“What do you want?” she asked. “For what?” “Don’t be coy, Dresden,” Lara said. “You hold my brother’s life in your hand now. What is your price?” I lifted my eyebrows. “Wait—you think that . . . Wow.” She tilted her head. “Lara, look,” I said. “I’m slowly growing more aware of things, but . . . you’re giving me too much of what you probably think is credit. I don’t play the game like that.” “A cursory review of your defeated foes begs to differ, wizard.” “I’ll play hardball,” I acknowledged. “But I play it clean. Or at least, I don’t sell my own damned brother up the river for gain.”
