Chapter Twelve
This wasn’t Curran’s idea of a good time. Even though the garden was as beautiful as always, he suspected that from now on, he’d always associate it with Pearl. He hated that she’d ruined that for him, and he suspected she was about to make it even worse.
Pearl had wanted to see him. Well, she hadn’t signed her message, but he was pretty sure it was her. Who else could it be? He didn’t get random messages from people he didn’t know. The only person who would want to see him was the king’s sister, which didn’t bode well.
Curran had to resist the urge to look back.
He knew that Birch and Marlin were following him and that more guards were waiting in the garden.
They’d intervene if Pearl tried anything, but she wasn’t after Curran.
Curran was just a means to an end. She was after her brother, and he suspected that whatever was about to happen could make or break the situation.
Part of Curran was relieved it would finally be over.
He’d had enough of looking over his shoulder, of having to hide his relationship with Marlin, and of having to keep his distance from the people he loved.
He hated lying about his brother, especially when those lies had to imply that Birch was violent.
He just wanted to go back to his normal life, get excited about laying his egg, and freak out over the fact that he and Marlin were going to have a child.
If he never had to think of Pearl again, he’d be happy.
He stroked a hand over his stomach and told himself to breathe. He and Pearl were meeting in a public place. They’d be surrounded by guards. Even if she tried, she wouldn’t be able to do anything to Curran. He and his baby would be safe.
They had to be.
Part of him wondered what was going through Pearl’s mind.
He didn’t understand how she could hate her brother so much, but he supposed that they hadn’t grown up like he and Birch had.
From what he knew, Killian was close to some of the siblings, but the fact that they all had different mothers and hadn’t grown up together made things complicated.
Still, he didn’t feel it complicated them enough for Pearl to want Killian dead, yet that was what she wanted.
He swallowed as he reached the garden. This was it.
Hopefully, he’d finally be able to put this mess behind himself and focus on the future.
He hoped he’d never have to see Pearl again after today.
He wished that Killian could take care of her without having to wait for her to become a danger, but he understood why Killian hadn’t.
Imprisoning his sister when he had no proof that she was coming after him would set a dangerous precedent.
Besides, it wasn’t the kind of person Killian was.
Curran might find him annoying—like he’d find any of Birch’s friends annoying, including Marlin sometimes—but that didn’t take away from the kind of person he was. Killian was a good leader.
The message had specified that Pearl wanted to see Curran at the same bench where they’d met the last time, so as soon as he stepped out of the palace, that was where he headed.
His mouth was dry, and he felt jittery, but he tried his best not to look too nervous.
He didn’t think that Pearl would be surprised if he was, though.
After all, she was the king’s sister. Anyone would find her intimidating, even without the reputation she had of being ruthless and uncaring of anyone but herself and the people close to her.
Curran didn’t know if that was true, but he didn’t think it mattered.
He sat on the bench and looked around. Like always, there were other people here.
Two dragons were strolling down a path, talking and gesturing at each other.
A human was sitting on one of the benches, reading a book.
Curran squinted. He was pretty sure that was Taylor, Palmer’s brother.
He didn’t know him personally, but he knew that Taylor had been in the human military. Was that why he was there?
Fall was coming, but there were still flowers in the bushes, and their scent helped Curran relax. He cupped a hand around his stomach, needing the reassurance. Nothing bad would happen to his baby. They’d both be fine by the end of the day, no matter what was about to happen.
Someone sat next to him, startling him. He looked sideways, frowning when he didn’t recognize the dragon there.
“I’m sorry, but I’m waiting for someone,” he said, hoping the dragon would move on.
The last thing he wanted was for Pearl to think he’d changed his mind and for her to stay away. He needed this to work.
The dragon didn’t look at him. They stared ahead, but they still managed to make Curran feel uncomfortable.
“You’re waiting for me,” they said.
“No.”
The dragon finally glanced at Curran. Their expression was hard, and for a moment, Curran was afraid. Were they about to reach for him? Were they going to try to hurt him?
“Who are you?” he asked in a trembling voice that he didn’t have to fake.
“A mutual friend sent me.”
“What mutual friend? What are you talking about?”
“You know better. She said that you needed help, but she needs you to help her first.”
Curran finally understood. Of course Pearl wasn’t coming. They should have known. She wouldn’t want to take the risk, especially if she suspected that Curran was faking it. It was a chance they’d needed to take, and they’d hoped she’d fall for it.
Their plan was ruined.
The only way they’d have to link Pearl to this was to get this dragon to talk about her. Maybe Curran could convince them to at least say her name. “I’m not sure who you’re talking about,” he tried. “I’m sorry. I’m just confused.”
“She can help you,” the dragon repeated. “But before she can do that, you have to help her.”
Curran licked his lips. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The dragon glared at Curran. “Stop playing innocent. You know what this is about and what you’re in for. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”
Curran shook his head. “Please.”
The dragon reached out and grabbed Curran’s arm. Curran jerked back, but the dragon didn’t let go. They squeezed hard, causing Curran to yelp.
“Stop,” the dragon said. “You should have stayed away if you didn’t want to be involved, but it’s too late now.” He gave Curran a shake. “So shut up and listen. You have a job to do, and you’re going to do it.”
