Chapter One
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PALMER HUMMED AS HEworked.The guard he was treating was distracted by his phone, so he wouldn’t mind.His injury was minor.Just a cut while he’d been training, which was something Palmer expected to see more of.These guards were human, and they were now training and working with dragon shifters.There were bound to be bumps and bruises.
As it was, the guard’s bruises were spectacular.The guy wasn’t complaining, though.No, he was too focused on his phone for that.
“Who are you texting?”Palmer asked.“If you don’t mind me asking.”
The guard shrugged.“My girlfriend.”
“Does she live here?”It was a legitimate question.As far as Palmer knew, none of the humans who’d moved into the palace with the dragons had brought their families with them.He might be the only one, and his brother was here because he was a guard, not because he was his brother.
“She’s back home.We agreed I should come here for at least a year to earn more money, you know, but I miss her.”
Palmer nodded as if he understood, but he hadn’t left anyone behind.Well, he’d left his parents, but it wasn’t the same.He hadn’t lived with them since he was in high school.The person he was closest to was with him, so really, as far as he was concerned, living at the palace was perfect.
He knew that a lot of people didn’t view it the same way.None of the humans had been ordered to come here, but it was clear that some of them had been thinking more about the money than about the consequences of being isolated for so long.Not that Palmer blamed the dragons for keeping their palaces closed off and building them as far away from humanity as possible.Considering the way humans had always treated them, he was actually surprised they’d been allowed in.
As a doctor, being able to work here with dragons gave him the opportunity of a lifetime.He was learning about dragon physiology and healing, something he’d never thought possible.It was also something he wasn’t sure would be useful to him if he ever left the palace, but the king had insisted that he wanted human and dragon healing to work together, and Palmer was one of the first to attempt that.Of course, he wasn’t doing it alone.He was working with several dragon healers who were just as interested in human medicine as he was in dragon healing.
“Here you go,” he said, patting the guard’s arm.“All set.Keep the wound clean, and you shouldn’t have any problem.”
The guard grinned at him and hopped off the table.The infirmary door opened, and Palmer turned to it, already distracted, especially when he saw it was his brother.
“Thanks, Doc,” the guard said as he collected his things.“I’m glad you could help.”
“Anytime,” Palmer told him.“It’s why I’m here.”
The guard left, and Taylor gave him a bemused smile as he did so.“What happened?”he asked Palmer.
“Got nicked during training.He’ll be fine.”
“Of course he will be.You took care of him.”
Palmer shook his head.“It was just a cut.”
“Still.”Taylor looked Palmer up and down.“How are you doing?”
Palmer resisted the urge to groan.Even though Taylor was the younger of the two of them, he’d always been protective.He was the fighter, so maybe it made sense, but Palmer didn’t need him to be.He was fine.“I’d tell you if I wasn’t okay,” he said.“How areyoudoing?You’re the one risking your life every day.”
“I’m not risking my life.I’m just a guard.”
“Considering not all dragons are happy to have us around, it could be dangerous.”
“Which is why I’m checking on you.I can defend myself.You wouldn’t be able to fight your way out of a wet paper bag.”
“Hey!”Palmer argued, but Taylor wasn’t wrong.Palmer wasn’t a fighter.He was a doctor, and he wouldn’t know where to start if he had to defend himself.Well, he could use a scalpel, but that was about it.
“You know I’m right,” Taylor said, looking unapologetic.“Also, you have a meeting with Killian.”
Palmer narrowed his eyes.“So that’s why you’re here.I don’t need to be walked around like we’re still in high school.”
“I did it for the same reason when we were in high school, and I’m doing it now that we’re here.I need to keep bullies away from you.”
“You’re not funny, but fine.You can walk me to the meeting.”Palmer wasn’t actually offended by Taylor feeling the need to protect him.There were several highly placed dragons who were pretty vocal about not liking humans, and Palmer was in a pretty prominent place as one.He was a doctor.He’d been told he could work on any dragon who would allow him to, and he hadn’t shied away from asking anytime he could.Luckily, most of them were perfectly okay with him doing so, if a bit bemused, but he couldn’t help but think about Killian’s sister and how much she hated humans.If Pearl had a say, Palmer would find himself outside the palace walls without even being allowed to pack his bags.
He gathered his things while Taylor poked around the infirmary, earning himself a few confused glances and even glares from the dragons working there.Palmer lightly punched his brother’s shoulder once he was ready, shaking his head at him when Taylor looked up from the jars he’d been looking at.
