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All of his thoughts brought him back to Taylor, didn’t they? Even when he thought about something that had nothing to do with Taylor, like moving out, in the end, Taylor popped up. It wasn’t a bad thing, but Twig wasn’t quite sure what to do about it. Talking to Taylor would probably help, but it also might not.

What if Taylor didn’t want that? What if he was just being friendly?

Twig snorted to himself as he stepped out of the palace and into the garden. Some days, he thought he was delusional, but most of the time, he could see what was right in front of his face. Taylor wanted him. He had no doubts about that. He just wasn’t sure what to do about it, but one of them needed to take the next step. He was pretty sure Taylor was waiting for him to be comfortable, so maybe it would have to be him.

“Are you having a conversation with yourself?” someone asked.

Twig blinked. His smile widened when he saw Rune peering at him from one of the benches close to the door. Palmer was sitting next to him, leaning against him as he read a book. He put the book down, though, a smile blooming on his face when he saw Twig. Twig wasn’t sure when they’d become friends, but he was always happy to see Palmer, and for once, that had nothing to do with Taylor.

“I’m not,” he told Rune, moving closer. Rune was his half-brother, but just like with Killian, they didn’t really have a relationship yet. If things went the way Twig wanted, though, he and Rune would end up brothers-in-law as well as half-brothers. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of that, but he did know he wanted to grow closer to all of his siblings.

Except for Pearl, or anyone else who’d tried to kill him.

“I wasn’t having a conversation with myself,” he explained. “I was just thinking.”

“We can see that,” Palmer said as he sat up and made some space for Twig on the bench. “Anything in particular? How are you feeling? Do you need anything?”

“Let him breathe,” Rune said gently. “If I had to guess, he’s here because he needed some fresh air. Isn’t that something you’d recommend, Doctor?”

“Of course. Fresh air is never a bad thing, especially when someone’s healing. How are you feeling, though, Twig?”

Twig wanted to ask whether it was Palmer the doctor or Palmer the almost-brother-in-law asking, but he let it go. “I promise I’m fine. I get enough of my mother fussing over me. I don’t need it from you too.”

Palmer looked unapologetic. “You’re family. I’m always going to fret over you. Just ask Taylor.”

Twig hadn’t expected those words, but they made him feel warm inside.

He was Palmer’s family, wasn’t he? Even if nothing ever happened with Taylor, through Rune, he’d always have Palmer.

And of course, now that things were changing, he had his siblings too, including Rune and Killian. He wasn’t alone anymore. It wasn’t like when he was growing up, and it never would be again.

* * * *

TAYLOR KNEW SOMETHING had happened by the smile on his brother’s face, although since Palmer had been smiling more than Taylor had ever seen since he and Rune had gotten together, maybe Taylor was wrong. Still, as he walked through the front door of the rooms Palmer shared with Rune, he was wary.

He didn’t think anything had happened, exactly. Palmer was beaming, which probably had a lot to do with the fact that Rune was sitting next to him on the couch. It was weird, though—Palmer even patted the couch next to himself, as if Taylor were a child, or maybe a puppy.

Taylor narrowed his eyes at him. “What happened?”

“Why do you think something happened?”

“I can see it on your face.”

“I’m just happy.”

He leaned against Rune as he said that, and Taylor resisted the urge to grimace. Yes, he could see his brother was happy, and he was happy for Palmer, but if the two of them started making out, Taylor was leaving.

“Ignore him,” Rune said with a smile. “You get to choose a movie. I’m going to get snacks.”

“How am I supposed to ignore him when he looks like that?” Taylor asked, gesturing at his brother’s face. Palmer was still grinning like an idiot.

He waited until Rune was in the kitchen to lean closer. “I saw Twig today.”

Taylor had no idea where that was coming from, but he supposed he and Twig hadn’t exactly been discreet. He was pretty sure most of the palace knew they were spending time together, but so far, no one had said anything about it. Killian certainly hadn’t, which was a relief, because Taylor wasn’t sure what he’d do if the king decided to get involved in his love life.

Taylor supposed it wouldn’t exactly be his love life he’d be getting involved in, but rather Twig’s. He was the king’s half-brother, after all.

Taylor eyed his brother. Palmer knew how to deal with this. He was dealing with it right now. Rune was Killian’s half-brother too, and he was a council member. He was older than Twig, though, and he hadn’t been poisoned, which was a good thing. Their situations were different, but not so different that Palmer couldn’t advise Taylor.