Page 1
Chapter One
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TWIG WAS DYING. HE was sure that some people would’ve said he was being dramatic, but he truly felt like he was dying. He was pretty sure that was kind of the point of why he’d been poisoned. Someone wanted him dead, and they might just succeed.
“How are you feeling?” his mother asked, leaning closer.
The last thing he wanted was to scare her. She didn’t deal well when something happened to him. “I’m fine,” he said, plastering a smile on his lips and hoping she would fall for it.
From her expression, she wasn’t fooled. She frowned and leaned closer, and he wondered if they were about to rub noses. Considering how close she was, he wouldn’t put it past her.
“I should get a healer,” she said, straightening suddenly. “Have them look you over.”
“Palmer already has.”
His mother tsked. “He’s not a healer.”
“Healer, doctor, it doesn’t matter. He’s already looked me over, and there’s nothing more he or anyone else can do. I don’t need you to bother a healer when their answer will be the same.”
“We don’t know that it will be. Palmer’s human. He’s here to learn about dragons, but he doesn’t know our anatomy or anything like that.”
“Which is why he’s studying and has consulted with our healers. Their answers were the same, Mom. Besides, Killian trusts him, which means I do, too.”
She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back in her chair. Twig knew that mentioning Killian probably didn’t help. He wouldn’t say that his mother hated his half-brother, but she definitely hated his father. Twig understood why. Sometimes he wasn’t sure why she loved him so much, considering how he’d come into this world, but he was glad that she did. He loved her fiercely, even though right now he wished she would stop badgering him about Palmer.
“You can’t be sure that he’s not involved in this,” she murmured.
“Palmer is the one healing me. Why would he be involved?”
“To be able to help you. That would put him in Killian’s good graces. What would happen if he saves the king’s half-brother?”
“Nothing different from what’s already happened. Killian trusts him.”
“And he probably shouldn’t,” Twig’s mother snapped. She sucked in a breath right away, then shook her head. “I’m sorry. You need to rest, Twig. Palmer said that you did, right?”
“He did, and I am resting. I’m in bed, aren’t I?”
“Only because you were forced to be.”
Someone knocked on the door. Being Killian’s half-brother had its advantages, including giving Twig a private room in the infirmary. He kind of liked it. He still lived with his mother, which was fine, but sometimes, he needed a little space. Of course, it wasn’t easy to get when his mother spent every day with him in the infirmary, hovering and trying to make sure he was okay.
“Who is it?” she called out, even though she knew who it was. Only a few people knocked on Twig’s door that way.
He rolled his eyes. “Come in, Palmer.”
The door opened, and Twig’s mother stared at him. He knew she was unhappy with him, but what was he supposed to do? Palmer was a doctor, and he wanted to check in on him.
Palmer peeked in. His smile faltered when he saw Twig’s mother, though he didn’t look surprised to see her there. Why would he be, when she’d been by Twig’s side since he’d landed here?
“How are you feeling?” he asked Twig, coming closer.
Twig was used to the visits by now. He hoped his mother wouldn’t say anything he’d feel the need to apologize for, and closed his eyes as Palmer examined him.
Palmer didn’t ask Twig’s mother if she wanted to leave. He also didn’t ask Twig if he wanted her to. Not that it mattered—Twig’s mother wasn’t going anywhere, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d have been worried about himself, too, if he was in her shoes.
“Been better,” he said in a tone that sounded more like a croak than a voice.
“I was hoping for a better answer,” Palmer murmured.
