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

when the room was practically vibrating with tension did he lean into me and
whisper, so softly that only I could hear, “Now.”
Heart clattering, I extended my arm, palm up. I took a deep breath and called
up that feeling of surety, the feeling of light rushing towards me and through me,
and focused it in my hand. A bright column of light shot upwards from my palm,
gleaming in the darkness of the ballroom. The crowd gasped, and I heard
someone shout, “it’s true!”
I turned my hand slightly, angling at what I hoped was the right spot on the
balcony that David had described to me earlier.
“Just make sure you aim high enough, and we’ll find you,” he’d said.
I knew I’d got it right when the beam from my palm shot out from the
balcony, zigging and zagging across the room as the light bounced from one
large Fabrikator-made mirror to the next until the dark ballroom was a pattern of
crisscrossing streams of gleaming sunlight.
The crowd murmured in excitement.
I closed my palm, and the beam disappeared, then in a flash I let the light
bloom around me and the Darkling, wrapping us in a glowing sphere that
surrounded us like a flowing, golden halo.
He looked at me and held out his hand, sending black ribbons of darkness
climbing through the sphere, twisting and turning. I grew the light wider and
brighter, feeling the pleasure of the power move through me, letting it play
through my fingertips as he sent inky tendrils of darkness shooting through the
light, making them dance.
The crowd applauded and the Darkling murmured softly, “Now, show them.”
I grinned and did as I had been taught, throwing my arms wide and feeling my
whole self open, then I slammed my hands together and a loud rumble shook the
ballroom. Brilliant white light exploded through the crowd with a whoosh as the
guests released a collective “Ahhhh!” and closed their eyes, flinging their hands
up against the brightness.
I held it for a few long seconds and then unclasped my hands, letting the light
fade. The crowd burst into wild applause, clapping furiously and stomping their
feet.
We took our bows as the orchestra began to play and the applause gave way to
excited chatter. The Darkling pulled me to the side of the stage and whispered,
“Do you hear them? See them dancing and embracing? They know now that the
rumours are true, that everything is about to change.”
My elation ebbed slightly as I felt uncertainty creep in. “But aren’t we giving
these people false hope?” I asked.
“No, Alina. I told you that you were my answer. And you are.”