Chapter Nine
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PALMER REALIZED THAT his priorities were all wrong.
He should be thinking about what he’d heard Pearl say when he and Rune were on the balcony, but instead, he couldn’t stop thinking about how close he’d been to kissing Rune.
He was pretty sure Rune would’ve kissed him back, which made him hate Pearl even more.
As if he needed a reason to.
He had no doubt that she was behind what had happened to Twig and his two siblings. They could’ve died, and Pearl wouldn’t have cared. If she had, she wouldn’t have poisoned them to begin with. She might not have been trying to kill them, but she could have, and yet, that hadn’t stopped her.
But Palmer’s thoughts kept drifting to the almost kiss. He’d wanted to kiss Rune. Rune had wanted to kiss him. The mood had been ruined after Pearl and Evard left, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t find it again.
Because Palmer wanted Rune. How could he not? Rune was sweet and caring. He was smart. He knew his limits, but he didn’t hesitate to push past them. He was protective of the people he loved, and for some reason, that included Palmer. He was also a gorgeous dragon. What more could Palmer want?
Things would be much easier if they were both dragons or both humans. Palmer had never been in a relationship with a dragon, especially not one who was related to the king. He wasn’t quite sure how to navigate it.
But the man he was having coffee with did. In fact, he would know perfectly well everything Palmer was going through. He was married to the king, after all.
Palmer looked at Hedley. The man was relaxing in his chair, but he looked tired, which wasn’t a surprise with two babies.
Palmer had been surprised when he’d realized that while the babies had nannies, they spent most of their time with their fathers.
Hedley and Killian wanted to do as much themselves as they could, and they were, no matter how tired they were. Palmer admired that.
This was a rare moment of freedom for Hedley, and he seemed to be taking advantage of it.
Palmer wasn’t sure he should interrupt that with his concerns, but he didn’t have anyone else to ask.
His brother was here, but he wasn’t in a relationship with a dragon.
Maybe he could talk to Aaron, but he was closer to Hedley.
That still surprised him, considering that Hedley was the king’s consort, but Hedley had asked him to get coffee together. That meant he wanted to talk, right?
“What’s on your mind?” Hedley asked without looking up from his coffee.
Palmer chuckled. “That obvious?”
“I swear I can see smoke coming out of your ears. Come on, tell me. I’m dying for some adult conversation.”
“I’m sure you have plenty of that with Killian.”
“I do, but it’s not the same. He’s my partner. You’re my friend. When Killian and I talk, it’s mostly about our problems. I want to hear about yours.”
“Why would you want to hear about my problems?”
“Because unless they involve Pearl, they’re going to be normal problems. They won’t be life or death, and I desperately need that.”
Palmer huffed. Well, he’d been thinking about talking to Hedley. “It’s Rune.”
Hedley gestured at Palmer to continue. “I’m hoping that the problem isn’t that Rune is giving you trouble.”
“In a way, he is, but it’s the best kind of trouble.
” Luckily, they were in Hedley and Killian’s private quarters, so no one could overhear their conversation.
Palmer could be honest. He didn’t have to hide anything.
“It’s just that he’s a dragon, but I don’t care about that.
It’s more about who he is. He’s Killian’s brother. He’s Pearl’s brother.”
Hedley nodded. “I get it. I want to promise that Pearl won’t be a problem for much longer, but unfortunately, I can’t. I don’t think that should stop you and Rune from being together, though.”
“Pearl isn’t the only dragon who won’t be happy if we are, though.”
“You’re right. Some people will have something to say about it, both dragons and humans. Do you really care, though? Isn’t the only thing that matters what you and Rune want and think?”
“I just don’t want him to have to give up things because of me.”
“Give up what? Killian didn’t have to give up his throne for me. What would Rune have to give up for you? Besides, I’m pretty sure that he’d do it willingly if it was for you. The way he looks at you makes it obvious.”
Palmer shook his head. “You’re the second person to tell me that.”
“Well, I don’t know who the other person was, but they’re right.
