Page 106 of Kneel Before Me

“Daphne.” Kronos spoke over him suddenly. “Leave us.”

Now Daphne looked even more surprised. “But I—” she began.

Kronos cut her off. “Daphne.”

All three of them waited in bated silence. Daphne stared up at Kronos, clearly trying to understand what was going on. Caspen wished she would just obey her teacher. Finally, she did, disappearing into the crowd in a flourish of curls. The moment she was gone, Caspen said, “I saw what you gave her. It is you who should remember your place.”

Kronos’s eyes narrowed. “What I gave her is none of your concern.”

“It is my concern when it threatens the future of our people. Involvement with a human is blasphemous.”

“Our people?” Kronos scoffed. “Your concern lies only with the future of your own quiver.”

“That is not true,” Caspen insisted. “Anything that affects my quiver affects us all.”

“I have done nothing to affect your quiver or our people.”

“Of course you have. And you must undo it.”

“How?”

“Drop out of the competition. Leave her.”

Kronos let out a low, humorless chuckle. “Even if I could leave her, I would not. And if you think I would drop out at your behest, you are delusional. She is winning. If I drop out, I forfeit my chance at the throne.”

“You do not understand. I am trying to protect you.” Caspen did not mention that he was trying to protect Kronos from himself.

“I do not need your protection.”

Caspen shook his head. This was unbelievable. He was running out of words to express himself. “You must stop whatever it is you think you have with her. This infatuation must end.”

“It is not an infatuation.”

“Then what is it? Love?”

Kronos did not answer. He did not need to. Caspen knew love when he saw it. He knew the way his brother looked at Harmony. Love was a cruel master. It made you a slave.

“You will regret this,” Caspen hissed.

Kronos just shook his head. “She is worth it.”

“How can she be? She is a human.”

“She is everything.”

Now Caspen shook his head. Kronos was the delusional one. This was an unprecedented situation, and it would have terrible repercussions for them all.

“Do you understand the position you put me in? I am the son of the Serpent King. I have a duty to my father, as do you.”

“Your father”—Kronos spoke the word as if it were a curse—“cares only for his own quiver.”

“That is not true,” Caspen said automatically.

“Ah, but it is.”

Caspen pursed his lips. He was right; his father hated the Senecas. He would stop at nothing to keep them beneath him. “This is not about my father.” Caspen shook his head. “You forsake your future.”

“She is my fucking future.”