Flame of Shadows

whether it was exposing her high school principal's embezzlement or investigating corrupt city officials during her college

cism for authority. She developed an insatiable curiosity, often chasing after stories that others deemed too da

sest friend, Sarah, to an "accident" that bore the marks of a cover-up. Since then, Alina had been determined to take down the people who wielded power like a weapon. Her latest lea

m. Her informant was late, but that wasn't unusual. These meetings often required a deli

th shifty eyes, he looked more like a petty thief than someone with valuable inform

Alina said, h

ulled out a crumpled envelope. "This... this is w

ed him, taking the envelo

real big. They're after something called the Crimson Flam

widening in terror. She followed his gaze to see two figures entering t

informant

g and slipped out of the booth, heading for the back exit. She could hea

as dimly lit, lined with dumpsters and graffiti-streaked walls. Alina's

ner, only to find herself face-to-face with one of

them, faster than her eyes could track. The man l

rds faltered as she saw her re

n Bla

, his expression unreadable. "You're making a hab

d you're making a h

s tone flat. "I'm sav

shb

se dared to ask. By the time she turned twenty-five, she had built a reputation as Havenf

ed billionaire philanthropist by day and a shadowy figure by night, Blackwell was whispered to be the c

g quickly turned into something far more sinister when one of the men brandished a syringe, muttering about "orders." Before s

darkness. "You should be more careful," he said before disappeari

ut he was like smoke-impossible to grasp. A ghost in a city filled wi

f Fla

tate, moving with a fluidity that seemed almost inhuman. The fig

to process what she had ju

"And you're in over your h

d. "Why should

his eyes narrowing, "you won't surviv

other assailant emerged. With the same fluid precision, Damian

saving me," Alina said, he

getting into trouble," Dam

, her pulse racing. "W

n said. "It just so happe

ionaire philanthropist,

tead, he held out his han

th the undeniable fact that Damian had saved her life-t

expression darkened. "This isn't just about

her arms. "And

s," Damian said grimly. "But i

Alina. "If you want to stay alive, you better