There’s something between the two of you.
It’s obvious to anyone who sees you together, including Pearl or whoever else isn’t happy about dragon and human relationships.
I understand why you’re wary, but even though Rune is Killian’s brother, people treat him the way they would treat anyone but Killian.
” Hedley chuckled. “They have so many siblings that people don’t really care.
I think that as long as Rune doesn’t try to become king, most people won’t have anything to say about your relationship.
Like I said, even if they do, who cares?
I know that Killian supports it, and he’s the only one who could possibly try to stop you.
Well, and yourself.” He leaned closer. “I understand being afraid. This could be the best thing that ever happened to you, though. Your life changed completely when you moved into the palace. If you don’t want to date a dragon, you’re going to have to leave, and I know you don’t want to do that. ”
Palmer laughed. “You’re telling me I need to date Rune because otherwise I’m going to be alone for the rest of my life?”
“Not for the rest of your life, no. But with Rune, you can have everything you want. You can have a relationship, the job you love, and you’d be able to stay here.
Besides, I don’t think any of that matters because you want Rune, and that’s that.
Why should you give him up? Why shouldn’t you see where it goes?
You shouldn’t miss out on this kind of love. ”
“I never said it was love.”
Hedley grinned. “No, but you also didn’t say that it’s not.”
* * * *
RUNE COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time he’d felt this comfortable walking through the palace hallways.
Maybe never. For years, he’d kept to himself, maintaining a careful distance from his half-siblings and anyone their father could’ve used against him.
Rune had learned early to keep his head down, avoid drawing attention, and stay out of the complicated web of alliances and rivalries that their father had encouraged among them.
But things were different now. Their father was gone, Killian was king, and Rune had begun to let his guard down.
He’d started spending more time with Marlin and Birch, Killian’s bodyguards and closest friends.
He’d joined family dinners instead of eating alone in his room.
He’d even started to think of the palace as home rather than just a place he happened to live.
It helped that Marlin made everything seem easy. The dragon walked beside him now, talking about something Birch had done earlier that day, his hands gesturing as he spoke. Rune found himself smiling, amused by the story even though he’d already heard three variations of it from different people.
“And then he just looked at me,” Marlin continued, his eyes bright, “and said, that’s not how you hold a baby. Can you believe that? I’ve been helping with the twins since they were born, and suddenly I don’t know how to hold a baby.”
Rune laughed. “To be fair, you did almost drop one of them last week.”
“I did not almost drop her,” Marlin protested, but there was no real heat in his voice. “She wiggled. It wasn’t my fault.”
“Babies tend to do that.”
“Yes, well, no one warned me about that.” Marlin grinned at him. “You’re awfully chatty today. Does this have anything to do with a certain human doctor?”
Rune felt heat rise to his cheeks. He’d been trying not to think about Palmer, about how close they’d come to kissing on the balcony, about how right it had felt to have Palmer pressed against him when they’d hidden from Pearl.
But of course Marlin would notice. Marlin noticed everything. It was in his job description.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rune said, but even he could hear how unconvincing he sounded.
“Sure you don’t.” Marlin’s smile widened. “For what it’s worth, I think you two would be good together. Palmer’s a good man. Smart, dedicated, kind. And the way he looks at you? That’s not nothing, Rune.”
Rune wanted to ask what Marlin meant by that and to know if it was really that obvious, but they were approaching the dining hall, and the scent of food made his stomach growl.
He’d skipped lunch again, too caught up in his research with Palmer to remember to eat.
Palmer had probably skipped it, too, which meant Rune would need to bring him something after he got his own food.
He was about to say as much to Marlin when he heard voices coming from around the corner just ahead. The urgent tone made something in his chest tighten.
Marlin heard them, too. His expression changed immediately, all traces of amusement vanishing as he held up a hand, signaling Rune to stop. They both did, listening.
“—the human problem needs to be handled soon,” a voice was saying. Rune recognized it immediately—Evard. He’d always been one of Pearl’s followers, quick to agree with whatever she said. “If we wait too long, Killian’s going to make it impossible.”
