In Aria Moore's professional opinion, magic is for the lazy. Why rely on arrogant spells when you have cold steel, alchemical grenades, and pure human ingenuity? As a mundane mercenary navigating a gritty world of arcane black markets, Aria survives by exploiting the blind spots of magic-users who think the laws of physics no longer apply. Her latest job seems simple: infiltrate an abandoned meatpacking plant, bypass the arcane blood-wards, and steal a highly unstable ley-crystal from a troll-blooded smuggler. Armed with tactical gear and a cold-iron flashbang, Aria executes the heist flawlessly. But just as she secures the illegal artifact, the temperature plummets, coating the warehouse in a bone-deep frost. A familiar scent of ozone and expensive cologne fills the chill air. A shadowy figure steps forward, and Aria realizes her perfect operation has just been interrupted by the one person she dreaded most.
Praise