The Touch of Salvation

17: The Surrender

ADALIND

The riddle is laughing at me, I know it is. As I stare at the box shrouded in a cloud of mocking darkness, I hear the faintest laughter in my head. Maybe I am finally losing it. After retrieving the box from House Aquarius and finding the riddlemaker, we ventured back to my lands. Here I sat at my desk, that box in front of me with the riddle etched on it.

"What doesn't come? That's the riddle?"

I hear Daario before I see him. He pushes open my office door and reveals himself biting on a turkey leg. Behind him, the others follow and I silently beg that they have come up with an answer.

My stomach twists. I really hope the answer isn't what I think it is.

"Night," Lux says. "Night doesn't come here."

"Yes, but this is Gemini's key which was in House Aquarius. Gemini does have nights."

"Is that all it says?" Daario asks again.

"Yes," Espen says. "That is all it says. We have tried night and it didn't open. We tried several answers while returning, but nothing opened it."

Oh, God. This can't be happening. My eyes meet Lucian's who sharpen in curiosity at my expression. No one else seems to notice my internal embarrassment. The wolves continue to argue about the riddle around me but I am locked in a silent conversation with Lucian. Understanding washes over his face.

Thank god Lucian saw my expression and not Daario because Daario would-

"Why do you look like you want to vomit?" Daario's voice cuts through like a knife. My eyes slowly drag to him. I want the universe to swallow me whole. I hold his gaze and attempt to change my expression. It doesn't work.

If anything, it gives me away more, because Daario's brows lift and his mouth parts like he just solved a puzzle. A laugh bubbles from his chest. "There's no way."

I stand to my feet in a hasty attempt to leave.

"Adalind, you're over five hundred years old!"

A hand grabs my bicep. Goliath peers down at me. I know I am blushing. I look away from him and keep my eyes away from Daario.

"I'm not a...I've had..." I argue pathetically. I release my arm from Goliath and he must realize I'm not a flight risk because he lets go easily.

"But have you ever..." Daario trails off. "Oh, Gods, you have never had an orgasm."

Well, there it is.

"Not true." I say. "I have. It's just been a very long time."

"How long?"

"Long." To be honest, before the Houses fell I had great sex and during the curse I also...I shake away that thought. I want to sleep with Goliath, but only him. I feel no desire for anything sexual when he wasn't here. I go and pull the box to the edge of my desk. I sigh, deeply. I want to know what fate I fucked with to deserve this. "What doesn't come is me."

As the silver lock hisses open, Daario's laugh gets deeper. I throw daggers at him, but it is Goliath who speaks next.

"But you read those books. I have read what you have read, does it not-"

"Please," I beg. "Can we just move on?" I grab the bright, golden key.

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GOLIATH

I can hear Grace's gags from outside her door. She's unwell this morning and begged me not to tell her mate. As the door opens, she looks awful. Bags are under her eyes and tears were clear as day on her cheeks. My heart falls for my Primus. She was a good, kind woman.