“And you’re sure about the timing?” This voice Rune didn’t recognize, but it was male, younger-sounding.
“Pearl’s been planning this for weeks,” Evard said. “We just need to make sure we’re ready when she gives the word. It has to look natural, like an accident. No one can trace it back to us.”
Rune’s blood ran cold. The human problem. Palmer. They were talking about Palmer. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and he took an involuntary step forward, but Marlin’s hand shot out, gripping his arm tightly.
“Wait,” Marlin breathed, his voice barely audible. “Let them finish.”
“What about the doctor’s brother?” the younger voice asked. “He’s been asking questions, getting too close to some of the staff.”
“One problem at a time,” Evard said dismissively. “Once the doctor’s out of the way, the brother won’t be an issue. He’ll leave on his own, and Killian won’t have any reason to keep humans around. Pearl says—”
The voices were fading now, moving away from them. Rune strained to hear more, but they were too far gone. He turned to Marlin, his heart pounding.
“They’re going to kill him,” Rune said, his voice tight with barely controlled fury. “Pearl’s planning to kill Palmer.”
Marlin’s expression was grim. “We need to tell Killian. Now.”
“We need to warn Palmer,” Rune countered. “If they’re planning something soon—”
“We’ll do both,” Marlin said. “But, Rune, you need to be careful. If Pearl knows you care about Palmer, she might try to use that against you. You could become a target, too.”
“I don’t care,” Rune said, and he meant it. The thought of Palmer in danger made something fierce and protective rise up in his chest. “I’m not going to let her hurt him.”
Marlin studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “All right. But you need to stick close to Palmer from now on. Don’t let him walk around alone, especially not at night. And for the love of everything, don’t let him stand out on balconies by himself.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Rune felt his cheeks heat again. Marlin raised an eyebrow.
“I knew it,” Marlin said, a hint of his earlier amusement creeping back into his voice. “You two have been sneaking around.”
“We haven’t been sneaking around,” Rune protested. “We were just talking. On the balcony. At night.”
“Talking.” Marlin’s tone made it clear what he thought of that. “Right. Well, whatever you were doing, be more careful about it. Pearl has eyes everywhere, and if she saw you two together, well...” He didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.
Rune swallowed hard. He’d known that his growing feelings for Palmer were dangerous.
But hearing Marlin say it out loud made it real in a way it hadn’t been before.
Pearl wouldn’t just see Palmer as a threat to dragon purity or whatever nonsense she was spouting these days.
She’d see him as a way to hurt Rune and Killian and to destabilize everything their brother was trying to build.
And yet, even knowing that, Rune couldn’t bring himself to regret it.
He couldn’t regret the way Palmer smiled at him or the hours they spent together in the library—or the way his heart had raced when Palmer had leaned in close on the balcony.
He couldn’t regret wanting something good after so many years of keeping everyone at arm’s length.
“I’ll be careful,” Rune said finally. “But I’m not going to stop spending time with him. I’m not going to let Pearl control my life the way our father did.”
Marlin’s expression softened. “Good. You shouldn’t. Just be smart about it, okay? And let us help. You don’t have to protect him alone.”
“Thank you,” Rune said quietly. He meant it for more than just the offer of protection. He meant it for the acceptance, for the understanding, for the way Marlin talked about Palmer as if his relationship with Rune was something natural and right rather than something shameful or disgusting.
“Come on,” Marlin said, starting to walk again. “Let’s get you some food, and then we’ll find Palmer and Killian. We need to figure out what Pearl’s planning before it’s too late.”
Rune followed, but his mind was already racing ahead, planning. He needed to keep Palmer safe. He needed to warn him without frightening him. He needed to figure out what Pearl was planning and stop her before she could hurt anyone else.
And he needed to do it all while pretending that his heart didn’t stutter every time he thought about Palmer’s smile, or the way they’d stood pressed together in the darkness, or the kiss that had almost happened.
This was going to be harder than he’d thought.