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

moment, I hesitated. He stood before me, a dark rider, cloaked in black, his
features in shadow. The image of the severed man loomed up in my mind, and
my stomach turned.
As if he’d read my thoughts, he repeated, “I did what I had to, Alina.”
I knew that. He had saved my life. And what other choice did I have? I put my
hand in his and let the Darkling help me into the saddle. He slid up behind me
and kicked the horse into a trot.
As we left the glen, I felt the reality of what had just happened sink into me.
“You’re shaking,” he said.
“I’m not used to people trying to kill me.”
“Really? I hardly notice any more.”
I turned to look at him. That trace of a smile was still there, but I wasn’t
entirely sure he was joking. I turned back around and said, “And I did just see a
man get sliced in half.” I kept my voice light, but I couldn’t hide the fact that I
was still trembling.
The Darkling switched his reins to one hand and pulled off one of his gloves. I
stiffened as I felt him slide his bare palm under my hair and rest it on the nape of
my neck. My surprise gave way to calm as that same sense of power and surety
flooded through me. With one hand cupping my head, he kicked the horse into a
canter. I closed my eyes and tried not to think, and soon, despite the movement
of the horse, despite the terrors of the day, I fell into a troubled sleep.