Chapter Eleven
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PALMER JERKED INTO a sitting position at the first knock.
For a second, he looked around, trying to understand what time it was.
Rune’s bedroom was dark, and he and Rune were curled up in the nest, sleeping, or at least, they had been.
Palmer could hear the frantic knocking on the door even with the bedroom door closed, though, and he knew something had happened.
Rune was awake now, too. From the little Palmer could see in the low light, his boyfriend was blinking and trying to understand what was going on. Palmer gently patted his hand and extricated himself from Rune’s hold, knowing he needed to go open the door.
“What’s going on?” Rune asked, following him.
Palmer considered telling him to go back to bed, but he already knew that Rune wouldn’t go. “I don’t know.”
Rune turned on the light. Both of them blinked for a moment, but Palmer was already moving toward the front door. He briefly looked down to ensure that he was decent, but thankfully, he disliked sleeping naked. With his job, it wasn’t the first time he was woken up in the middle of the night.
Rune got to the door before Palmer and threw it open. He’d placed himself between Palmer and whoever was there, so for a second, Palmer couldn’t see who it was. He did see that Rune relaxed, though, so he knew that it wasn’t a danger.
“Curran’s in labor,” Birch declared, sounding frantic.
Palmer was relieved. No one was hurt. Curran did need him, or at least, that was what he’d said every time he’d mentioned laying his egg, but both of them knew the truth.
Curran could probably do this on his own.
He wouldn’t have to, though. He’d asked Palmer to be there, and Palmer would respect his wishes.
Curran wasn’t only his patient. They were friends, and Palmer wanted to make sure that he was okay.
“We also need a healer,” he told Birch because that was what he and Curran had agreed on. Palmer wanted to be prepared, just in case. He didn’t anticipate anything going wrong, but he’d rather be safe than sorry.
“I already sent someone to get them,” Birch confirmed.
“Good. Give me a few minutes to get dressed, and I’ll be right with you.”
Palmer didn’t waste time going back to the bedroom. He didn’t even think about leaving Birch with Rune, and he barely had the time to wonder how Birch had known where to find him since he wasn’t in his quarters. His relationship with Rune wasn’t a secret, though.
Palmer was nervous, but he was prepared for this.
He’d started getting ready as soon as Curran had told him he wanted him there.
He knew what was supposed to happen and how.
He knew how long it was supposed to take, although, like with humans, that could widely change between dragons and pregnancies.
He wouldn’t be there alone, though. Curran had agreed to have another healer there for Palmer’s peace of mind, so if something happened and Palmer didn’t know how to deal with it, someone would.
Palmer didn’t want to let Curran down, but he’d rather have his friend and the baby healthy than insist he could do this on his own.
He got dressed as quickly as he could, then rushed back to the front door.
Birch was still there, talking to Rune, and it wasn’t a surprise when Rune fell into step with them when they left.
He wouldn’t be of any help, but maybe he could distract Birch.
Palmer had seen how close he and Curran were, so he wouldn’t be surprised if the dragon freaked out a little.
“He’ll be fine, right?” Birch asked as they neared the rooms where Curran and Marlin lived.
“There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be,” Palmer tried to reassure him.
He didn’t want to promise that everything would be okay because he didn’t know, but he also wanted Birch to realize that this wasn’t a bad thing.
Curran would be in pain, but everything had gone well with this pregnancy, so there was no reason to believe that something would go wrong now.
Palmer hoped nothing would. He needed Curran and the baby to be okay.
Birch didn’t knock when they reached the rooms. He barged in, making a beeline for the bedroom, and Palmer followed.
Rune was right behind them, looking slightly uncomfortable but clearly willing to help.
He stopped before walking into the room, but Palmer didn’t.
No, he continued moving toward the nest where Curran was curled up.
“It would be easier for you if you shifted,” Palmer told him.
“Would it?” Curran snapped. His face was damp with sweat, and he was clutching his stomach. “Sorry.”
Palmer didn’t care if Curran was snappish or rude. If it helped him deal with the pain, he was welcome to curse him. “From everything I’ve read, yes. It can be painful to shift when you’re in this state, though.”
Curran shook his head. “I did shift earlier. The pain’s the same.”
“Whatever makes you more comfortable.”
“For now, it’s this,” he said, turning toward Marlin. “That way, he can hold me.”
