Chapter 14 · Buying A Whole Damn Street

"Choose," the bastard in black armor spat. He pressed the knife deeper into Kaela's throat. A thin bead of blood welled up, staining her skin. "The street or the girl. You don't get both."

I was on my knees. The wet cobbles of Copper Row chilled my skin, but I didn't feel it. The Ledger lay splayed open in front of me, shaking so hard I could barely keep the pages flat. I felt hollow. Like someone had scooped out my insides with a rusty spoon.

"Let her go," I snapped. "You want the book? You got it. Take it and get out."

"I don't want the book," he sneered. "Varric wants it clean. That means you buy it right. No tricks. No free pages."

Kaela didn't make a sound. Not one. Even with the blade biting into her, her eyes were locked on mine. They weren't pleading. They were pissed.

"Don't," she hissed through her teeth. "Silas, don't you dare listen to him."

The Ledger pulsed under my palms. Warm. Hungry.