The Assassin and the Empire Read Free Page A

from the Guild before we leave. And since you seem in such a hurry to get out of the capital, we’ll go see him tomorrow.”
    Sam pursed his lips. “I’m not going to grovel. Not to him.”
    “Neither am I.” She stalked to the kitchen sink, bracing her hands on either side of it as she looked out the window. Rifthold. Could she truly leave it behind? She might hate it at times, but … this was
her
city. Leaving that, starting over in a new city somewhere on the continent … Could she do it?
    Footsteps thudded on the wooden floor, a warm breath caressed her neck, and then Sam’s arms slipped around her waist from behind. He rested his chin on the crook between her shoulder and neck, and they stared at the city.
    “I just want to be with you,” he murmured. “I don’t care where we go. That’s all I want.”
    She closed her eyes, and leaned her head against his. He smelled of her lavender soap—her
expensive
lavender soap that she’d once warned him to never use again. He probably had no idea what soap she’d even been scolding him about. She’d have to start hiding her beloved toiletries and leave out something inexpensive for him. Sam wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, anyway.
    “I’m sorry I went to the Vaults,” he said onto her skin, planting a kiss beneath her ear.
    A shiver went down her spine. Though they’d been sharing the bedroom for the past month, they hadn’t yet crossed that final threshold of intimacy. She wanted to—and he
certainly
wanted to— but so much had changed so quickly. Something that monumental could wait a while longer. It didn’t stop them from enjoying each other, though.
    Sam kissed her ear, his teeth grazing her earlobe, and her heart stumbled a beat.
    “Don’t use kissing to swindle me into accepting your apology,” she got out, even as she tilted her head to the side to allow him better access.
    He chuckled, his breath caressing her neck. “It was worth a shot.”
    “If you go to the Vaults again,” she said as he nibbled on her ear, “I’ll hop in and beat you unconscious myself.”
    She felt him smile against her skin. “You could try.” He bit her ear—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to tell her that he’d now stopped listening.
    She whirled in his arms, glaring up at him, at his beautiful face illuminated by the glow of the city, at his eyes, so dark and rich. “And
you
used my lavender soap. Don’t ever do that—”
    But then Sam’s lips found hers, and Celaena stopped talking for a good while after that.
    Yet as they stood there, their bodies twining around each other, there was still one question that remained unasked—one question neither of them dared voice.
    Would Arobynn Hamel let them leave?

Chapter Two
    When Celaena and Sam entered the Assassin’s Keep the next day, it was as if nothing had changed. The same trembling housekeeper greeted them at the door before scuttling away, and Wesley, Arobynn’s manservant, was standing in his familiar position outside the King of the Assassins’ study.
    They strode right up to the door, Celaena using every step, every breath, to take in details. Two blades strapped to Wesley’s back, one at his side, two daggers sheathed at his waist, the glint of one shining in his boot—probably one more hidden in the other boot, too. Wesley’s eyes were alert, keen—not a sign of exhaustion or sickness or anything that she could use to her advantage if it came to a fight.
    But Sam just strolled right up to Wesley, and despite how quiet he’d been on their long walk over here, he held out a hand and said, “Good to see you, Wesley.”
    Wesley shook Sam’s hand and gave a half smile. “I’d say you look good, boyo, but that bruise says otherwise.” Wesley looked at Celaena, who lifted her chin and huffed. “
You
look more or less the same,” he said, a challenging gleam in his eyes. He’d never liked her—never bothered to be nice. As if he’d always known that she and Arobynn would