Rune probably shouldn’t feel as smug as he did at the thought that everyone in the palace knew that he and Palmer were together, but he did.He wanted everyone to know because he was proud of it.Palmer was his, and he was Palmer’s.What was there not to be proud about?
He and Birch were interrupted by the arrival of the healer Palmer had mentioned earlier.They ignored Rune and Birch and went straight to the nestroom.Rune knew that they were in for a long day, but that was okay.
He eventually settled on the couch, but Birch didn’t.He continued pacing, but he never tried to get into the nestroom.The sky outside the windows grew lighter, turning the light in the room golden.Rune’s stomach growled, and he realized he’d been here for a few hours already.He was comfortable enough on the couch, but he needed to eat, and he wouldn’t be the only one.He was sure that Palmer and the healer would be happy to eat something, and while he didn’t know about Curran, maybe he could grab something for him, too, just in case, and Marlin, of course.
He got up from the couch and stretched.Birch frowned at him, so Rune gestured toward the door.“I’m going to go grab some food.Is there anything in particular that you want?”
“Whatever you can find is fine.”
“I’ll get a bit of everything.Be right back.”
Birch nodded.“If Palmer asks about you, I’ll tell him where you are.”
Rune left, but only because he knew that Palmer would be safe.He was with the king’s personal bodyguards and best friends.Neither Birch nor Marlin would allow anything or anyone to hurt Palmer.
Most dragons didn’t pay any attention to him as he made his way to the dining hall.The room was still fairly empty, so there was a good choice of food left.Rune put together what he thought was best for everyone, moving down the line quickly.He wasn’t the only one there, though.
“All I’m saying is that I saw smoke,” someone said.
He turned to find one of his half-brothers standing close by with two other dragons.He really didn’t want to know what Saya was talking about, but at the same time, he felt that he needed to ask.“What smoke?”
Saya turned toward him.He was young, like Twig, and he seemed eager to answer Rune’s question.“I saw smoke coming out of a window in the west wing.”
Rune waited, but Saya didn’t seem to have anything to add.“And?What’s happening there?Why is there smoke?”
Saya looked confused.“I don’t know.”
Rune resisted the urge to groan.“Have you gone to check?Have you asked anyone?”
“Not really.”
It was probably nothing, but considering the conversation Rune and Marlin had overheard a little while ago, it would be better to check.Rune couldn’t do it himself, but he was sure that Saya didn’t need him to hold his hand.He might need him to push him a little, though.“Why don’t you go and see what’s going on?”
Saya blinked his big blue eyes at him.“You want me to go check?”
“Yes.A friend of mine is in labor, so I can’t go myself, but you can.”
Saya grinned.“I will.”
“You can call me if there’s anything wrong, or you can find me in Marlin and Curran’s quarters.Let me know, all right?”
Saya’s eyes were still wide as he nodded eagerly.“I will.I’ll let you know as soon as I know what’s going on.”
Rune really hoped it wasn’t a fire.It wouldn’t be unusual since a whole lot of dragons lived in the palace, and it was hard for children and teenagers to control their shifts and all of that, but it wasn’t a complication anyone needed today of all days.
Something told him this was just the beginning, though.
* * * *
PALMER HEARD THE COMMOTIONoutside.It was distant, muffled by the walls separating him from it, but it was there.Voices raised in alarm, maybe even shouting.He wanted to know what was happening and to make sure that Rune was safe, but he couldn’t leave.Not now.
Not when Curran needed him most.
“What’s going on out there?”Curran asked through gritted teeth.His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple, and his hands were clenched so tightly around Marlin’s that Palmer worried he might break something.
“I don’t know,” Palmer admitted.“But we have people out there who’ll handle it.”
He believed that.Rune was there, along with Birch.If something was wrong, they would deal with it.They wouldn’t let anything happen to anyone in this room.Palmer had to trust that so he could focus on what was in front of him.Curran was his priority right now, and nothing else mattered.