That would be more complicated if they were in their dragon forms. Palmer had made sure he knew how to deal with labor in both forms, though, so he was prepared, or at least, as prepared as he could be considering this was the first time he did this. He wouldn’t let Curran down, though.
He would never forgive himself if he did.
* * * *
RUNE KNEW THAT HIS place wasn’t here. No one had said anything, but he wasn’t family. He was friends with Marlin and Birch, so he wasn’t a stranger, but this was a delicate moment in Curran’s life. There was no way he’d want Rune here, but Rune wouldn’t let Palmer out of his sight.
He couldn’t, not when Palmer could be in danger.
Since no one could get to Palmer inside Curran and Marlin’s nestroom, Rune retreated to the living area. Birch came with him and immediately started pacing in front of the fireplace.
“Everything seems to be going well,” Rune said.
Birch nodded. “Good. They’ll be okay?”
“Palmer will do everything in his power to ensure that they are.”
“That’s a very diplomatic answer. Killian is teaching you well.”
“I’m not trying to be diplomatic. I’m just telling the truth. Palmer will do everything in his power to ensure that both Curran and the baby will be okay.”
“I know. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t argue when Curran decided he wanted Palmer here.”
Birch was extremely protective of his brother. He wasn’t the only one. None of that would matter to Palmer, though. He’d do this because it was his job and because he cared about Curran.
“So, Palmer spent the night with you,” Birch said, startling Rune.
He hadn’t expected Birch to say anything about it. “You knew where to find him.”
“Of course I did. Everyone knows the two of you are together. I went to his room, but he didn’t answer, so I knew where he’d be.”
And Birch had been right. Palmer had been exactly where Birch had expected to find him.
In Rune’s nest.
Rune probably shouldn’t feel as smug as he did at the thought that everyone in the palace knew that he and Palmer were together, but he did. He wanted everyone to know because he was proud of it. Palmer was his, and he was Palmer’s. What was there not to be proud about?
He and Birch were interrupted by the arrival of the healer Palmer had mentioned earlier. They ignored Rune and Birch and went straight to the nestroom. Rune knew that they were in for a long day, but that was okay.
He eventually settled on the couch, but Birch didn’t.
He continued pacing, but he never tried to get into the nestroom.
The sky outside the windows grew lighter, turning the light in the room golden.
Rune’s stomach growled, and he realized he’d been here for a few hours already.
He was comfortable enough on the couch, but he needed to eat, and he wouldn’t be the only one.
He was sure that Palmer and the healer would be happy to eat something, and while he didn’t know about Curran, maybe he could grab something for him, too, just in case, and Marlin, of course.
He got up from the couch and stretched. Birch frowned at him, so Rune gestured toward the door. “I’m going to go grab some food. Is there anything in particular that you want?”
“Whatever you can find is fine.”
“I’ll get a bit of everything. Be right back.”
Birch nodded. “If Palmer asks about you, I’ll tell him where you are.”
Rune left, but only because he knew that Palmer would be safe. He was with the king’s personal bodyguards and best friends. Neither Birch nor Marlin would allow anything or anyone to hurt Palmer.
Most dragons didn’t pay any attention to him as he made his way to the dining hall. The room was still fairly empty, so there was a good choice of food left. Rune put together what he thought was best for everyone, moving down the line quickly. He wasn’t the only one there, though.
“All I’m saying is that I saw smoke,” someone said.
He turned to find one of his half-brothers standing close by with two other dragons. He really didn’t want to know what Saya was talking about, but at the same time, he felt that he needed to ask. “What smoke?”
Saya turned toward him. He was young, like Twig, and he seemed eager to answer Rune’s question. “I saw smoke coming out of a window in the west wing.”
Rune waited, but Saya didn’t seem to have anything to add. “And? What’s happening there? Why is there smoke?”
Saya looked confused. “I don’t know.”
Rune resisted the urge to groan. “Have you gone to check? Have you asked anyone?”
“Not really.”
It was probably nothing, but considering the conversation Rune and Marlin had overheard a little while ago, it would be better to check.
Rune couldn’t do it himself, but he was sure that Saya didn’t need him to hold his hand.
He might need him to push him a little, though.
“Why don’t you go and see what’s going on? ”
Saya blinked his big blue eyes at him. “You want me to go check?”