* * * *
MARLIN HAD HAD ENOUGH. He’d been fine—well, mostly fine—watching things from afar without intervening when they’d been waiting for Pearl to arrive, but this was too much. He wouldn’t allow anyone to touch Curran when it was clear that Curran didn’t want them to.
He didn’t. He was pulling at his arm that the other dragon was still holding onto and looking around as if he was scared. Marlin wasn’t sure how much of that was an act, but he wasn’t about to wait and see. Curran needed him.
He might be making a mistake. They were supposed to wait for Pearl to arrive and explain what she wanted Curran to do.
It was why he and Birch were hiding in the bushes like last time.
Marlin suspected that Pearl wasn’t coming, though.
She was smart. She wouldn’t want to be linked to whatever she’d planned.
They should have known this would happen.
Marlin had suspected it would, but he’d wanted Curran to finally be able to take a step back and get out of this mess.
After today, Pearl would know that he’d been working against her.
She’d stop contacting him and trying to get to Killian through him.
She wouldn’t be happy, but she wouldn’t try to hurt him.
She’d known the risk when she’d started talking to him.
She would have thought about everything.
When the dragon sitting on the bench with Curran gave Curran a shake, Marlin shot forward.
Birch didn’t try to stop him. In fact, Marlin knew he was behind him without looking back.
Birch wouldn’t allow anything to happen to his brother any more than Marlin would.
He was as unhappy as Marlin about this mess.
“You go to Curran. I’ll take the dragon,” Birch said.
Marlin nodded. Curran was his priority. As much as he wanted to find out what the fuck was happening and get answers, he’d get them anyway. His job was to protect the dragon he loved and their baby.
They weren’t the only ones moving forward. As soon as they’d exited the bushes, the other guards had popped up. Marlin might not trust them as fully as he trusted Birch, but he knew they could do their job. They didn’t have to worry about this dragon running. They wouldn’t be going anywhere.
The dragon noticed something was happening and got to their feet. They looked around, still holding Curran’s arm, while Curran tried to pull away. The dragon wouldn’t let go, though, and Marlin’s stomach turned. The fear he felt tasted bitter in his mouth.
Curran turned to the dragon and punched them in the face. It didn’t look hard from where Marlin was, but it was enough to startle the other dragon. They let go of Curran and took a step back as they reached for their nose, and Marlin was able to grab Curran by the waist and pull him into his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Curran was still glaring at the dragon who’d been talking to him. They tried running away, but Birch had reached them, and they were surrounded by guards. It was particularly satisfying to watch one of them tackle the dragon and slam them to the ground.
“Curran?” Marlin asked. “Are you okay?”
Curran blinked up at him. “I’m fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. I don’t think it’ll even bruise.”
“I would have killed them if they’d bruised you.”
To Marlin’s surprise, Curran smiled and patted his chest. “Down, boy. I said I’m fine. You don’t have to kill anyone for looking at me.”
Marlin gently brushed his fingers on the spot where the dragon had grabbed Curran. “They did more than look at you.”
“I promise I’m fine, but I didn’t get any answers. They wouldn’t mention Pearl, not even when I asked.”
Marlin wasn’t surprised. Pearl was smart, so she would’ve planned for something like this to happen. She would’ve sent someone she trusted and who wouldn’t give her away. That was why the message Curran had received hadn’t been signed. That way, she could deny it had come from her.
That wasn’t Marlin’s problem. He was done with this mess.
His full focus from now on would be on Curran.
As much as he wanted to protect Killian and get rid of Pearl, he had priorities.
Besides, he suspected that Pearl would lie low for a while after all of this.
She might have managed not to appear involved, but she’d still have to regroup and think about her next step.
Now, she knew that Killian was aware of her plotting.
Hopefully, she would lie low for a while and would allow them to relax and for the baby to arrive.
“We’re taking him downstairs,” Birch said as he moved closer. His expression was grim. “He hasn’t said anything, though.”
“You know who it is?”
“One of the guards recognized him. We found something in the pouch around his neck.”
Marlin sucked in a breath when Birch held his hand out and revealed a small vial on his palm.
The liquid inside it was clear. Marlin was ready to bet that it was also tasteless so anyone drinking it wouldn’t notice it.
“Poison?” It was the first time someone tried to poison Killian, but it had been routine for his father.
“Probably. He won’t tell us, but I’ll ask one of the healers to take a look at whatever’s in this. I think we can assume that this was Pearl’s plan, though.”
She’d wanted to poison her brother. She was ready to kill Killian to take the throne.
Marlin didn’t have siblings, but he didn’t understand that.
Everyone knew that Killian’s father had been an asshole.
Shouldn’t that have united his children against him?
Instead, it was the second time since Killian had become king that one of his siblings had tried to get rid of him.
When would it stop? Would it ever stop? Marlin didn’t know, but he did know that whatever happened, he’d be there to protect Killian.
It would force him to work long hours and spend time away from his family.
He didn’t have a choice, unfortunately. Even if Killian hadn’t been one of his best friends, he couldn’t afford for anything to happen to the king.
If Killian fell, the people close to him would fall with him, and that included Marlin, Birch, and, through him, Curran.
Besides, Curran would no doubt be on Pearl’s shit list from now on.
It was an uncomfortable place to be, but it would be fine. Curran wasn’t the only one on that list.