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“I meant with flying. I know you dragons. I’m sure you’re eager to stretch your wings, and you can, but don’t fly just yet. Stay on the roof, and once I give you the go-ahead, only go flying with someone else. We need to be cautious for a little while longer.”

“So that means I’m going to be allowed to shift soon?”

“You can start shifting today if you want.”

Twig waved around the room. “There’s not a lot of space to do that here.”

“Which is why I mentioned the roof. You can do whatever you want there.”

Twig was thrilled. “Does that mean I’m allowed to leave the infirmary?”

Palmer’s smile was wide. “It does. There’s nothing more I can do for you here. I’m going to ask you to stay cautious for a while longer and to come back for some checkups, but you’re healing, Twig. You’re good enough that you don’t have to stare at these same four walls anymore. Like I said, as long as you’re careful, you’re good to go.”

Twig couldn’t help the smile on his face. “I thought this day would never come.”

“I knew it would. I just wasn’t sure when.”

Twig was delighted, but once Palmer left, he realized it meant he wouldn’t be spending as much time with Taylor as he was now. In fact, he probably wouldn’t be spending any time with Taylor at all. The only reason they’d been talking was that Taylor had been assigned to the infirmary while Twig was here, but once he wasn’t here anymore, Taylor would go back to his regular post. Twig wasn’t sure where Taylor usually patrolled, but it wasn’t anywhere Twig usually saw him.

Should he ask Taylor? Would Taylor wonder why he was asking?

“Ready?”

Twig looked toward the door. He was surprised to see Palmer there again, and even more surprised to see Taylor behind him. “You mean I’m leaving now?” he asked.

Palmer’s smile was kind. “Why not? Keeping you here a while longer won’t change anything. Your mother went home earlier, right?”

“She did. She’s not going to be able to come and help me.”

“Which is why I called in the cavalry,” Palmer said, gesturing toward Taylor. “We’ll walk you back to your room.”

Twig felt a little shaky, but Palmer didn’t have to tell him twice. Twig swung his legs off the mattress, eager to be gone even though it meant he wouldn’t see Taylor as often. He was sure he could find a solution. He felt like, if nothing else, the two of them had become friends, and that Taylor would probably agree to keep talking to him if he asked. If he didn’t—well, it would hurt, but Twig would deal with it.

Both Palmer and Taylor were gentle as they flanked Twig. Palmer went to grab the bag on Twig’s nightstand, which luckily contained everything Twig had brought to the infirmary. He wasn’t a messy person. He liked having everything where it should be, and since this wasn’t his home, he’d tried to stay contained. It meant it was easy for him to finally leave the infirmary behind, and even easier to lean against Taylor since Palmer was carrying his bag.

They walked slowly, as if they were afraid Twig would fall if they didn’t, but that was fine with Twig. It had been a while since he’d walked this much, and his legs felt like they might buckle, but he didn’t say anything. He figured it was normal, and there was nothing Palmer would be able to do about it anyway. Twig wasn’t about to risk being taken back to the infirmary just because his legs felt weak.

He was almost vibrating with excitement by the time they reached the door to the rooms he shared with his mother. He could hear her through the door, and he knew she was getting ready for work. She wouldn’t be expecting him, and he grinned at the thought of her reaction.

He pushed open the door, his smile widening even more when she turned around from where she’d been standing by the kitchen table. Her eyes went wide, and she pressed a hand to her chest as Twig stepped in, opening his arms.

She was in them in seconds.

“Please tell me you haven’t walked all the way here,” she scolded, leaning back to look at him.

“I have, but I wasn’t alone.” He stepped aside so she could see Palmer and Taylor.

She glanced at Palmer, nodding briefly at him before turning her attention to Taylor. The two of them stared at each other, and Twig wondered what was going on there. He didn’t know, but it was obvious they were communicating somehow. He was dying to know what they were telling each other, but at the same time, he didn’t want to know. It was weird, though.

“Well, thank you,” she said. “I appreciate you helping my son home.”

Palmer took the lead. “It wasn’t necessary for him to stay in the infirmary any longer. I’m glad to see him home. Like I told him already, he’s going to need some rest and to be careful for a while longer, and he’s not allowed to fly for at least another week, but he’ll be fine. He’ll heal fully and be back to the Twig you know.”

Her smile widened. “I sure hope so.”

Twig wasn’t sure he’d ever go back to being the Twig she’d known, though. He was different now. Not because one of his sisters had poisoned him—no, something had changed while he’d been in the infirmary, and he wasn’t quite sure what to do about it.

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