act professional. Not even for Spellbound’s head researcher.”
The demon rolled his eyes. “I never said I won’t act professional. I said I don’t need help. Have him assist someone who needs him. I’m fine.”
“Well, lucky for you, he’s here to replace Neil, not act as your personal assistant,” Kian shot back. “He’ll be helping the whole department. Peri, this is Hugo Washburne, the head researcher here at Spellbound. Hugo, this is–”
Peri couldn’t help it. He practically leapt forward to introduce himself, giving the demon a bright smile. “Peri the fairy, at your service!” He gave a little salute, then stuck his hand out for a shake.
“Oh. My. Goddess. You are so stinking cute! Can I keep you?” the receptionist, Dakota, cooed, beaming at him.
He was used to that kind of response. Unlike another cousin of his, who used magic to make his wings dark and wore only black to avoid that kind of comment, Peri had always leaned into it. He liked being cute. It made people smile.
Everyone except the demon, who looked at him like he’d lost his mind. Still, he was polite and shook Peri’s offered hand, jerking back a little in surprise when Peri thrust the box he’d tucked under his other arm at the demon. “Do you want a treat?”
The demon looked bewildered and a little confused, shaking his head slowly. “No, thank you. I, uh… I’m gonna get back to work.”
He took a few steps back, eyes locked on Peri for a long moment before he spun on his heel and hurried off.
“Don’t mind him,” Dakota said reassuringly. “He’s grumpy and not very sociable, but he’s not mean or anything. I just think he doesn’t like people. He probably won’t request your help anyway. He doesn’t like people touching his projects.”