Shadow and Bone

“You don’t mean that.”
“No. I don’t.” She fiddled with one of her earrings. “The
worst part is that everyone knows.”
I put my arm around her. “They don’t matter. You’re worth
all of them put together.”
She gave a weak imitation of her confident smile. “Oh, I
know that.”
“The Darkling should have done something,” I said. “He
should have protected you.”
“He has, Alina. More than you know. Besides, he’s as much
a slave to the whims of the King as the rest of us. At least for
now.”
“For now?”
She gave me a quick squeeze. “Let’s not dwell on
depressing things tonight. Come on,” she said, her gorgeous
face breaking into a dazzling grin. “I’m in desperate need of
champagne!”
And with that, she glided serenely from the room. I wanted
to say more to her. I wanted to ask her what she meant about
the Darkling. I wanted to take a hammer to the King’s head.
But she was right. There would be plenty of time for trouble
tomorrow. I took a last peek in the little mirror and hurried out
into the hall, leaving my worries and Genya’s warnings behind
me.
MY BLACK KEFTA caused quite a stir in the domed hall as
Marie and Nadia and a group of other Etherealki dressed in
blue velvets and silks swarmed around me and Genya. Genya
made to slip away as she usually did, but I held fast to her arm.
If I was wearing the Darkling’s color, then I intended to take
full advantage of it and have my friend by my side.