Read Online Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers - Free Book Online Page B

his fault! It was my fault. I trusted . . .” My words caught in my throat, and I clutched the key at my chest. “Didn’t you love my father?”
    â€œOf course.” He sighed. “Dante Saldana was a brother to me. I would’ve done anything he asked.”
    â€œThen help me with this!”
    â€œNo. This is something Dante would never have asked. He helped put me on the throne for the good of everyone, not for himself or his Family. And I’m not sure how he would feel about his only daughter planning to take on the most powerful of the Families.”
    â€œI have no choice. Safraella demands it of me.” Did She?Because maybe I was actually doing this for myself. It didn’t matter. I’d murdered in Her name before, and I would do so again. The only difference this time would be that I’d take personal satisfaction in sending the Da Vias to face Her.
    â€œBe that as it may, there are other ways you could appease Safraella. You could pledge yourself to the church. Or you could continue on as a clipper.”
    â€œLive my life cloistered away? Never. And the Families—the Da Vias—would never allow me to continue to serve Her as a clipper. They would not rest until I was dead.”
    â€œYou could marry into another Family. Surely one of them would be glad to have you.”
    â€œI have no rank now, no status. And any Family that took me on would have to face the wrath of the Da Vias.” I shook my head. “None of them will take that risk for me.” And they couldn’t be trusted.
    â€œNo, this is what I must do. Alone, if need be. I’m the only Saldana left, anyway.”
    He shifted in his seat, tapping his fingers together. “Fine. I see you cannot be dissuaded from your path. And that is your right. But you don’t have to do it alone. You are not, in fact, the only Saldana left.”
    My heart skipped a beat. I leaned forward.
    â€œIf you’re interested, I can tell you where your uncle, Marcello, hid himself after leaving Lovero.”
    My uncle Marcello. My stomach knotted. No one else had survived then. The king was referring to my traitorous uncle, who was better left forgotten. We did not speak of him.
    I was truly alone.
    The king leaned back in his chair. “The Da Vias and possibly even the Maiettas would pay dearly to learn where he is—”
    â€œI will not sell out my uncle, estranged though he may be, to the Da Vias to save my own life. I will not give them the opportunity to shed any more Saldana blood.”
    The king held up a hand. “You misunderstand. I offer you his location only if you wish to seek him out for help orFamily obligation. Nothing more.”
    â€œNo,” I said. “I could not trust him.”
    The king sighed. “Lea, I know the disaster surrounding Marcello was before your time, but I knew him quite well, and Marcello Saldana was trustworthy.”
    I’d thought Val was trustworthy. I stood and picked up my mask. I was done. There was nothing the king could do for me. Would do for me.
    He took a quill and a scrap of parchment from a drawer, as well as an inkpot. “If you change your mind, last I’d heard, this is where you can find him.”
    He passed me the slip of parchment. I read the words. The city of Yvain in Rennes, Lovero’s neighboring country. I dropped the scrap into the lamp, and the flame burned it to ash.
    The king stood and walked to the hidden door. He pressed on a latch and slid the door open before he stepped through. He paused, looking back at me.
    â€œBesides,” he added, “Marcello Saldana would know how to find the Da Vias’ Family home.”
    He closed the door, and I was left alone.

eight
    I WALKED THROUGH THE STREETS OF GENONI, AVOIDING the large crowds this time of night. Maybe the king couldn’t help me, but calling on him had been the right thing to do. Even if I’d thought of Marcello, I hadn’t