Killian was incredibly down-to-earth, though, and he wouldn’t be going as the king.He’d be going as Twig’s brother, something he was clearly eager to be.Palmer’s relationship with his own brother was very close, and he wanted Killian and the others to have that if there was a chance that they could.He’d been told about the way they’d been raised, and he’d been horrified, but there was still time for them to fix things.
Hopefully, they would.
“You know,” Hedley said, interrupting Palmer’s thoughts, “I think it’s good that you’re here.Not just for the medical expertise, but because you’re an outside perspective.Sometimes that’s what a family needs.”
Palmer smiled.“I hope I can help.”
“You already are,” Killian said, and there was a warmth in his voice that made Palmer feel truly welcome.
Chapter Four
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RUNE WAS ALMOST DONEwith his coffee when he felt the dining room still around him.Initially, he didn’t think much of it.He always took his time in the morning, but most people didn’t.They were in a rush, flitting in and out of the room to get coffee and breakfast before getting to work.Rune got up early on purpose so he didn’t have to rush.
But the sudden stillness was odd.He looked up, wondering if something had happened, only to find himself looking into his sister’s eyes.She stood next to his table, watching him in a way that made his skin prickle with unease.
Rune sucked in a breath.“Pearl,” he said.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t his favorite sister.She wasn’t even a sister he liked.He had no idea what Pearl wanted, but he suspected he was about to find out, and that he probably wouldn’t like it.
When Pearl smiled, Rune blinked.He had no idea if he’d ever seen her smile before.Maybe he had, but definitely not at him.She didn’t have a reason to smile at him.She didn’t have a reason to talk to him.Killian might be trying to fix their relationship, but Pearl had never been interested in Rune or any of their siblings who didn’t follow her blindly.
“How are you doing, Rune?”she asked.
Rune resisted the urge to look around to make sure she was talking to him and not to someone behind him.“I’m fine, thank you.Did you need anything?”He knew to be careful.She had to want something from him.She wouldn’t have a reason to be talking to him otherwise.That something probably had to do with Killian, which didn’t bode well.
“I just wanted to check in on you,” she said pleasantly.“And to make sure you were all right.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well, I know that Killian is forcing you to work with that human.I’d stay away from him if I were you, but I understand you don’t have a choice.”
Rune had no idea how to answer that.He didn’t think that Killian would have tried to change his mind if he’d decided he didn’t want to work with Palmer.He might have wanted an explanation, but he would’ve accepted it, even if he’d probably been disappointed.Rune didn’t mind working with Palmer, though.In fact, he quite enjoyed it.
They didn’t talk a lot while they worked.Palmer was always quite focused, and usually, Rune’s contribution was limited to finding books on the subjects Palmer was researching.He spent a lot of time going back and forth between their table and the shelves, and of course, watching Palmer.That was the biggest perk of the job, and Rune quite liked it.
He wasn’t about to tell Pearl of all people about his crush on Palmer, though.If he could get away with it, he wouldn’t be telling her anything at all, but she was still standing there, watching him.
He resisted the urge to look around.He knew the people around them were listening, and he didn’t want to cause drama.He couldn’t stand up to her and ask her what she was insinuating, but he also had to say something.
“I don’t have a problem working with Palmer,” he said.“He’s a good doctor.”
Pearl wrinkled her nose.“He’s human.He shouldn’t be here.”
“No one is asking you to spend any length of time with him,” Rune pointed out.He was starting to get irritated.“But he’s a good person, and he’s working to help the clan.”
Pearl snorted delicately.“No human can help the clan.The only thing they can do is make the clan weak, and I think that you know that.”She took a step closer.She hadn’t been talking loudly, so Rune wasn’t sure that the people around them could hear what she was saying.He also wasn’t sure that she cared whether or not they could.Everyone knew how she felt about Killian and his policies regarding humans.It wasn’t a secret.No one was probably surprised by what she was saying, and she didn’t feel ashamed of it.
“I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on that,” Rune said as nicely as he could, considering the circumstances.
“This isn’t going to end well for anyone involved, be it you or the clan.I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
That was bullshit, and they both knew it.“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine.”
“For now.You really should be careful, though.You and I are family.If you were on my side, I’d do anything in my power to protect you.”
Rune straightened his back and squared his shoulders.“On your side?I thought we all had one side, which is what’s best for the clan.”
