Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi

“Is it that bad?”
To my embarrassment, I felt a lump well up in my throat. I swallowed it
down. “Baghra must have told you I can’t summon a single sunbeam on my
own.”
“It will happen, Alina. I’m not worried.”
“You’re not?”
“No. And even if I were, once we have the stag, it won’t matter.”
I felt a surge of frustration. If an amplifier could make it possible for me to be
a real Grisha, then I didn’t want to wait for some mythical antler. I wanted a real
one. Now.
“If no one’s found Morozova’s herd in all this time, what makes you think
you’ll find it now?” I asked.
“Because this was meant to be. The stag was meant for you, Alina. I can feel
it.” He looked at me. His hair was still a mess, and in the bright morning
sunlight, he looked more handsome and more human than I’d ever seen him. “I
guess I’m asking you to trust me,” he said.
What was I supposed to say? I didn’t really have a choice. If the Darkling
wanted me to be patient, I would have to be patient. “Okay,” I said finally. “But
hurry it up.”
He laughed again, and I felt a pleased flush creep up my cheeks. Then his
expression became serious. “I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he
said. “You and I are going to change the world.”
I laughed nervously. “I’m not the world-changing type.”
“Just wait,” he said softly, and when he looked at me with those grey eyes, my
heart gave a little thump. I thought he was going to say something more, but
abruptly he stepped back, a troubled look on his face. “Good luck with your
lessons,” he said. He gave a short bow and turned on his heel to walk up the path
to the lake shore. He’d only gone a few steps before he turned back to me.
“Alina,” he said. “About the stag?”
“Yes?”
“Please keep it to yourself. Most people think it’s just a children’s story, and
I’d hate to look a fool.”
“I won’t say anything,” I promised.
He nodded once and, without another word, strode away. I stared after him. I
felt a little dazed, and I wasn’t sure why.
When I looked up, Baghra was standing on the porch of her cottage, watching
me. For no reason at all, I blushed.
“Hmph,” she snorted, and then she turned her back on me too.