Chapter 24 · Selling Luck

"Don't you fucking do it!"

Kaela's hand clamped around my wrist. Hard. Her grip was so tight my fingers went numb, but she didn't let go.

The Ledger was burning under my thumb. Gold light crawled up my veins like liquid fire.

"Let go," I said.

"No! Silas, don't. Don't you dare press that damn thing!"

The auditor's voice cut through the shack. Smooth. Bored. "Three."

Outside, Joren slammed his shoulder against the door. "Silas! They're lining up the kids! You gotta decide now!"

I could hear them. The whole street. Breathing. Waiting. Hungry. The sound of a hundred people hoping I'd be the one to bleed so they could eat.

The page under my thumb didn't want the book anymore. It had flipped itself.

NEW CONTRACT DETECTED.

OFFER: ONE LIFETIME OF LUCK. ALL FORTUNE, ALL CHANCE, ALL FAVOR.

PRICE: 50,000 GOLD. PAID IN FULL. IMMEDIATE.

ACCEPT? [YES / NO]

My luck. Not my life. Just my luck.

"Two," the auditor said. He tapped his hammer against the portable desk. "Mr. Quinn, Varric Hale is a patient man. I am not. Sign the transfer for the Ledger, take the fifty thousand, and feed your street. Or don't.