Chaolaena💕

I Missed You Too

This chapter replaces one in Queen of Shadows, and it's better.

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“You get one sentence,” Celaena breathed in the woman’s ear as she pressed the dagger harder against her neck. “One sentence to convince me not to spill your throat on the ground.”
The woman swallowed, her throat bobbing against the dagger the assassin held against her smooth skin. “I work with the captain.”
Celaena dug the knife a bit more. “Not at all that compelling to someone with a blade at your throat.”
“Three weeks ago, he abandoned his post at the castle and fled. To join our cause. The rebel cause,” the woman uttered on the back of her throat.
Celaena’s knees threatened to buckle.
“Is that enough for you to put the knife down?” the rebel asked desperately.
Yes. No. Nevertheless, Celaena’s mind was racing. She finally lowered the knife and stepped back into a pool of moonlight trickling in from an overhead grate.
“Ally or Enemy?” The rebel asked, a solemn mask on her face.
Celaena crossed her arms and leaned against the damp stone wall behind her. “Let’s start with you telling me your name.”
“My name is not your concern.”
Celaena lifted a brow. “You demand answers but refuse to give any in return?”
“I heard what happened this winter. That you went to the warehouse and killed so many of us. You slaughtered rebels―friends. And yet, I’m supposed to believe you were on our side all along. Forgive me if not exactly forthcoming.” She, too, crossed her arms.
“Should I not kill the people who kidnap and beat my…” To be honest, she didn’t know what Chaol was. “Am I not supposed to gut the self-serving bastard who had my beloved friend assassinated?” She pushed off the wall, stalking toward the woman. The memory of Nehemia rushing along in her mind. “Would you like me to apologize? Should I grovel on my knees for any of that?”
The rebel’s face showed nothing. Celaena debated slamming the woman into the filthy, wet wall just to remind her who, exactly, Adarlan’s Assassin was, but then a ragged breathing scraped past her ears, coming from the darkness. Human breathing― and whispers.
Boots sliding and thumping against wet stone, more whispers―hushed demands from voices she didn’t recognize. To hurry, and quite now, and―
Her muscles tensed as one male voice hissed, “We’ve got twenty minutes until that ship leaves. Move.”
She knew that voice.
Celaena still couldn’t brace herself for the full impact of Chaol Westfall staggering out of the darkness at the end of the tunnel.
Even from a distance, the captain’s eyes locked onto hers and widened at the sight of blood on her clothes.
“Are you hurt?” His voice was hoarse.
Celaena shook her head silently. Even after months of not even hearing about each other, the first thing he said to her was that. I will always tell you to be careful, because I will always care what happens. She couldn’t help the slight tug upwards at the corners of her mouth.
Gods. He was exactly as she remembered―that ruggedly handsome face, the face she’d come to love, still there.
A slender white scar slashed down his cheek. She’d given him that, and in her blind rage had also tried to kill him. Would have killed him if Dorian hadn't stopped her.
After Chaol dismissed the rest of the rebels―including the woman who had brought her to him―he had asked her to walk with him. And she did.
Now alone on the ragged streets of Rifthold, all the words she wanted to say rushed around her head, fighting to get out, but she pushed back against them for a moment longer.
I love you―that’s what he had said the day she left for Wendlyn. She hadn’t given him an answer other than I’m sorry.
There were perhaps only three feet between them now―three feet and months and months of missing him. Because she did.
She missed his scent, his touch. She missed the sparkle in his eyes whenever he looked at her. Missed his voice, the sound of her name against his lips. She missed everything about him.
Chaol told Celaena about what had happened with him, and Dorian, and Sorcha, and Aedion with nothing but shame all over his face.
She wanted to scream at him. Belittle him for being such a coward, and fleeing and leaving everyone else behind. But the grief and shame in his eyes―his beautiful, golden brown eyes―stopped her short.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t do anything more,” he said quietly.
“Don’t be,” she said softly. Celaena didn’t even realize she was crying until his thumb brushed against her face to wipe the tears off of it. “I’m sorry for lying,” she finally got out.
Chaol shook his head, “You have nothing to apologize for. Besides… assassin, princess, fire-bringer,” such light filled his eyes,  “it doesn’t matter. I realize that now.” She smiled a soft-smile. “I missed you,” he whispered so quietly she could barely hear it.
But she did, and it made her heart crumble. Craving his warmth, she leaned toward him and realized that she loved him. Even after months apart, she still loved him. Loved everything about him.
Chaol pulled her into a warm embrace, one that she needed desperately. “I missed you so much,” he said again.
Celaena looked into her captain’s eyes and smiled. Smiled as she had done months before. And so, she lifted her chin and kissed him.
Their lips met softly. As if they could have stayed there forever and not minded, stayed there forever and let the world fall apart around them.