Ignite the Shadows

by Ingrid Seymour

  Is he afraid Luke is a spy and will follow me here one day? Or does he suspect more than just my brother? Is it possible that he suspects me? But how could he? After all I’ve done? After the way I proved my loyalty?

  It isn’t fair. Whatever happened to trust? He asked me to stand by him by offering nothing but secrets, then just like that decides I’m not trustworthy?!

  “What just happened?” Rheema asks, keeping her distance, looking concerned—whether for me or the team, I couldn’t say. James’s words still seem to echo through the expansive area, so I don’t blame her for the caution and distrust written on her face.

  I push away from the wall, roll my shoulders to see if the weight pressing down on them will fall out. It doesn’t.

  “I … I really don’t know.”

  My rubber soles scrape the metal steps as I climb my way out of The Tank. When I reach the top, Rheema is still standing there, scratching her head and looking back and forth from the conference room to me.

  I really like Rheema. I think we could become friends. She must see something in my face because her expression softens.

  “It’ll be okay,” she says. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

  “Thank you,” I mouth and board the elevator.

  Out in the parking deck, the sound of my bike’s engine booms against the concrete walls. I rev it up, trying to drown the uncertainty that wraps its cold fingers around my neck. I tear out into the street, without a backward glance. Uncertainty, helplessness … I thought I had shed them forever. It turns out it takes only minutes to conjure them back.

  Just moments ago, I thought I had it all figured out. Most of my questions had answers and the ones that didn’t I could stow away without panicking. I had IgNiTe’s help, James’s help, to give me hope. Now I feel I have nothing.

  The sun hangs low in the sky, well on its way out of this crummy day. I drive past buildings left behind in the dwindling light. It isn’t dark enough for the street lamps to switch on.

  Shadows lurk in every alley.

  I push forward, trying to leave them all behind.

  Acknowledgements

  To my mother for her support and patience. She’s a lighthouse, a rock, a constant. To my father, for his stern talks and high standards, always sprinkled with plenty of love. To my husband, my first reader, my biggest supporter, my forever and forever and forever. To my kids, who give me smiles and heart palpitations and pride and the most unconditional of loves. You guys are the best—a mother couldn’t ask for more.

  To my agent, Beth Phelan, for her ideas, honesty and patience. To Natasha Bardon for believing in Ignite the Shadows and giving it a chance, and for helping get the story just right, along with Eleanor Ashfield and everyone at Harper Voyager UK who worked hard to get this out into the world. It is a pleasure working with such an amazing team.

  To my friend Bret for all the pep talks, creative conversations, and for always reading my early drafts with patience and a keen eye. To Billie for always asking for more of my stories, for telling me I don’t suck at this, and for believing I could get this far and telling me she wasn’t surprised when I did. To Subu for his attention to detail and willingness to read all the wild things I write. To Katie French and Amy Trueblood for offering a critical eye when needed and for being such great teammates. You ladies are class acts.

  And finally to all my readers whose support has been wonderful, so many enthusiastic people who have reached out to me and given me such encouraging comments and who, every day, make this author journey incredibly rewarding.

  About the Author

  When Ingrid Seymour is not writing books, she spends her time working as a software engineer, cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids and a cat named Mimi. She can be found on Twitter @Ingrid_Seymour

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

  Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

  Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

  http://www.harpercollins.com.au

  Canada

  HarperCollins Canada

  2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor

  Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada

  http://www.harpercollins.ca

  New Zealand

  HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited

  P.O. Box 1

  Auckland, New Zealand

  http://www.harpercollins.co.nz

  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  1 London Bridge Street

  London, SE1 9GF, UK

  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk

  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

  195 Broadway

  New York, NY 10007

  http://www.harpercollins.com