Page 107 of Born of Blood and Ash

Placing the knife back down, I started to will it back intothe air.

“Liessa?”

“Yes?”

“I’m curious,” he said, the quill moving quickly over thepage. “Why have you moved on from slaughtering innocent glasses to throwingsharp instruments?”

My lips pursed. “Maybe I thought I would be more comfortableworking with a blade.”

He smirked. “How’s that idea working out for you?”

“Just perfect.”

Ash chuckled as he closed the Book of the Dead. The quillvanished into thin air. “Perhaps you should stick to the ledgers and soft,non-pointy items.”

“Perhaps you should mind your business.”

“I would,”—he picked up one of the building plans—“except Iam worried that this may end with you having to regrow an eye.” He paused. “Orwe’ll end up without glasses to drink from.”

I sighed. “Like I said before, maybe I’m faulty.”

“You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize youmight have a point.”

My eyes narrowed as I pictured the knife flying through theparchment he held.

Ash’s hand snapped up, catching the knife by the hilt rightbefore it pierced the cream parchment. He slowly turned his head to me. “Iassume you meant to do that.”

I smiled broadly. “I did.”

“Then what was different this time?” he asked.

“You annoyed me.”

“Other than that.”

I lifted a shoulder. “I wasn’t…”

“Overthinking it?”

“Shut up,” I muttered.

He grinned and placed the knife on the table. “I will, butthat doesn’t change the fact that you’re overthinking.”

He was right.

Whatever.

“Can I have my knife back?”

“I’m not sure you will behave yourself with it,” he replied.

My lips parted.

Ash smiled as he turned his attention back to the plans.

I returned to moving the glasses around for a few moreminutes, spilling some water and stopping one from flying off the table.

“Can I have the knife back now?” I asked.

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