Chapter Eleven #2
“Yes. A friend of mine is in labor, so I can’t go myself, but you can.”
Saya grinned. “I will.”
“You can call me if there’s anything wrong, or you can find me in Marlin and Curran’s quarters. Let me know, all right?”
Saya’s eyes were still wide as he nodded eagerly. “I will. I’ll let you know as soon as I know what’s going on.”
Rune really hoped it wasn’t a fire. It wouldn’t be unusual since a whole lot of dragons lived in the palace, and it was hard for children and teenagers to control their shifts and all of that, but it wasn’t a complication anyone needed today of all days.
Something told him this was just the beginning, though.
* * * *
PALMER HEARD THE COMMOTION outside. It was distant, muffled by the walls separating him from it, but it was there. Voices raised in alarm, maybe even shouting. He wanted to know what was happening and to make sure that Rune was safe, but he couldn’t leave. Not now.
Not when Curran needed him most.
“What’s going on out there?” Curran asked through gritted teeth. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple, and his hands were clenched so tightly around Marlin’s that Palmer worried he might break something.
“I don’t know,” Palmer admitted. “But we have people out there who’ll handle it.”
He believed that. Rune was there, along with Birch. If something was wrong, they would deal with it. They wouldn’t let anything happen to anyone in this room. Palmer had to trust that so he could focus on what was in front of him. Curran was his priority right now, and nothing else mattered.
“It’s getting worse,” Curran gasped, his body tensing.
Palmer moved closer, checking Curran’s position. The healer was on the other side, ready to step in if needed, but for now, they were both just watching. This was natural. This was supposed to happen. Palmer just had to be here in case something went wrong.
“You’re doing great,” Marlin murmured, pressing a kiss to Curran’s temple. “Just breathe.”
Curran didn’t look like he believed him, but he tried anyway. His breathing was uneven, and Palmer could see the way his body was trembling. He’d studied every book he could find on dragon births, but reading about it and witnessing it were two different things.
“It’s time,” the healer said quietly, and Palmer nodded.
He’d known it was coming. Curran’s body had been preparing for this for hours now, and there was no stopping it.
Palmer positioned himself where he needed to be, his hands steady even though his heart was racing.
He couldn’t afford to be nervous. Curran needed him to be calm and confident, and he could be. He knew what he was doing.
“You’re almost there,” he told Curran. “Just a little more.”
Curran made a sound that was between a groan and a sob, and his body went rigid.
Palmer watched, his focus entirely on Curran now, as the egg began to emerge.
It was slow and careful, and Palmer was ready to intervene if something went wrong.
Nothing did, though. Curran’s body knew what to do, and within moments, the egg was there.
Palmer caught it carefully, cradling it in his gloved hands. It was warm, smooth, and slightly larger than he’d expected. It was beautiful. He moved quickly, placing it in the nest beside Curran where it would be safe and warm.
“Is it okay?” Curran asked, his voice hoarse.
“Let me check,” Palmer said, but he was already looking. The egg was intact, with no cracks or damage that he could see. He ran his hands over it gently, checking for any abnormalities, but there was nothing. “It’s perfect,” he told Curran, and the relief in Curran’s expression was immediate.
Marlin was crying now, his arms wrapped tightly around Curran, and Palmer gave them a moment. They deserved it. This was their moment—their baby—and Palmer was just here to make sure everything went smoothly.
The healer moved closer, and together, they checked Curran over. He was obviously exhausted, but he was okay. The laying had gone without complications or injuries. Everything was exactly as it should be.
“You did amazing,” Palmer told him, and Curran laughed weakly.
“I feel like I just got trampled by the entire clan.”
“That’s normal,” the healer said with a small smile. “You’ll feel better in a few days.”
Palmer hoped so. He also hoped that whatever was happening outside was resolved, because now that Curran and the egg were safe, he really wanted to check on Rune.
He wouldn’t leave yet, though. Not until he was absolutely certain that Curran didn’t need him anymore.
* * * *
BIRCH WAS PACING AGAIN by the time the bedroom door opened.
Rune supposed he should feel lucky that he’d at least sat down long enough to eat, but he was clearly nervous, and Rune didn’t blame him.
He’d never been in this kind of situation.
He had a lot of siblings, but he wasn’t as close to any of them as Birch was to Curran.
He hoped that would change someday, especially when he saw how much they loved each other.
Birch stopped instantly when he heard the door, and both he and Rune turned to face it. Rune half expected Palmer, but it was the healer. They paused when they saw them and smiled slightly, which Rune hoped meant that everything had gone well.
“How is he?” Birch asked.
“Everyone is fine. The egg is perfect, and the laying went without problems.”
Birch’s shoulders slumped. “Thank God.”
The healer nodded. “You don’t have to worry. Your brother is going to be okay.”
Curran would need time to recuperate, and now wasn’t the time for Rune to stick around.
