Book 14: Full-Blooded

Soren

I stand on the porch for several minutes after Patton leaves, disappearing into the storm to go board up his house. He can’t stay there now. Not with the threat of the Hounds. His theory about Duke’s behavior made sense, but I’m not entirely convinced he wouldn’t have gone to the Hounds, or worse, alerted the Viper herself that Princess Maeve was with me, in the Roguelands, unguarded. Her boss… well, he’d love a royal in his clutches, especially Maeve, given her skillset.

The thought makes my stomach turn, or maybe that’s biting hunger, I’m not sure, but I go back inside, and the witches are disappointed to find out that Patton left.

He must come here sometimes. He left the basket, and it’s one of his fancy ones. He’ll return for it when it’s safe, I’m sure, and I do my best to explain that to the witches while watching the old witch continue her inspection of the bowl in the center of the room.

I start to move in the direction of the r