RUNE COULDN’T REMEMBERthe last time he’d felt this comfortable walking through the palace hallways.Maybe never.For years, he’d kept to himself, maintaining a careful distance from his half-siblings and anyone their father could’ve used against him.Rune had learned early to keep his head down, avoid drawing attention, and stay out of the complicated web of alliances and rivalries that their father had encouraged among them.
But things were different now.Their father was gone, Killian was king, and Rune had begun to let his guard down.He’d started spending more time with Marlin and Birch, Killian’s bodyguards and closest friends.He’d joined family dinners instead of eating alone in his room.He’d even started to think of the palace as home rather than just a place he happened to live.
It helped that Marlin made everything seem easy.The dragon walked beside him now, talking about something Birch had done earlier that day, his hands gesturing as he spoke.Rune found himself smiling, amused by the story even though he’d already heard three variations of it from different people.
“And then he just looked at me,” Marlin continued, his eyes bright, “and said,that’s not how you hold a baby.Can you believe that?I’ve been helping with the twins since they were born, and suddenly I don’t know how to hold a baby.”
Rune laughed.“To be fair, you did almost drop one of them last week.”
“I didnotalmost drop her,” Marlin protested, but there was no real heat in his voice.“She wiggled.It wasn’t my fault.”
“Babies tend to do that.”
“Yes, well, no one warned me about that.”Marlin grinned at him.“You’re awfully chatty today.Does this have anything to do with a certain human doctor?”
Rune felt heat rise to his cheeks.He’d been trying not to think about Palmer, about how close they’d come to kissing on the balcony, about how right it had felt to have Palmer pressed against him when they’d hidden from Pearl.But of course Marlin would notice.Marlin noticed everything.It was in his job description.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rune said, but even he could hear how unconvincing he sounded.
“Sure you don’t.”Marlin’s smile widened.“For what it’s worth, I think you two would be good together.Palmer’s a good man.Smart, dedicated, kind.And the way he looks at you?That’s not nothing, Rune.”
Rune wanted to ask what Marlin meant by that and to know if it was really that obvious, but they were approaching the dining hall, and the scent of food made his stomach growl.He’d skipped lunch again, too caught up in his research with Palmer to remember to eat.Palmer had probably skipped it, too, which meant Rune would need to bring him something after he got his own food.
He was about to say as much to Marlin when he heard voices coming from around the corner just ahead.The urgent tone made something in his chest tighten.
Marlin heard them, too.His expression changed immediately, all traces of amusement vanishing as he held up a hand, signaling Rune to stop.They both did, listening.
“—the human problem needs to be handled soon,” a voice was saying.Rune recognized it immediately—Evard.He’d always been one of Pearl’s followers, quick to agree with whatever she said.“If we wait too long, Killian’s going to make it impossible.”
“And you’re sure about the timing?”This voice Rune didn’t recognize, but it was male, younger-sounding.
“Pearl’s been planning this for weeks,” Evard said.“We just need to make sure we’re ready when she gives the word.It has to look natural, like an accident.No one can trace it back to us.”
Rune’s blood ran cold.The human problem.Palmer.They were talking about Palmer.His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and he took an involuntary step forward, but Marlin’s hand shot out, gripping his arm tightly.
“Wait,” Marlin breathed, his voice barely audible.“Let them finish.”
“What about the doctor’s brother?”the younger voice asked.“He’s been asking questions, getting too close to some of the staff.”
“One problem at a time,” Evard said dismissively.“Once the doctor’s out of the way, the brother won’t be an issue.He’ll leave on his own, and Killian won’t have any reason to keep humans around.Pearl says—”
The voices were fading now, moving away from them.Rune strained to hear more, but they were too far gone.He turned to Marlin, his heart pounding.
“They’re going to kill him,” Rune said, his voice tight with barely controlled fury.“Pearl’s planning to kill Palmer.”
Marlin’s expression was grim.“We need to tell Killian.Now.”
“We need to warn Palmer,” Rune countered.“If they’re planning something soon—”
“We’ll do both,” Marlin said.“But, Rune, you need to be careful.If Pearl knows you care about Palmer, she might try to use that against you.You could become a target, too.”
“I don’t care,” Rune said, and he meant it.The thought of Palmer in danger made something fierce and protective rise up in his chest.“I’m not going to let her hurt him.”
Marlin studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.“All right.But you need to stick close to Palmer from now on.Don’t let him walk around alone, especially not at night.And for the love of everything, don’t let him stand out on balconies by himself.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Rune felt his cheeks heat again.Marlin raised an eyebrow.
“I knew it,” Marlin said, a hint of his earlier amusement creeping back into his voice.“You twohavebeen sneaking around.”
