[Ianthe's brow furrowed in confusion. What was Alina taking about? She'd asked her not to tell anyone...]

The shadow ability?

[Her head tilted as dredged up what she'd thrown at Nikolai in that final moment. She wouldn't have. No, she definitely didn't.]

I didn't say anything about that to him. Or anyone. I promised you I wouldn't.

I told him that he needed to find you, that you hurt me, that I was going monster. I thought he was smart enough to know that no physical pain will make me transform.

If he said anything about the shadow magic, it didn't come from me.