Chapter Ten
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IT WAS TIME FOR RUNE to do something drastic.
Palmer had been spending all of his time in the infirmary, which wasn’t new, but now that Twig, Ash, and Yorga were feeling better, it was time for him to leave.
He wouldn’t until all of his patients could, too, which was a problem.
Ash and Yorga were already on their way home, but Twig?
It would take him a little more time. He’d been the one who was the most impacted by what happened, and while he was doing okay, he was still recovering.
Knowing that he might do something stupid like go flying even though he wasn’t ready for it yet, it wasn’t a bad idea to keep him in the infirmary.
The problem was that Palmer was staying with him.
It was good to see how much Palmer cared.
Rune liked that, just like he liked a lot of other things about Palmer, but he also wanted to spend time with him.
More than that, it was time for Palmer to see something that wasn’t the infirmary, with its beds and patients in pain.
He needed to relax, and Rune had just the right way to make it so.
It wasn’t anything big, which meant that Palmer would probably agree, and if he didn’t, well.
..Rune would find a way to convince him.
Maybe he could use their budding relationship.
He could tell Palmer that he missed him.
He was pretty sure that Palmer would try to do something about it.
It wouldn’t be a lie. Rune did miss Palmer.
The fact that if they started a relationship during these trying times, it would make everything more complicated, but they could do it.
Rune was sure of it. Being together meant spending time together, though, which was why he was back in the infirmary, ready to drag Palmer out.
He hoped he wouldn’t have to, but he was willing to if necessary.
He walked in, ready for a fight, only to find Palmer already moving toward the door. He looked tired, and he blinked at Rune as he stopped in front of him. “Did we agree to meet?” he asked.
Rune shook his head. “You didn’t know I was coming.”
“Are you here to see your brother?”
Rune glanced at Twig’s bed. Twig was awake and on his phone, and as much as Rune usually enjoyed spending time with him, right now, it wasn’t why he was here. “I’m here for you.”
Palmer blinked again. “For me? What did I do?”
“Nothing. I just thought we could go for a walk.”
Palmer grinned. “You’ve been missing me?”
“Of course I have,” Rune confessed, which for some reason seemed to surprise Palmer.
He stared at Rune for a moment. Maybe he hadn’t expected Rune to be so honest about his feelings, but Rune didn’t want to play games.
He didn’t see a reason to. He wanted Palmer, and both of them were adults and ready for a serious relationship.
Why should they dance around each other?
Maybe it was too much, but Rune wanted both of them to know where they stood with the other.
Thankfully, Palmer didn’t turn around and run. Instead, he smiled softly and hooked his arm around Rune’s. “Well, I’m sure you already have a plan, so lead the way.”
Rune did have a plan. It wasn’t very elaborate, but it didn’t need to be.
They would go for a walk, and once Palmer got tired and hungry, Rune would take him to his quarters, where they’d have dinner.
He’d already grabbed food from the dining hall, so they didn’t have to worry about that.
They just had to warm everything up, sit down, and spend time together.
He couldn’t wait.
“I know you’ve already seen the palace’s gardens,” he said as they walked.
Palmer let himself be guided down the hallways, never hesitating.
It felt like he trusted Rune, which told Rune that doing this was a good idea.
He hadn’t been completely sure that Palmer would be on board, but he seemed to be.
It made Rune want to rush ahead, but he didn’t want to put too much pressure on Palmer, considering the circumstances.
“But they’re lovely this time of year, so I thought we could walk there. ”
“I have seen them, but I haven’t had time to enjoy them, so I’d love that,” Palmer said softly. He unhooked his arm from Rune’s, which briefly made Rune wonder if he’d done something wrong. When Palmer linked their fingers together, though, he knew that wasn’t the case.
Palmer was making this public. He wanted people to know that the two of them were together. They were holding hands and walking down the hallways, and anyone walking past them would know that they were together.
Rune loved it.
He knew he’d made the right decision when they reached the garden, and Palmer’s shoulders instantly relaxed.
He took a deep breath, maybe to smell the flowers, and his whole body went loose.
Rune desperately wanted to protect that.
He never wanted Palmer to be stressed or to have to fear that he was going to lose patients.
It was unrealistic, but Rune supposed that a lot of things were unrealistic when love was involved.
