In a world where magic lies dormant and survival is the only law, Kael, an eleven-year-old street rat, has risen to prominence in the shadowy underbelly of Althemar as one of the most skilled thieves of the Black Fangs. Living for the thrill of the hunt and the challenge of the heist, Kael navigates the city’s labyrinthine streets with unmatched cunning and precision. But when a perfectly planned heist draws the attention of Thorne, the elite leader of the kingdom’s Rangers, Kael’s life is set on a collision course with destiny. Thorne, renowned for his mastery of the hunt, has spent years searching for an apprentice who shares his insatiable drive and fearless spirit. In Kael, he sees the successor he’s been waiting for—but the boy’s path is far from simple. As the world edges toward chaos, whispers of demonic forces and treacherous plots begin to surface. Thorne and Kael must face a fractured realm, where forgotten races, suppressed magic, and deadly conspiracies threaten to consume all they hold dear. With every shadow concealing danger and every step fraught with peril, Kael must learn not only to survive but to lead—and to decide whether the thrill of the hunt is worth the price of his soul.