Page 12 of Kneel Before Me

“Daphne Verus.”

Despite herself, a shiver ran down her spine when he said her full name. She liked the way it sounded, how the syllables were melodic, nestled in his baritone voice.

“Kronos Seneca,” she said back.

Perhaps she imagined it, but it seemed as if he liked the way she said his name too.

They lapsed back into silence after that, although it was no longer tense. Now the space between them felt languid, like the calm waters of a lake. Daphne studied him, and he studied her. She wondered what he thought of her hair, which was curly, and her dress, which was simple. For some reason she hoped he liked what he saw. Daphne certainly liked what she saw.

“What did you promise your mother?” Kronos asked suddenly.

Daphne blinked. “I—what?”

“You said that you promised your mother something. What was it?”

“Oh—nothing, really. I just told her I would help her with the chores. She’s a bit overwhelmed at the moment.”

“Why is she overwhelmed?”

Daphne frowned. Why did he care? “Things have been difficult ever since my father left.”

“Where did he go?”

“To the bar.”

It was a joke, but just barely. Her father had left to go out drinking six months ago and never came back.

Now Kronos frowned. “That is the behavior of a coward.”

Daphne almost laughed. “You’re telling me.”

His frown remained. She wasn’t sure what to make of this conversation—wasn’t sure whether Kronos was simply filling the time or if he actually cared about the intricacies of her personal life. It was hard for her to imagine that a basilisk could possibly be interested in the happenings of humans. Either way, Daphne had questions of her own, and under the circumstances, she figured she might as well ask them.

“Am I the first woman to refuse the training?”

Kronos considered her. “As far as I know, yes.”

Daphne held this information close, letting it console her. At least in this way, she was special to him. “Would you refuse it if you were me?”

Kronos frowned. “I cannot say.”

“Can’t you try?”

He tilted his head. The motion was reminiscent of the snakes that occasionally slipped into the garden—the ones that slithered with ethereal grace. She was once again reminded that the man before her was not a man at all. It didn’t make her want him any less.

“The training is meant to help you win the competition. If I had no interest in winning, I suppose I would refuse it too.”

Daphne nodded, satisfied.

Silence fell once more as they stared at each other. She decided she wouldn’t be the one to break it, instead studying his face in the flickering firelight. His jaw was so sharp it may have been cut from glass.

Kronos broke the silence. “What are you thinking about?”

Daphne narrowed her eyes. “Can’t you read my mind?”

“Why would I be able to read your mind?”

She shrugged. “That’s what the villagers say.”