Children chase each other, bursts of magic flickering after them like fireworks in the making. The oldest, with wolfish features and pointy teeth, sends a tiger of sparkles hounding down the narrow alley and the children scatter with gleeful cries.
Aline lets them run past her and watches Helen lingering in the dark alley of the Shadow Market. The blonde looks like she doesn’t want to move away, but eventually she does, stepping inside Aline’s favorite teashop. Aline rolls her eyes at her date. For all her bravado, Helen is out of her depth here.