Shadow and Bone

A wave of shame rushed through me and the glowing light
faltered. The Darkling laughed.
I glanced at Mal. His jaw was set. He radiated the same icy
anger I had seen the night of the winter fete. I felt my hold on
the light slip and I scrambled for it. I tried to refocus my
power. The sphere stuttered with fresh brilliance, but I could
already feel my reach brushing up against the boundaries of
what I could do. Darkness began to leak into the edges of the
bubble like ink.
I knew what had to be done. The Darkling was right; I
wasn’t strong enough. And we wouldn’t have another chance.
“Do it, Mal,” I whispered. “You know what has to happen.”
Mal looked at me, panic flaring in his eyes. He shook his
head. Darkness surged against the bubble. I stumbled slightly.
“Quick, Mal! Before it’s too late.”
In one lightning movement, Mal dropped his bow and
reached for his knife.
“Do it, Mal! Do it now!”
Mal’s hand was shaking. I could feel my strength ebbing. “I
can’t,” he whispered miserably. “I can’t.” He let go of the
knife, letting it fall soundlessly into the snow. Darkness
crashed in on us.
Mal disappeared. The clearing disappeared. I was thrown
into suffocating blackness. I heard Mal cry out and reached
toward his voice, but suddenly, strong arms had hold of me
from both sides. I kicked and struggled furiously.
The darkness lifted, and that quickly, I saw it was over.
Two of the Darkling’s guards had hold of me, while Mal
struggled between two others.
“Be still or I’ll kill you where you stand,” Ivan snarled at
him.
“Leave him alone!” I shouted.
“Shhhhhh.” The Darkling walked toward me, one finger
held to his lips, which were curled into a mocking smile.