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PALMER DIDN’T GO FARwhen Birch came into the bedroom, but he did step away from the nest to give the family some time.The healer had reassured him that both Curran and the egg were perfectly okay and that he didn’t need to hover, but he was a bit anxious, and Curran and Marlin didn’t seem to have a problem with his prolonged presence there.
He leaned against the wall.God, he was exhausted, but at the same time, he’d never been so happy.Everything had gone the way it was supposed to go.It hadn’t been a walk in the park for Curran, but then, giving birth never was.Curran and the egg were both healthy and safe, though, and that was all that mattered.Palmer’s first experience with this had been wonderful, and he suspected that part of that was because he cared about Curran.They’d become friends over the past few months, and Palmer was happy for his friend.
“Thank you,” Marlin said as he stepped closer to Palmer.
Palmer blinked at him.His eyes felt gritty, and he wondered if he could go back to bed for a few hours.He didn’t think there were any patients in the infirmary who needed him, but he could be wrong, considering he’d heard a lot of noise earlier.Someone might have gotten hurt, and if they had, he’d be needed.No one had come to fetch him yet, though, so he hoped it wouldn’t be the case.
“You have nothing to thank me for,” he told Marlin.
“You kept both Curran and our egg safe.”
“I didn’t do anything.Curran did all the work on his own, and he would’ve been fine even without me here.”
“Would he?Because he specifically wanted you to be here.He trusts you.”
“I’m touched, but you saw what happened.I was only here to support him.”
“That’s what friends do.”
Palmer smiled.“I realize I was here more as a friend than anything, and that’s okay.There’s really nothing to thank me for, though.”
“I’m going to do it anyway,” Marlin said with a shrug.He turned toward the nest, where Birch was kneeling and gently stroking the egg.“Curran and I both want you to continue being involved.”
“I guess I have to start reading even more books about dragon pregnancies and their eggs.”
“Does that mean you’ll spend more time with Rune?”
Palmer narrowed his eyes.“Oh, so you came over to tease me.”
Marlin laughed.“Amongst other things.The two of you are cute together, though.I’m glad you found each other.”
“I’m glad we found each other, too.”
Palmer would’ve been happy even without Rune, surrounded by dragons and having the opportunity to study them and work with them, but Rune was the cherry on top of the pie.He gave Palmer someone to come home to at night and to talk to in a way he couldn’t remember having.He’d had relationships before, and he’d been close to those partners, but his life had been very different then.He’d shared more of himself with Rune than he ever had with them.He was more open here, surrounded by dragons, and he felt like he was home.
He hoped he was.
He eventually left, eager to get back into bed.He wasn’t surprised to find Rune waiting for him in Marlin and Curran’s living room, or that Rune immediately got to his feet when he heard him.He opened his arms, and Palmer stepped into them, allowing himself to relax and closing his eyes.
He felt Rune kiss the top of his head, and he sighed in pleasure.
Yes, he was home.
“Everything okay in there?”Rune asked.
“Yeah.Everything okay out here?”
Rune hesitated, so Palmer leaned back to look at him.There was a grimace on his boyfriend’s face, which didn’t bode well.
“I’m fine,” Rune quickly reassured Palmer.“Everyone is, except my brother.Alatar apparently tried to start a fire, but he was caught.There was proof found in his rooms that he’s linked to the poisonings, and he threw Pearl under the bus.”
Palmer blinked.That was a lot of information he hadn’t expected.“He involved Pearl?”he asked, because that was what intrigued him the most.
“He did.Of course, Killian will want to talk to him and get more information, but Alatar isn’t being shy about her involvement.”
Palmer was surprised, but also hopeful.He prayed that meant the mess Pearl was causing was over, but he couldn’t help but have his doubts.Pearl wasn’t one to take any of that lying down.If Alatar dragged her into this mess, she’d fight tooth and nail.It really all depended on what Killian and his people found, but Pearl was smart.
