“We haven’t been sneaking around,” Rune protested.“We were just talking.On the balcony.At night.”
“Talking.”Marlin’s tone made it clear what he thought of that.“Right.Well, whatever you were doing, be more careful about it.Pearl has eyes everywhere, and if she saw you two together, well...”He didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.
Rune swallowed hard.He’d known that his growing feelings for Palmer were dangerous.But hearing Marlin say it out loud made it real in a way it hadn’t been before.Pearl wouldn’t just see Palmer as a threat to dragon purity or whatever nonsense she was spouting these days.She’d see him as a way to hurt Rune and Killian and to destabilize everything their brother was trying to build.
And yet, even knowing that, Rune couldn’t bring himself to regret it.He couldn’t regret the way Palmer smiled at him or the hours they spent together in the library—or the way his heart had raced when Palmer had leaned in close on the balcony.He couldn’t regret wanting something good after so many years of keeping everyone at arm’s length.
“I’ll be careful,” Rune said finally.“But I’m not going to stop spending time with him.I’m not going to let Pearl control my life the way our father did.”
Marlin’s expression softened.“Good.You shouldn’t.Just be smart about it, okay?And let us help.You don’t have to protect him alone.”
“Thank you,” Rune said quietly.He meant it for more than just the offer of protection.He meant it for the acceptance, for the understanding, for the way Marlin talked about Palmer as if his relationship with Rune was something natural and right rather than something shameful or disgusting.
“Come on,” Marlin said, starting to walk again.“Let’s get you some food, and then we’ll find Palmer and Killian.We need to figure out what Pearl’s planning before it’s too late.”
Rune followed, but his mind was already racing ahead, planning.He needed to keep Palmer safe.He needed to warn him without frightening him.He needed to figure out what Pearl was planning and stop her before she could hurt anyone else.
And he needed to do it all while pretending that his heart didn’t stutter every time he thought about Palmer’s smile, or the way they’d stood pressed together in the darkness, or the kiss that had almost happened.
This was going to be harder than he’d thought.
Chapter Ten
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IT WAS TIME FOR RUNEto do something drastic.Palmer had been spending all of his time in the infirmary, which wasn’t new, but now that Twig, Ash, and Yorga were feeling better, it was time for him to leave.He wouldn’t until all of his patients could, too, which was a problem.Ash and Yorga were already on their way home, but Twig?It would take him a little more time.He’d been the one who was the most impacted by what happened, and while he was doing okay, he was still recovering.Knowing that he might do something stupid like go flying even though he wasn’t ready for it yet, it wasn’t a bad idea to keep him in the infirmary.The problem was that Palmer was staying with him.
It was good to see how much Palmer cared.Rune liked that, just like he liked a lot of other things about Palmer, but he also wanted to spend time with him.More than that, it was time for Palmer to see something that wasn’t the infirmary, with its beds and patients in pain.He needed to relax, and Rune had just the right way to make it so.It wasn’t anything big, which meant that Palmer would probably agree, and if he didn’t, well...Rune would find a way to convince him.Maybe he could use their budding relationship.He could tell Palmer that he missed him.He was pretty sure that Palmer would try to do something about it.
It wouldn’t be a lie.Rune did miss Palmer.The fact that if they started a relationship during these trying times, it would make everything more complicated, but they could do it.Rune was sure of it.Being together meant spending time together, though, which was why he was back in the infirmary, ready to drag Palmer out.He hoped he wouldn’t have to, but he was willing to if necessary.
He walked in, ready for a fight, only to find Palmer already moving toward the door.He looked tired, and he blinked at Rune as he stopped in front of him.“Did we agree to meet?”he asked.
Rune shook his head.“You didn’t know I was coming.”
“Are you here to see your brother?”
Rune glanced at Twig’s bed.Twig was awake and on his phone, and as much as Rune usually enjoyed spending time with him, right now, it wasn’t why he was here.“I’m here for you.”
Palmer blinked again.“For me?What did I do?”
“Nothing.I just thought we could go for a walk.”
Palmer grinned.“You’ve been missing me?”
“Of course I have,” Rune confessed, which for some reason seemed to surprise Palmer.
He stared at Rune for a moment.Maybe he hadn’t expected Rune to be so honest about his feelings, but Rune didn’t want to play games.He didn’t see a reason to.He wanted Palmer, and both of them were adults and ready for a serious relationship.Why should they dance around each other?Maybe it was too much, but Rune wanted both of them to know where they stood with the other.
Thankfully, Palmer didn’t turn around and run.Instead, he smiled softly and hooked his arm around Rune’s.“Well, I’m sure you already have a plan, so lead the way.”
Rune did have a plan.It wasn’t very elaborate, but it didn’t need to be.They would go for a walk, and once Palmer got tired and hungry, Rune would take him to his quarters, where they’d have dinner.He’d already grabbed food from the dining hall, so they didn’t have to worry about that.They just had to warm everything up, sit down, and spend time together.
He couldn’t wait.
“I know you’ve already seen the palace’s gardens,” he said as they walked.
Palmer let himself be guided down the hallways, never hesitating.It felt like he trusted Rune, which told Rune that doing this was a good idea.He hadn’t been completely sure that Palmer would be on board, but he seemed to be.It made Rune want to rush ahead, but he didn’t want to put too much pressure on Palmer, considering the circumstances.“But they’re lovely this time of year, so I thought we could walk there.”
