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

members of the court milled about a raised throne. Many of the men wore
military dress, black trousers and white coats laden with medals and ribbons.
The women sparkled in gowns of liquid silk with little puffed sleeves and low
necklines. Flanking the carpeted aisle, the Grisha stood arranged in their separate
orders.
A hush fell as every face turned to me and the Darkling. We walked slowly
towards the golden throne. As we drew closer, the King sat up straighter, tense
with excitement. He looked to be in his forties, slender and round-shouldered
with big watery eyes and a pale moustache. He wore full military dress, a thin
sword at his side, his narrow chest covered with medals. Beside him on the
raised dais stood a man with a long, dark beard. He wore priest’s robes, but a
gold double eagle was emblazoned on his chest.
The Darkling gave my arm a gentle squeeze to warn me that we were
stopping.
“Your Highness, moi tsar” he said in clear tones. “Alina Starkov, the Sun
Summoner.” A rush of murmurs came from the crowd. I wasn’t sure if I should
bow or curtsey. Ana Kuya had insisted that all the orphans know how to greet
the Duke’s few noble guests, but somehow, it didn’t feel right to curtsey in
army-issue trousers. The King saved me from making a blunder when he waved
us forward impatiently. “Come, come! Bring her to me.”
The Darkling and I walked to the base of the dais.
The King scrutinised me. He frowned, and his lower lip jutted out slightly.
“She’s very plain.”
I flushed and bit my tongue. The King wasn’t much to look at either. He was
practically chinless, and close up, I could see the broken blood vessels in his
nose.
“Show me,” the King commanded.
My stomach clenched. I looked at the Darkling. This was it. He nodded at me
and spread his arms wide. A tense silence descended as his hands filled with
dark, swirling ribbons of blackness that bled into the air. He brought his hands
together with a resounding crack. Nervous cries burst from the crowd as
darkness blanketed the room.
This time, I was better prepared for the dark that engulfed me, but it was still
frightening. Instinctively, I reached forward, searching for something to hold on
to. The Darkling caught my arm and his bare hand slid into mine. I felt that same
powerful certainty wash through me and then the Darkling’s call, pure and
compelling, demanding an answer. With a mixture of panic and relief, I felt
something rising up inside me. This time, I didn’t try to fight it. I let it have its
way.