Taylor sighed.“I get that.I get that you’re worried and that everything happening with Twig is a mess.You need to relax a bit, though.Obsessing over this clearly isn’t helping.Maybe taking the evening off would help.”
Palmer rubbed his face again.His eyes burned.“Maybe.We’renottalking about Rune, though.”
“Why not?I was looking forward to teasing you.”
“There’s nothing happening between me and Rune.We’re focused on helping Twig, and that’s that.”
“But you’re fond of him.”
Palmer didn’t deny it.Hewasfond of Rune.He’d felt that way even before everything that was happening with Twig.He enjoyed spending hours sitting side-by-side, researching and only talking when necessary.He wished they’d grown closer in different circumstances.The dragon was always willing to help, and while that might be because his brother was ill, it meant something.
Palmer pointed a finger at his brother.“We won’t be talking about Rune.”
“Fine,” Taylor said as he flopped back.“Be boring.”
“I’m incredibly happy being boring.You, on the other hand, are too nosy.”
“But you love me anyway.”
“Of course I do, you idiot.”Just like Rune loved Twig.
That was why Palmer wasn’t too worried yet.He knew that if he and Rune didn’t find a solution to this soon, neither of them would hesitate to force Twig to talk to dragon healers.Hell, he didn’t even have to talk to them.He just needed to allow Palmer to do so.Palmer could do all the examinations and tests, and whatever healer agreed to help him could review his results and help him identify the illness and treatments that would actually work.
Palmer couldn’t do any of that tonight, though.Taylor wasn’t wrong.Maybe taking an evening off would help his brain relax for a bit and make something he’d been missing obvious.
Because he was sure he was missing something.He just didn’t know what.
“So what do you want to do tonight?”Taylor asked, stretching his legs out in front of him.“We could go to the kitchens and see if there’s anything good left from dinner.Or we could just sit here and talk about anything except sick dragons.”
Palmer considered it.The idea of leaving his room, of stepping away from the medical texts and his spiraling thoughts, was appealing.“Food sounds good,” he admitted.“I can’t remember the last time I ate.”
“That’s what I thought.”Taylor stood up and gestured toward the door.“Come on.Let’s get you fed before you collapse.”
Palmer hesitated, glancing back at the books scattered across his room.Part of him wanted to stay to keep searching for the answer that had to be there somewhere.But Taylor was right.He wasn’t doing anyone any good like this.
“All right,” he said, pushing himself up from the couch.“Let’s go.”
As they left his room, Palmer felt some of the tension in his shoulders ease.Maybe a break really was what he needed.And maybe, just maybe, when he came back to the problem with fresh eyes, the answer would finally reveal itself.
Chapter Six
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RUNE HAD BEEN SPENDINGenough time with Palmer to know that he wasn’t taking care of himself.He was so focused on finding out what was happening to Twig and now Yorga that he wasn’t eating regularly, and while it wasn’t Rune’s job to ensure that he did, Rune had decided to take it upon himself.He was sure that Palmer’s brother was helping, too, but the man had a job.On the other hand, Rune’s job was literally to hang around with Palmer and help him since that was what Killian had assigned Rune to do, which was why Rune was currently carrying a bag with plenty of food for breakfast to the infirmary.
He didn’t blame Palmer for being worried.He was worried, too, but in a way, it had to be worse for Palmer because he was Twig’s doctor.He was supposed to know what was wrong and help Twig, but he couldn’t even identify whatever illness Twig had.And now, Yorga was ill, too, which meant it might be contagious, which was a worry all of its own.There were many vulnerable people in the palace, including Curran, who was pregnant.What would happen if this illness spread?How could they stop it when they didn’t know what it was?
So no, Palmer wasn’t taking care of himself, which meant that Rune would do it for him.It might not be his place, but someone needed to do it, and he didn’t have anything better to do.He alsowantedto take care of Palmer.The man was doing a lot.He shouldn’t have to worry about where he was going to get food and when.
Sure enough, when Rune pushed open the infirmary door, he immediately noticed Palmer sitting on the chair next to Twig’s bed.Twig was sleeping, and while he looked peaceful, he was too pale.His color had always been a pale blue, but it wastoopale now.It was almost as if Twig was fading, which wasn’t like him.He’d always been outspoken and lively.
He wasn’t anymore.
Palmer looked up when he heard the door.He frowned when he saw Rune, but he didn’t ask him what he was doing there.He also didn’t tell him to leave.
Instead of going to Twig’s bed, Rune headed toward the small office Palmer worked from in the corner of the infirmary.The desk was full of books and notepads, so it took Rune a moment to make enough space for the food.By the time he was done, Palmer had joined him in the office and was watching him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly.
