The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas Page B

you do.” He didn’t reply. “You
can’t
go.”
    â€œGive me a reason why I shouldn’t.”
    â€œBecause I’ll miss you, damn it!” she hissed, splaying her arms. “Because what was the
point
in anything if you just disappear forever?”
    â€œThe point in what, Celaena?” How could he be so calm when she was so frantic?
    â€œThe point in Skull’s Bay, and the point in getting me that music, and the point in … the point in telling Arobynn that you’d forgive him if he never hurt me again.”
    â€œYou said you didn’t care what I thought. Or what I did. Or if I died, if I’m not mistaken.”
    â€œI lied! And you
know
I lied, you stupid bastard!”
    He laughed quietly. “You want to know how I spent this summer?” She went still. He ran a hand through his brown hair. “I spent every single day fighting the urge to slit Arobynn’s throat. And he
knew
I wanted to kill him.”
    I’ll kill you!
Sam had screamed at Arobynn.
    â€œThe moment I woke up after he beat me, I realized I
had
to leave. Because I was going to kill him if I didn’t. But I couldn’t.” He studied her face. “Not until you came back. Not until I knew you were all right—until I saw that you were safe.”
    Breathing became very, very hard.
    â€œHe knew that, too,” Sam went on. “So he decided to exploit it. He didn’t recommend me for missions. Instead, he made me help Lysandra and Clarisse. He made me escort them around the city on picnics and to parties. It became a game between the two of us—how much of his horseshit I could take before I snapped. But we both knew he’d always have the winning hand. He’d always have
you
. Still, I spent every day this summer hoping you’d come back in one piece. More than that—I hoped you’d come back and take revenge for what he’d done to you.”
    But she hadn’t. She’d come back and let Arobynn shower her with gifts.
    â€œAnd now that you’re fine, Celaena, now that you’ve paid off your debt, I can’t stay in Rifthold. Not after all the things he’s done to us.”
    She knew it was selfish, and horrible, but she whispered, “Please don’t go.”
    He let out an uneven breath. “You’ll be fine without me. You always have been.”
    Maybe once, but not now. “How can I convince you to stay?”
    â€œYou can’t.”
    She threw down the torch. “Do you want me to beg, is that it?”
    â€œNo—never.”
    â€œThen tell me—”
    â€œWhat more can I say?” he exploded, his whisper rough and harsh. “I’ve already told you everything—I’ve already told you that if I stay here, if I have to live with Arobynn, I’ll snap his damned neck.”
    â€œBut why? Why can’t you let it go?”
    He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Because I love you!”
    Her mouth fell open.
    â€œI love you,” he repeated, shaking her again. “I have for
years
. And he
hurt
you and made me watch because he’s always known how I felt, too. But if I asked you to pick, you’d choose Arobynn, and I. Can’t. Take. It.”
    The only sounds were their breathing, an uneven beat against the rushing of the sewer river.
    â€œYou’re a damned idiot,” she breathed, grabbing the front of his tunic. “You’re a moron and an ass and a
damned
idiot.” He looked like she had hit him. But she went on, and grasped both sides of his face, “Because I’d pick
you
.”
    And then she kissed him.

Chapter Ten
    She’d never kissed anyone. And as her lips met his and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close against him, she honestly had no idea why she’d waited so long. His mouth was warm and soft, his body wondrously solid against hers, his hair silken as she threaded her fingers through it.