Chapter Two #2
“That’s not all. Palmer, your new coworker stopped me on my way here to congratulate me on the baby.”
Curran’s eyes widened. “Wait, Rune is your new coworker?” he asked, turning to Palmer.
“Killian assigned him to me, yes. He’s supposed to show me around the library and help me research.”
For some reason, Curran seemed delighted by that. “That’s great.”
“Is it?”
“I know Rune’s been trying to show Killian that he’s on our side, and it looks like Killian believes him. Yes, it’s great.”
That wasn’t the answer Palmer had expected. “Killian trusts his siblings?”
“He trusts a lot of them more than anyone else except for a few people, including Marlin. The bunch of them have been kept separated by their father, and they’re trying to heal from that. It’s nice to know that Killian is doing what he can to include his siblings. Well, some of them anyway.”
“And Rune has never supported Pearl,” Marlin added. “He also never liked the old king. They were related, obviously, but I don’t think many people liked him.”
“I think it would be fair to say that a lot of people actually hated him.”
Palmer listened to them talk. He’d never met the old king, so he wouldn’t know, but he’d heard enough stories. It was hard to believe that a man like Killian had been raised by a man like the stories described. Killian was a good ruler.
His father hadn’t been.
Thankfully, it looked like some of Killian’s siblings didn’t agree with Pearl.
Rune’s reaction to her entering the meeting room had been one of displeasure, and between that and everything else, Palmer wondered if that meant that Rune was on the right side.
He hoped so. He didn’t want to work with the guy and have to continue looking over his shoulder to make sure he was safe. Only the future would tell, though.
“Everything is going great,” he told Curran once his examination was over. “You and the egg are perfectly fine.”
Curran beamed. “Thank you. I wasn’t really worried, but it’s nice to have confirmation.”
“Thank you for trusting me and allowing me, of all people, to keep an eye on you during your pregnancy. I know there were many other choices.”
“Other choices, sure, but better? I don’t think so. I’m fine with you being my doctor through the pregnancy and after I lay the egg. I trust you, Palmer.”
Palmer was glad, especially because he hadn’t expected it. He’d do anything in his power to ensure that Curran and his baby were okay. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
* * * *
RUNE KNOCKED ON TWIG’S door, feeling nervous.
He didn’t use to spend a lot of time with his siblings because of their father, but he and several others had been actively trying to change that.
It wasn’t always easy, but they were working on it, and Rune was excited at the thought of having dinner with his brother.
Twig was one of the youngest, so he’d spent less time with their father than the rest of them.
Hopefully, it meant he was better adjusted.
It definitely meant that he wasn’t on Pearl’s side, which was a good thing.
Rune hated that they were still divided, and it was their father’s fault.
He shouldn’t have had so many children to begin with, but he definitely shouldn’t have pitched them against each other any chance he got.
He’d ruined any relationship they could’ve had with each other while growing up, and in some cases, they wouldn’t be able to heal from that.
The door opened, and Twig grinned at Rune. “Finally. I’m starving. I was about to start eating without you.”
Rune checked the time. “I’m not late.”
“You’re not. I’m just hungry.”
They quickly settled at the dining table. There was music playing, a singer Rune didn’t recognize. He didn’t care about the music, though. He cared about his brother, and he couldn’t stop smiling. Being here felt great.
“I heard about Pearl,” Twig said after a few minutes. Clearly, being hungry wasn’t going to stop him from gossiping.
“What have you heard?”
“That she barged into the meeting room. That she wanted to know why she wasn’t invited and seemed to think that she should have been.” He snorted and stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth. “Why would Killian invite her? He already knows what she thinks about all of this.”
“He does,” Rune confirmed. “Just like he knows what she thinks about humans in general and what she’s trying to do.”
“I really don’t get it. What’s he doing that’s so wrong that she doesn’t think he’s a good king?”
“I don’t think that’s her problem.”
Twig cocked his head. Like all of them, he was a shade of blue, azure in his case. He looked like the sky when it was completely clear of clouds, which suited him. He was bright, a little innocent, and incredibly sweet. “What’s her problem, then?” he asked.
