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

The Darkling looked momentarily confused. He narrowed his eyes, and I felt
his will descend on me again, felt that invisible hand grasping. I shrugged it off.
It was nothing. He was nothing.
“What is this?” he hissed. He raised his hands and skeins of darkness spooled
towards me, but with a flick of my hand, they burned away like mist.
The Darkling advanced, his handsome features contorted with fury. My mind
was working frantically. I knew he would have liked to kill me where I stood,
but he couldn’t, not with the volcra circling outside the light that only I could
provide.
“Seize her!” he shouted to the guards surrounding us. Ivan reached out.
I felt the weight of the collar around my neck, the steady rhythm of the stag’s
ancient heart beating in time with mine. My power rose up in me, solid and
without hesitation, a sword in my hand.
I lifted my arm and slashed. With an ear-splitting crack, one of the skiff’s
masts split in two. People bleated in panic and scattered as the broken mast fell
to the deck, the thick wood gleaming with burning light. Shock registered on the
Darkling’s face.
“The Cut!” Ivan gasped, taking a step backwards.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warned.
“You aren’t a murderer, Alina,” said the Darkling.
“I think the Ravkans I just helped you slaughter would disagree.”
Panic was spreading through the skiff. The oprichniki looked wary, but they
were closing in on me just the same.
“You saw what he did to those people!” I cried to the guards and Grisha
around me. “Is that the future you want? A world of darkness? A world remade
in his image?” I saw their confusion, their anger and fear. “It’s not too late to
stop him! Help me,” I begged. “Please, help me.”
But no one moved. Soldier and Grisha alike stood frozen on the deck. They
were all too afraid, afraid of him and afraid of a world without his protection.
The oprichniki inched closer. I had to make a choice. Mal and I wouldn’t have
another chance.
So be it, I thought.
I glanced over my shoulder, hoping Mal understood, and then I dived for the
side of the skiff.
“Don’t let her reach the railing!” the Darkling shouted.
The guards surged towards me. And I let the light go out.
We were plunged into darkness. People wailed and, above us, I heard the
volcra screeching. My outstretched hands struck the railing. I ducked under it
and hurled myself onto the sand, rolling to my feet and running blindly towards