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

The Darkling shook his head. “She’ll have the stag.”
Baghra scowled. “You’re a fool.”
“I’ve been called worse. Often by you.”
“This is folly. You must reconsider.”
The Darkling’s face went cold. “I must? You don’t give me orders any more,
old woman. I know what has to be done.”
“I might surprise you,” I piped up. The Darkling and Baghra turned to stare at
me. It was almost as if they’d forgotten I was there. “Baghra’s right. I know I
can do better. I can work harder.”
“You’ve been on the Shadow Fold, Alina. You know what we’re up against.”
I felt suddenly stubborn. “I’m getting stronger every day. If you give me a
chance—”
Again, the Darkling shook his head. “I can’t take that kind of a chance. Not
with Ravka’s future at stake.”
“I understand,” I said numbly.
“Do you?”
“Yes,” I said. “Without Morozova’s stag, I’m pretty much useless.”
“Ah, so she’s not as stupid as she looks,” cackled Baghra.
“Leave us,” said the Darkling with surprising ferocity.
“We’ll all suffer for your pride, boy.”
“I won’t ask you again.”
Baghra gave him a disgusted glower, then turned on her heel and marched
back up the path to her cottage.
When her door slammed shut, the Darkling regarded me in the lamplight.
“You look well,” he said.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, my eyes sliding away. Maybe Genya could teach me to
take a compliment.
“If you’re returning to the Little Palace, I’ll walk with you,” he said.
For a while, we strolled in silence along the lake shore, past the deserted stone
pavilions. Across the ice, I could see the lights of the school.
Finally, I had to ask. “Has there been any word? Of the stag?”
He pressed his lips together. “No,” he said. “My men think that the herd may
have crossed into Fjerda.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
He stopped abruptly. “I don’t think you’re useless, Alina.”
“I know,” I said to the tops of my boots. “Not useless. Just not exactly useful.”
“No Grisha is powerful enough to face the Fold. Not even me.”
“I get it.”
“But you don’t like it.”