“What does Killian have that she doesn’t?” Rune asked, curious to see if Twig was as na?ve as he sounded.
Twig blinked. “I don’t know. Hedley. Their kids.”
“I don’t think that Pearl wants a partner or children.
No, she wants power. Killian can tell anyone in the clan what to do, and they’ll have to do it.
He’s our king. He’s a good enough person that he would never abuse that power and authority, but Pearl?
It’s not that she hasn’t been raised to rule the clan.
It’s that she would be an awful queen because she only has her own benefit in mind.
She doesn’t care about the health of the clan.
She cares about having power over people. ”
Twig’s eyes were wide. “You really think that?”
“Killian is doing a good job, which means that people admire and respect him. Why else would she be so angry? Why else would she want to take his place?”
“Maybe she just really hates humans.”
“She might, but a good ruler could see that the humans we’ve welcomed into our clan have been beneficial.
They’re helping us. They’re learning from us, and we’re learning from them.
Killian doesn’t hate humans, obviously, but I’m sure that even if he did, he’d be able to put that aside to focus on what humans bring to us. She doesn’t. I don’t think she can.”
Twig frowned. His eating had slowed down, and he was moving more hesitantly. “She wants to hurt him, doesn’t she?” he asked. “Because that’s the only way to get him off the throne.”
“He won’t let her.”
“He might not have a choice. It’s not like she’s going to ask permission to hurt him.”
“No, but he knows her. He and his people have been watching her for months. They know exactly what she’s up to, and everyone will make sure that nothing happens to Killian or his family. Do you really think that Birch and Marlin would allow anyone to hurt them?”
“They might get hurt, too.”
Rune reached over the table to squeeze his brother’s forearm.
“I understand why you’re worried. I am, too.
I really think that Killian knows what he’s doing, though.
He won’t let anyone hurt his family or his clan, and while I realize that he needs to be careful, I trust him.
He’s our king. The clan is finally peaceful and we’re rebuilding, and no one wants that to change.
People might not be vocal about it, but I don’t think anyone in the clan actually wants Pearl to become queen except for the few supporters she has.
Some people might want the same power that she yearns for, but it won’t be enough.
People are finally happy and living the way they want. They won’t want anyone to ruin that.”
“I don’t want the humans to have to leave. They’re nice.”
“I agree, and I don’t think they’ll have to.”
There was a twinkle in Twig’s eyes when he looked at Rune. “And what about the human doctor? How is he?”
Rune groaned. “What have you heard?”
“Just that he was at the meeting, too. Killian ordered the two of you to work together.”
“Work, not become friends. I don’t think that Palmer likes me or that he trusts me.”
“That’s because he doesn’t know you. He will, though. The two of you will spend time together, and he’ll realize that you’re a nice guy.”
“Even if he doesn’t, it’s work. That’s what we’re going to focus on.”
“There’s nothing better than a little office romance.” Twig wiggled his eyebrows. “In fact, I can recommend a book I read recently.”
“I don’t need to read romances.” Mostly, Rune didn’t want to remind himself of what was missing in his life.
He yearned for a partner, but before, he’d been too afraid.
He hadn’t wanted to give his father ammunition against him or to put anyone in his father’s way.
Besides, it wasn’t like his father would’ve allowed him to date anyone he wanted.
Rune wouldn’t have had a choice. In fact, it was a minor miracle that he hadn’t been forced into anything.
Twig grinned. “Because you’re living your own romance.”
“I’m not. Palmer and I barely know each other, and that doesn’t need to change while we’re working together.”
“You’ll see. I have a good feeling about this.”
Rune was pretty sure he should be worried about any feeling coming from Twig, but it was easier not to argue.
So what if his little brother wanted to think there could be something between Rune and the beautiful human?
Part of Rune believed the same thing, but then, he’d always been a little delusional. Daydreaming wouldn’t hurt.
Not for now, anyway.