He was sure that Palmer would wonder where he was, but considering his conversation with Saya, Rune thought it would be a good idea for him to find out what was going on.
It didn’t look like Palmer was done, and he’d be safe as long as he stayed here since it didn’t look like Birch was going anywhere.
“Can I see him?” Birch asked.
“You can. He’s waiting for you.”
Birch left without looking back at Rune.
Rune wasn’t offended. In fact, he would have been surprised if Birch had bothered to give him any attention.
He stayed with the healer, opening the door so that they could leave and smiling at them.
The healer looked slightly confused, maybe at his presence there, but they didn’t ask, and Rune didn’t volunteer any kind of information.
It didn’t matter why he was there. It just mattered that he had been.
He watched the healer walk down the hallway for a second.
He could hear people in the distance, and he needed to find out what was going on.
He had to be sure that everyone in the rooms behind him would be safe.
He also wanted to check in on his brother.
He and Saya might not be close, but that didn’t mean that Rune didn’t care.
Rune wasn’t sure where to go, but he knew that if something was going on, Killian would know, so he headed towards his brother’s office.
He didn’t get that far, though. He turned the corner to find that Palmer’s brother and Aaron, the human ambassador, were coming toward him.
They were talking quickly, and Rune paused, wondering if they’d answer his questions.
He hadn’t officially met Taylor before, though he’d seen him around the palace.
He was sure that Taylor knew of Rune’s relationship with Palmer, and not only through gossip.
Palmer had mentioned that he and his brother were close and that they’d talked about many things, and Rune was sure that included him.
He just hoped he’d left a good impression on the man.
Aaron looked up and smiled when he saw him. Rune hoped that meant that everything was fine, but he still needed to be sure. “I heard there might be a fire,” he said.
Taylor blinked at him. “Where did you come from?”
“Marlin and Curran’s quarters. Curran just laid his egg, and your brother is in there helping.”
Taylor smiled. “Oh, that’s good. Everyone’s fine?”
“They are. I heard about that possible fire from my brother, and I was wondering what was happening.”
“Which one of your brothers?” Aaron asked. “Killian didn’t mention talking to you.”
“Because it wasn’t him. I understand if you can’t tell me anything, but I’d like to know if you can.”
“I’m sure Killian will be fine with you knowing. The two of you are close.”
“I don’t think so, but I can go directly to him if it makes you more comfortable.”
Taylor shrugged. “Considering that you’re dating my brother, you might as well know. Someone did set a fire in the west wing.”
“Who?” That didn’t sound like something Pearl would do. She was sneakier. She didn’t use fire.
She used poison.
Aaron hesitated. “It was another one of your siblings.”
Rune briefly closed his eyes. “That doesn’t surprise me.” Pearl wouldn’t have set the fire by herself, but she wouldn’t have hesitated to use one of her supporters to do so, including her siblings. She would probably sacrifice her own mother if it brought her one step closer to the throne. “Who?”
“Alatar. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. I’m not surprised to hear his name.”
“Will you be surprised to hear that Killian already sent someone to his quarters and they found proof that he’s involved with the poisoning of three of your siblings?” Taylor asked.
“He’s Pearl’s ally. I know she was involved with the poisoning, but she was never one to get her hands dirty.
” Still, this felt like something had gone wrong.
Even if Alatar was involved with the poisonings, why had he left evidence lying around in his rooms?
He should’ve been smarter than that. Pearl would definitely have kept an eye on him if he truly was involved, and she would’ve made sure that no one could link her to any of this.
That was it, wasn’t it? She’d wanted to be sure that she couldn’t be linked to the poisonings, so she’d set up her brother so he’d take the fall for it. She probably thought that with Alatar involved, Killian would stop looking at her.
She should know better. She might be stubborn, but when it came to protecting the people he loved and the throne, Killian was even more stubborn. He’d get to the bottom of this, and he would find out who was involved, no matter what anyone was trying to hide.
“At least he seems eager to drag her down with him,” Taylor commented, surprising Rune.
“I’m sorry?”
“He blurted out that she told him to do it almost as soon as he realized that he was done for. He’s not going to keep her involvement secret. He might have been loyal to her before, but I don’t think he is anymore, not when it comes to saving his own skin.”
Rune hadn’t expected that. Usually, the people who worked with Pearl were devoted to her.
He’d sometimes wondered how she did that because it was clear that she didn’t care about anyone but herself.
How could she convince people to care about her so deeply that they didn’t hesitate to sacrifice themselves for her?
Not Alatar. It didn’t look like he was going to sacrifice himself for anyone. He might have believed in Pearl’s cause when it came to the throne, but clearly, he wouldn’t go down on his own.
This could be the break they needed.
It might not be enough, but it also might be.
Pearl would no doubt argue that Alatar just wanted to save his own skin, and that definitely was something most people would do, but it gave Killian and his people something to dig into.
It gave them hope. They could find out what Pearl had been up to so they could stop her.
For now, that was all he needed.