Shadow and Bone

“No. And even if I were, once we have the stag, it won’t
matter.”
I felt a surge of frustration. If an amplifier could make it
possible for me to be a real Grisha, then I didn’t want to wait
for some mythical antler. I wanted a real one. Now.
“If no one’s found Morozova’s herd in all this time, what
makes you think you’ll find it now?” I asked.
“Because this was meant to be. The stag was meant for you,
Alina. I can feel it.” He looked at me. His hair was still a mess,
and in the bright morning sunlight, he looked more handsome
and more human than I’d ever seen him. “I guess I’m asking
you to trust me,” he said.
What was I supposed to say? I didn’t really have a choice. If
the Darkling wanted me to be patient, I would have to be
patient. “Okay,” I said finally. “But hurry it up.”
He laughed again, and I felt a pleased flush creep up my
cheeks. Then his expression became serious. “I’ve been
waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he said. “You and I are
going to change the world.”
I laughed nervously. “I’m not the world-changing type.”
“Just wait,” he said softly, and when he looked at me with
those gray quartz eyes, my heart gave a little thump. I thought
he was going to say something more, but abruptly he stepped
back, a troubled look on his face. “Good luck with your
lessons,” he said. He gave me a short bow and turned on his
heel to walk up the path to the lakeshore. But he’d only gone a
few steps before he turned back to me. “Alina,” he said.
“About the stag?”
“Yes?”
“Please keep it to yourself. Most people think it’s just a
children’s story, and I’d hate to look a fool.”
“I won’t say anything,” I promised.
He nodded once and, without another word, strode away. I
stared after him. I felt a little dazed, and I wasn’t sure why.