Shadow and Bone

body thrummed with power. It was exhilarating, but I could
feel myself tiring, bumping up against the limits of my
abilities.
“More!” Baghra shouted.
“I can’t!” I protested.
“More!” she said again, and there was an urgency in her
voice that sounded an alarm inside of me and caused my focus
to falter. The light wavered and slipped from my grasp. I
scrambled for it but it rushed away from me, plunging the
school, then the island, and then the lakeshore back into
darkness.
“It’s not enough.” His voice made me jump. The Darkling
emerged from the shadows onto the lamplit path.
“It might be,” said Baghra. “You see how strong she is. I
wasn’t even helping her. Give her an amplifier and see what
she can do.”
The Darkling shook his head. “She’ll have the stag.”
Baghra scowled. “You’re a fool.”
“I’ve been called worse. Often by you.”
“This is folly. You must reconsider.”
The Darkling’s face went cold. “I must? You don’t give me
orders anymore, old woman. I know what has to be done.”
“I might surprise you,” I piped up. The Darkling and Baghra
turned to stare at me. It was almost like they’d forgotten I was
there. “Baghra’s right. I know I can do better. I can work
harder.”
“You’ve been on the Shadow Fold, Alina. You know what
we’re up against.”
I felt suddenly stubborn. “I know that I’m getting stronger
every day. If you give me a chance—”
Again, the Darkling shook his head. “I can’t take that kind
of a chance. Not with Ravka’s future at stake.”
“I understand,” I said numbly.