Because that was what would happen between them. If they let this thing grow, they would fall in love. As much as it scared Rune, he was also eager to see what that looked like. It had been a long time since he’d had feelings like these for anyone, but even then, it hadn’t felt like this.
It hadn’t felt like forever.
They walked in silence, and Rune was happy to give Palmer space.
There weren’t a lot of people in the garden since most were in the dining hall with their families, but they did cross paths with a few dragons.
Most of them didn’t seem to be bothered by who they were and what they were doing.
They didn’t stop to ask questions or to stare.
Maybe people really wouldn’t care. Well, Pearl would, but she was an outlier.
“I like this,” Palmer eventually said, squeezing Rune’s fingers. “And I needed it. Thank you.”
“You did need it,” Rune agreed. “I don’t think I’ve seen you this relaxed, well, ever.”
Palmer snickered. “Nothing’s helped me relax since I arrived at the palace. It’s been complicated to say the least.”
“I know. I’m not going to say that everything is perfect now, but I like to think that things are better.”
Palmer’s expression turned more serious. “They are. I’m relieved I don’t have to worry about Twig, Ash, and Yorga anymore. They’ll all be okay, and nothing I did hurt them permanently.”
“Of course not.”
Palmer shook his head. “I know it’s useless to point out that I did make their situation worse before it got better. You’re just going to find an excuse for me.”
“Because you have nothing to blame yourself for. You didn’t know they were being poisoned, and you didn’t cause their suffering. Pearl did.”
Palmer slowly nodded. “She’s one of the reasons I’m still hesitant about us.”
Rune wasn’t surprised. “I can’t promise that she won’t try anything else. In fact, I’m pretty sure I can promise that she will. Are you going to let that stop you, though?”
“I probably should. It would be safer for both of us.”
“You’d let her win?”
“It’s not about her winning. It’s about us being safe.”
“I’ll keep you safe,” Rune promised.
“But what I want isn’t a bodyguard. What I want is a partner.”
Rune stopped walking and turned to face Palmer. “And that’s what I want to give you. Being your partner will sometimes mean protecting you when I can, just like you’ll protect me, maybe in different ways, but still.”
Palmer stared, and Rune told himself not to fidget. This was a big decision for both of them. Rune had taken the time to think about it, and he knew what he wanted and what he was ready for, but Palmer had been busy. He’d barely made the time to have regular meals.
“All right,” Palmer said.
Rune blinked. “All right?”
“You’re right. As much as I want nothing to do with Pearl, I also don’t want to let her rule my life. She has no say in who I’m with, even though you’re her brother. The only one who decides is you, and you seem to want to be with me.”
Rune pressed closer. “I do.”
“And I want to be with you.”
“That sounds like there’s an easy way to go about this.”
Palmer grinned. “Does it?”
“Well, if I want to be with you, and you want to be with me, we could be together.”
Palmer had to rise on his tiptoes to wrap his arms around Rune’s neck and kiss him, but he didn’t seem bothered by that. He pressed close, and for a moment, Rune could see what the rest of his life would look like.
He couldn’t wait.
* * * *
THE SMELLS OF THEIR dinner still hung in the air of Rune’s quarters.
Palmer was stretched out on the rug in front of the fireplace, the heat soaking into his skin, and for the first time in days, he felt like he could breathe.
He wasn’t sure what was different. Pearl was still out there and very much dangerous.
Sure, Twig and the others were getting better, but Palmer was still in a precarious position.
But Rune’s tail was curled around his ankle, smooth and warm. The tip stroked lazy patterns against his calf, and Palmer found himself watching the movement, mesmerized.
“She won’t touch you.” Rune’s voice was low, making his chest move against Palmer’s back where they were pressed together. He was talking about Pearl and about what he and Marlin had overheard. “I’ll be your shadow if I have to. I’ll defend you, even from her.”
Palmer believed him. With Rune’s arm heavy across his chest, he could let himself believe they would be safe and that this could work.
He turned so they were face-to-face. The firelight caught the scales on Rune’s shoulders and cheekbones, making them gleam. Palmer reached up, tracing the line of Rune’s jaw with his fingers. His thumb brushed over the pointed tip of one canine, and Rune’s breath hitched.
“Forget about her,” Palmer said. His voice came out rough. “Just for tonight.”