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

subject.
“The Apparat?”
“Is he a priest?”
“Of a sort. Some say he’s a fanatic. Others say he’s a fraud.”
“And you?”
“I say he has his uses.” The Darkling turned to Genya. “I think we’ve asked
enough of Alina for today,” he said. “Take her back to her chambers and have
her fitted for her kefta. She will start instruction tomorrow.”
Genya gave a little bow and laid her hand on my arm to lead me away. I was
overcome by excitement and relief. My power (my power, it still didn’t seem
real) had shown up again and kept me from making a fool of myself. I’d made it
through my introduction to the King and my audience with the Queen. And I
was going to be given a Grisha’s kefta.
“Genya,” the Darkling called after us, “the kefta will be black.”
Genya drew a startled breath. I looked at her stunned face and then at the
Darkling, who was already turning to g°.
“Wait!” I called before I could stop myself. The Darkling halted and turned
those slate-coloured eyes on me. “I … If it would be all right, I’d prefer to have
blue robes, Summoners’ blue.”
“Alina!” exclaimed Genya, clearly horrified.
But the Darkling held up a hand to silence her. “Why?” he asked, his
expression unreadable.
“I already feel like I don’t belong here. I think it might be easier if I weren’t
… singled out.”
“Are you so anxious to be like everyone else?”
My chin lifted. He clearly didn’t approve, but I wasn’t going to back down. “I
just don’t want to be more conspicuous than I already am.”
The Darkling looked at me for a long moment. I wasn’t sure if he was
thinking over what I’d said or trying to intimidate me, but I gritted my teeth and
returned his gaze.
Abruptly, he nodded. “As you wish,” he said. “Your kefta will be blue.” And
without another word, he turned his back on us and disappeared down the hall.
Genya stared at me, aghast.
“What?” I asked.
“Alina,” Genya said slowly, “no other Grisha has ever been permitted to wear
a Darkling’s colours.”
“Do you think he’s angry?”
“That’s hardly the point! It would have been a mark of your standing, of the
Darkling’s esteem. It would have placed you high above all others.”