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

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Instead, they saw a pale, tired girl, broken by misery.

“Are you all right?” Marie whispered when she hugged me.

“Yes,” I promised. “Just worn out from the journey.”

I did my best to smile convincingly and reassure them. I tried to feign

enthusiasm as they marvelled at Morozova’s collar and reached out to touch it.

The Darkling was never far from view, a warning in his eyes, and I kept

moving through the crowd, grinning until my cheeks hurt.

As we passed through the Grisha pavilion, I caught sight of Zoya sulking on a

pile of cushions. She stared greedily at the collar as I passed. You’re welcome to

it, I thought bitterly, and hurried my steps.

Ivan led me to a private tent close to the Darkling’s quarters. Fresh clothes

were waiting on my camp cot along with a bath of hot water and my blue kefta.

It had only been a few weeks, but it felt strange to wear Summoners’ colours

again.

The Darkling’s guards were stationed all around the perimeter of my tent.

Only I knew they were there to monitor as well as protect me. The tent was

luxuriously appointed with piles of furs, a painted table and chairs, and a

Fabrikator mirror, clear as water and inlaid with gold. I would have traded it all

in an instant to shiver beside Mal on a threadbare blanket.

I had no visitors, and I spent my days pacing back and forth with nothing to

do but worry and imagine the worst. I didn’t know why the Darkling was

waiting to enter the Shadow Fold or what he might be planning, and my guards

certainly weren’t interested in discussing it.

On the fourth night, when the flap of my tent opened, I nearly fell off my cot.

There was Genya, holding my dinner tray and looking impossibly gorgeous. I sat

up, not knowing what to say.

She entered and set down the tray, hovering near the table. “I shouldn’t be

here,” she said.

“Probably not,” I admitted. “I’m not sure that I’m supposed to have visitors.”

“No, I mean I shouldn’t be here. It’s incredibly dirty.”

I laughed, suddenly very glad to see her. She smiled slightly and settled

herself gracefully on the edge of the painted chair.

“They’re saying you’ve been in seclusion, preparing for your ordeal,” she

said.

I examined Genya’s face, trying to glean how much she knew. “I didn’t have a

chance to say goodbye before I … went away,” I said carefully.

“If you had, I would have stopped you.”

So she knew I’d run. “How’s Baghra?”

“No one’s seen her since you left. She seems to have gone into seclusion too.”

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