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He was also trying not to leave his rooms too much. Part of him wanted to go back to a normal life, but when he was especially tired, he couldn’t help but think that someone had poisoned him. How could he go back to a normal life when someone out there had tried to kill him? When that someone was probably his sister?

Of course, he couldn’t be sure. Everyone assumed it had to be Pearl, but Killian was investigating, and in the meantime, Twig was being protected. He hoped he didn’t need it, but at the same time, he was glad for it. Still, he was less stressed if he stayed in his rooms, which was why he’d been doing it. That, and wanting to avoid the sorry looks people gave him when he entered a room.

Everyone knew what was going on. The palace was big, and a lot of dragons lived here, but gossip still ran around like wildfire. Twig was pretty sure that every single dragon in the palace knew he’d been poisoned, probably by his sister, and that he’d only now left the infirmary. A lot of dragons just stared at him, but others came up to him, telling him they were sorry, asking if he had any news, clearly wanting to know for sure if Pearl had been involved. The only thing Twig could say was that he didn’t know, and it was easier for him to just avoid everyone, at least when he was alone. That was one of the reasons he still hadn’t gone flying. He only shifted in his rooms, and while there was enough space for both him and his mother to be in dragon form there, it wasn’t the same as flying or doing so in the fresh air.

But for now, it would have to do, and that was fine with Twig. It was especially fine when he had a distraction, like today.

He still couldn’t believe he’d found the guts to ask Taylor to come over for tea. He’d never asked anyone out before, which was probably why he’d never had a relationship.

Not that he had a relationship with Taylor. He wouldn’t say no to one, but he had no idea where they stood, and he hoped that maybe he’d get some answers today. Even if he didn’t, though, he enjoyed spending time with Taylor, and he wanted more. He’d wanted more of it from the beginning, when Taylor had been spending so much time close to him while he’d been in the infirmary. Twig’s mother had been there most of the time, but not always, and he had fond memories of those moments alone.

It wasn’t something he’d ever thought he’d feel. He’d felt like he was dying when he first landed in the infirmary, and things hadn’t gotten any better until Palmer had found out what the poison was.

But all of that was in the past. Twig was fine now. He was careful about what he ate and drank. Mostly, he cooked, or his mother did, and that was fine with him.

He eyed the tea on the table by the couch. Actually, did he really want to try drinking that? He’d made it himself, but he’d gotten it from the dining hall. There was no way anyone could know he’d be the one to take what he’d taken, but still. Pearl was smart, and she was trying to hurt Killian. Why she thought she could accomplish that through Twig, he wasn’t sure, but she might not have been wrong. Killian had checked in on him several times. They hadn’t been allowed to have a relationship before, but they did now, and it seemed like Killian really wanted one.

That suited Twig just fine.

The knock on the door made him jump. He sucked in a breath, squared his shoulders, and went to open it, telling himself not to freak out.

That felt like an impossible task.

He opened the door to reveal Taylor. Instead of the uniform he usually wore, he had on jeans and a t-shirt. It looked good on him. It made him appear relaxed, which wasn’t something Twig was used to associating with him. That was probably because Taylor was usually working when they talked, and Twig was excited to find out more about him in a more private setting.

He stepped aside, trying not to look like he was staring. “Hi,” he breathed out.

He liked Taylor in his uniform, but there was something about seeing him like this, more relaxed and intimate, that made Twig want to scream and kick his feet at the same time.

Taylor’s smile was gentle. “Hi. How are you doing?”

“Great.”

“Really?”

“Really. I feel good. I’m not saying I’m back to normal, but Palmer warned me it was going to take a little while. I don’t feel like I’m actively dying anymore, though, so that’s good.”

Taylor chuckled. “It is.”

“I hope you like coffee, because I got you some. If you wanted, I’d happily drink it instead, but—”

“You won’t. You’re still not allowed caffeine, right?”

Twig should probably have been offended that Taylor knew that. There was only one person who could have told him, and that was Palmer. Twig didn’t care, though. Taylor had been around often enough to know most of Twig’s health problems. It wasn’t a bad thing, especially if something happened between them. Taylor needed to know what to expect.

They sat on the couch, and Twig went to work serving both of them. It gave him a moment to breathe, but every time he looked up, it was to find Taylor watching him. It made him feel all weird inside, but at the same time, he kind of loved the attention. He wanted Taylor to watch him.

“I heard there’s a council meeting soon,” Taylor said.

Twig groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

“Well, you should remember it, since you’re a council member.”

“Only because Killian asked me. Everyone knows I’m not qualified.”

“Killian wouldn’t have asked you if you weren’t qualified.”

“I’m pretty sure he asked me because I’m his half-brother.”