Chapter Eight #2
Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that Palmer was spending a lot of time in the infirmary.
He was more protected there than walking around the palace.
Rune disliked it when Palmer walked from the infirmary to the library or to his room on his own, but he’d stopped himself from saying anything about it.
He didn’t want Palmer to feel like a prisoner, especially not coming from him.
At the same time, he couldn’t stop wanting to take care of his doctor.
Which was why he was once again carrying a bag of food toward the infirmary.
Rune didn’t get there, though. He walked past the balcony just outside the infirmary, glancing out there as he did so.
When he noticed the figure standing there, he stopped, wondering what Palmer was doing.
This was like painting a target on his own back for Pearl to do something.
Rune’s first instinct was to berate Palmer, but he didn’t.
He wasn’t Palmer’s mother, and while he liked to think that he was Palmer’s friend, it wasn’t his place to tell him what to do or not do.
He could tell him that he was worried, but when Palmer turned to face him, Rune realized that wouldn’t be the right words, either.
Palmer already knew that Rune was worried.
Everyone was. If he was here, there had to be a good reason.
Rune swallowed. “Everything okay?” he asked.
Palmer’s smile was reassuring. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Everyone is, too. You don’t have to worry.”
Rune found himself relaxing. For a moment, he’d thought something had happened to Twig. He’d been feeling better the last time Rune had talked to him, but he was one of Pearl’s targets. She might try to hurt him again.
Rune inched closer. “I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for saving my brother.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I did my job.” Palmer snorted. “In fact, I almost killed him.”
Rune put down the bag of food and gently touched Palmer’s elbow. “But you didn’t. You were trying to help, and in the end, you did. That’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
Palmer looked out at the sky. It was dark, but there was still a hint of pink and yellow at the horizon. It was enough to illuminate Palmer’s expression.
“I came here because I wanted to learn,” Palmer said. “And help people, of course, but mostly, it was because I knew I wouldn’t get another opportunity like this one. Learning with dragon healers? Reading all the things I’ve been researching with you? It’s like a dream coming true.”
“Even though you didn’t even realize that dragons had a human form until recently?”
Palmer chuckled. “Yeah, even though. I never thought I’d have an opportunity like this, and I’ll never be able to thank Killian enough for giving me this chance.
I don’t know why so many people here seem to trust me, but I’m touched.
I never wanted to hurt anyone, least of all people who’ve welcomed me. ”
“No one thinks you were trying to hurt Twig, Ash, or Yorga. What reason would you have to poison them?”
Palmer shook his head. “It’s not about that. Of course I don’t have a reason to poison them. I still did in a way, though. I made them feel worse, and that’s not something I want to do as a doctor.”
Rune ran his hand higher on Palmer’s arm. “But you fixed it.”
“I could have fixed it sooner if I’d talked to any of the dragon healers here.”
“You didn’t because of Twig. He’s stubborn, and you were trying to accommodate him.
Look, Palmer, I understand why you’re so tortured over this, and I know that telling you that everything is fine isn’t helping, but everything is fine.
There’s no reason for you to continue obsessing over it.
It’s not going to change anything. Twig and the others don’t need you to obsess over what you feel is a failure. You don’t need that, either.”
Palmer turned toward Rune. His gaze was intense, and it made Rune want to squirm, but he couldn’t find it in himself to move. He wondered what Palmer was going to do next.
When Palmer leaned closer, Rune’s heart raced. He licked his lips, knowing there was only one way this could go. Palmer was going to kiss him, and he would kiss Palmer back.
“I just think it’s ridiculous,” a voice said from under the balcony. “Why would anyone still trust him when he made them worse?”
Rune took a step forward and glanced down. He’d recognized the voice, and all thoughts of kissing Palmer had flown out the window as soon as he had. He couldn’t allow himself to be vulnerable when Pearl was so close.
Palmer moved beside him, peering over the balcony’s edge.
Rune grabbed his arm, pulling him back. If Pearl looked up and saw them, there was no telling what she’d do.
They pressed themselves against the wall, their bodies flush against each other.
Rune could feel Palmer’s heart beating as rapidly as his own.
He put a finger to his lips, and Palmer nodded, his eyes wide.
She was walking under the balcony with another of their brothers. Evard was nodding at what Pearl was saying, and Rune wondered if he actually believed her. He couldn’t see Evard’s expression.
“Killian is going to regret keeping that doctor,” Pearl continued. “Mark my words.”
“Well, it’s not like the doctor did it on purpose, though,” Evard said.
“We can’t know that he didn’t.”
“But he’s helping Yorga and the others now. He wouldn’t be if he wanted to hurt them.”
“Evard, don’t be so na?ve. He’s trying to look like a savior, and he could only do that if he had someone to save.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to if Yorga and the others hadn’t been poisoned to begin with, though.”
“I’ll admit that wasn’t the best plan,” Pearl said. “But it’s not my only one.”
Their voices were fading as they walked away.
Rune wanted to hear more, but at the same time, he wanted to scream.
Pearl had other plans? What plans? Who was she going to try to hurt next?
She obviously hated Palmer, so Rune wouldn’t be surprised if he was the next target, and the thought made him feel sick.
He turned to Palmer, whose expression was serious. “She really doesn’t like you,” he murmured.
“Well, the feeling is mutual,” Palmer said with a grimace. “This is far from over, isn’t it?”
“Unfortunately.”