Palmer looked at him for a long moment, and Rune thought he saw some of the wariness fade from his expression.He hoped it was.“I’ll keep that in mind.Thank you, Rune.”
“Of course,” Rune said.He stepped back, giving Palmer space.“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” Palmer echoed.
Rune watched as Palmer gathered the rest of his notes and left the room, moving with the same careful precision he’d shown earlier.Once the human was gone, Rune let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
That could have gone worse.Palmer was cautious, and Rune couldn’t blame him for that.But he’d agreed to meet tomorrow, which meant Rune had a chance to prove that he wasn’t like Pearl.He had a chance to show Palmer that not all of Killian’s siblings were his enemies.
Rune just hoped he wouldn’t mess it up.He couldn’t afford to, not when Killian was counting on him and when he genuinely wanted to make this work.
He glanced around the empty meeting room, then headed for the door.Tomorrow would be a new start.He’d make sure Palmer knew he could be trusted.Even if it took time, Rune wasn’t giving up.He couldn’t, even if he wanted to.Killian had asked them to work together, and Rune wasn’t going to let his brother down.
* * * *
PALMER QUICKLY MADEhis way back to the infirmary after the meeting.He was still thinking about the conversation he’d had with Rune, but he didn’t know what to think of it.He and Rune were stuck together since Killian had ordered them to work together, and Rune had assured Palmer that he didn’t hate humans as much as his half-sister did, but Palmer wasn’t sure he could trust him.He didn’t know him.
But Killian trusted him.If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have told him to work with Palmer.He wouldn’t put Palmer in danger that way.Knowing that helped a little, but Palmer still wondered why Killian hadn’t assigned him to a healer or someone who knew more about medicine and healing than Rune.
Maybe it was for protection?Maybe Killian thought that this way, Palmer would be safe if someone was to confront him or worse, attack him.Would Rune defend him, though?Maybe he knew how to fight.Palmer had no idea since he didn’t know the guy.
Curran was already waiting for him when he arrived at the infirmary.Palmer made a beeline for him, stopping only long enough to wash his hands and put on gloves.
“I’m sorry for the delay,” he said.
Curran shrugged.“It’s fine.I know you had a meeting earlier.”
“Does everyone know?”
“Of course.And everyone knows that Pearl came by.”Curran looked around the infirmary, but everyone was busy.He still leaned closer to Palmer.“What did she say?I heard several versions, and I’m curious.”
Palmer knew that Curran himself had recently confronted Pearl.He was glad that Curran had come out of it in one piece, especially since he was pregnant.“She just demanded to know why Killian hadn’t asked her to be present during the meeting and mentioned a few times how much she dislikes humans.”
Curran snorted and leaned back on the bed.
Palmer quickly closed the curtains around it.It wasn’t the first time he’d examined Curran, so Curran knew what to expect.Still, Palmer took things slowly, just in case.
“It’s not just that she dislikes humans.She hates you guys,” Curran said.
“Why?Did a human do something to her?”It wouldn’t be an excuse, but it would at least explain her hatred.
“Not that I know of.It’s just the kind of person she is.I’m sure there are humans who hate other humans just because.”
Curran wasn’t wrong.Palmer tried not to think about it as he started his examination, but it still hurt.He and many more people were doing everything in their power to show the world that humans and dragons could work together and live in peace.They couldn’t allow a few people to sabotage that, not even when they were as powerful as Pearl was.The problem was that Palmer didn’t have a say in it.He was just a guy.
“But what she thinks doesn’t matter,” Curran said.“It’s not like Killian is going to give her any kind of power.You’re safe.”
“For now,” Palmer said.
He’d been reading a lot about dragon pregnancy, so he knew what to look for.Luckily, Curran and his baby were doing well.There was nothing odd, and it helped Palmer breathe more easily.Curran wasn’t his only dragon patient, but he was the most important to Killian since he was Marlin’s partner and was carrying their egg.Eventually, that egg would be laid, and a baby would come out.Palmer had read enough to know that dragon babies were considered a miracle.It was especially true in this clan since, for years, parents hadn’t been allowed to raise their children.They’d also been forced to get pregnant, which made Palmer want to scream.How unfair was that?
The curtain suddenly pulled aside, startling Palmer.He turned to glare at the newcomer, only to relax when he saw it was Marlin.The dragon closed the curtains again and rushed to the head of the bed, leaning down to kiss the top of Curran’s head.
“Sorry about that,” he said, looking at Palmer.“We had to discuss what happened during the meeting.”
“You mean you had to discuss Pearl,” Curran pointed out.
“That’s not all.Palmer, your new coworker stopped me on my way here to congratulate me on the baby.”
