The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas

around Arobynn—not after what he’d done, and what she’d been through. So Celaena merely smiled at the King of the Assassins as she held open the door for the servants outside. They carried in a heavy trunk. Then another. And another.
    â€œDo I dare ask?” Arobynn massaged his temples.
    The servants hurried out, and Celaena shut the door behind them. Without a word, she opened the lids of the trunks. Gold shone in the noontime sun.
    She turned to Arobynn, clinging to the memory of what it had felt like to sit on the roof after the party. His face was unreadable.
    â€œI think this covers my debt,” she said, forcing herself to smile. “And then some.”
    Arobynn remained seated.
    She swallowed, suddenly feeling sick. Why had she thought this was a good idea?
    â€œI’d like to keep working with you,” she said carefully. He’d looked at her like this before—on the night he’d beaten her. “But you don’t own me anymore.”
    His silver eyes flicked to the trunks, then to her. In a moment of silence that lasted forever, she stood still as he took her in. Then he smiled, a bit ruefully. “Can you blame me for hoping that this day would never come?”
    She almost sagged with relief. “I mean it: I want to keep working with you.”
    She knew in that moment that she couldn’t tell him about the apartment and that she was moving out—not right now. Small steps. Today, the debt. Perhaps in a few weeks, she could mention that she was leaving. Perhaps he wouldn’t even care that she was getting her own home.
    â€œAnd I’ll always be happy to work with
you
,” he said, but remained seated. He took a sip from his tea. “Do I want to know where that money came from?”
    She became aware of the scar on her neck as she said, “The Mute Master. Payment for saving his life.”
    Arobynn picked up the morning paper. “Well, allow me to extend my congratulations.” He looked at her over the top of the paper. “You’re now a free woman.”
    She tried not to smile. Perhaps she wasn’t free in the entire sense of the word, but at least he wouldn’t be able to wield the debt against her anymore. That would suffice for now.
    â€œGood luck with Doneval tomorrow night,” he added. “Let me know if you need any help.”
    â€œAs long as you don’t charge me for it.”
    He didn’t return her smile, and set down the paper. “I would never do that to you.” Something like hurt flickered in his eyes.
    Fighting her sudden desire to apologize, she left his study without another word.
    The walk back to her bedroom was long. She’d expected to crow with glee when she gave him the money, expected to strut around the Keep. But seeing the way he’d looked at her made all that gold feel … cheap.
    A glorious start to her new future.
    Though Celaena never wanted to set foot in the vile sewer again, she found herself back there that afternoon. There was still a river flowing through the tunnel, but the narrow walkway alongside it was dry, even with the rain shower that was now falling on the street above them.
    An hour before, Sam had just showed up at her bedroom, dressed and ready to spy on Doneval’s house. Now he crept behind her, saying nothing as they approached the iron door she remembered all too well. She set down her torch beside the door and ran her hands along the worn, rusty surface.
    â€œWe’ll have to get in this way tomorrow,” she said, her voice barely audible above the gurgle of the sewer river. “The front of the house is too well-guarded now.”
    Sam traced a finger through the groove between the door and the threshold. “Aside from finding a way to haul a battering ram down here, I don’t think we’re getting through.”
    She shot him a dark look. “You could try knocking.”
    Sam laughed under his breath. “I’m