Pearl smiled.It wasn’t a pleasant gesture.“I do want what’s best for the clan.”
“Then you should let Killian do his job.”
She stared at him for a moment.He had to resist the urge to squirm and run.It was tempting, though.He felt a bit like he was a bug and she was wondering if she should squash him or if he wasn’t worth it.He hoped he wasn’t.
“I see,” she eventually said.
“Well, I’m not sure what you see, but I’m afraid to say that I’m not on your side in this, Pearl.I don’t know what you have against humans, but I don’t think you’ve given them a fair chance, and it’s a pity.We really can learn a lot from each other.”
“What I have against humans is that they killed and hunted us for hundreds of years.They decimated our clans.They pushed us into hiding.”
Rune’s stomach churned.“They did, but Palmer had nothing to do with any of that.”
“He’s ahuman.That’s enough for me.”
“It’s not for me.I’ll give him a chance because he’s never hurt anyone, and I don’t think he ever will.”
The smile was back on Pearl’s lips.“We’ll see about that, I suppose.”
She turned, and Rune watched her go.That had been odd, hadn’t it?It definitely hadn’t been pleasant, and it left Rune confused, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.He couldn’t exactly go after Pearl and demand an explanation, but he felt like she’d been threatening him, even though he wasn’t sure how.Nothing she’d said should have been threatening.
But Rune knew that he was on her shit-list now.When she came for Killian—and she would, Rune was sure of that—she would come for Rune, too.He didn’t regret standing up for his brother, but he couldn’t be sure he never would.Pearl was dangerous, and he didn’t have two bodyguards like Killian did.Whatever Pearl was planning, it wasn’t going to be fun for anyone involved.
Rune finished his now-cold coffee in one gulp and stood.He should probably warn someone about their conversation.Killian, maybe.Or Marlin and Birch.
He wasn’t sure yet, but he knew he couldn’t just sit on it and pretend it hadn’t happened.
* * * *
“HEY, DOC,” SOMEONEsaid, causing Palmer to look up from his phone.He’d been texting his mother, but he quickly put down the phone when he saw that Twig was standing there.It had been a few days since he’d come to the infirmary, and Palmer had hoped it meant that he was feeling better.
From the way he looked, the opposite was true.
Palmer got up from his chair and walked around the desk, already frowning.Twig was pale and shivering.He was wearing a heavy cardigan, something that was odd because the dragons usually didn’t wear clothes.It had taken Palmer a little while to get used to that, but he was now, and seeing a dragon wearing clothes was strange.It told Palmer just how sick Twig was.
“What’s going on?”he asked, reaching for Twig.
“I don’t know.I thought I was supposed to feel better,” Twig said as he shivered.
“Have you been getting enough rest?”
“Maybe?I went flying a few days ago, but not since, I swear.I’ve mostly been staying in my nest or on the couch.I’ve been taking that stuff you gave me, too.”
“That’s good,” Palmer murmured.He gently touched Twig’s forehead, frowning when he found him hot.It was clear he had a fever.“Why don’t you come and sit on one of these beds?I’ll examine you,” he suggested.
Twig nodded and almost lost his balance.“Yeah, okay.I trust you.”
Palmer’s stomach churned.He hoped that Twig was right to put his trust in him.He was feeling out of his depth, though, even though he tried his best not to show it.“I can call another healer if you’d be more comfortable with that,” he offered.
“No, you’re fine.If Rune trusts you, I do, too.He’s always saying how good you are.”
Palmer blinked.“Is he?”
“Yeah.It’s sweet, really.”
Palmer didn’t have time to focus on what Twig was saying.He helped him onto the bed, ready to run the first tests.It would take a little while to get the answers he was looking for, and in the meantime, Twig wouldn’t be going anywhere, not with his fever.“Can you tell me how you’re feeling, what your symptoms are?”he asked.
“Well, I feel like shit.”
