Page 116 of Kneel Before Me

“That is true,” he said. “But the risk is too great.”

“How is the risk too great?”

“Basilisk venom is lethal to humans.”

“Then why aren’t I already dead?”

Kronos fell silent. Daphne hadn’t forgotten what had happened in his chambers—how he’d spit his venom on her center and kissed her after. She still remembered the taste of it.

“You never would have done that unless it was safe,” she insisted. “Am I right?”

“That was safe,” he said. “But this is not.”

“Why not?”

“Our venom is lethal when administered directly from the fang. Blood and bone activate the poison.”

“Then it is safe,” Daphne insisted. “It isn’t straight from the fang. It can’t harm me.”

“You could have a cut in your mouth that you do not know about. There could be a fragment of Caspenon’s fang in the injury. Blood and bone. There is no guarantee the poison will not activate in you.”

“I’m doing it,” she said, already crawling forward to position herself over him.

“No.” He lurched away from her. “You are not.”

“Kronos. You’re going to die if I don’t.”

“And you will die if you do.”

“There’s a chance I’ll die. That’s different than a guarantee.”

“I will not allow you to put yourself in danger for me, Daphne.”

“Allow?”

He raised his hand in an attempt to calm her. “I do not mean it like that. You can make your own choices. But this choice involves me, and I say no.”

That really made her angry. “You’re hardly in a position to make rational decisions.”

“There is nothing irrational about wanting to save your life.”

“Then you can understand why I want to save yours.”

“No, Daphne. That is final.”

Daphne knew there would be no convincing him. So she decided to say what she was really thinking. “I know you’re lying to me about the severity of the bite.”

Finally, Kronos went still. He met her eye. “Basilisks cannot lie,” he said slowly.

“Then they can bend the truth. How long would it really take Caspenon to siphon all of your power?” She knew he didn’t want to answer but crossed her arms and waited.

Eventually, he said, “I already told you. It could take years.”

“I’m sure it could. But it won’t, will it?”

Kronos studied her face, his expression slowly turning from uneasy surprise to potent curiosity. He almost looked like he wanted to ask something. Instead, he shook his head. “You cannot risk your life for mine, Daphne. It is as simple as that.”

She noticed how he didn’t admit that he had lied. “If the situation were reversed, you would do it for me. I know you would.”