Page 147 of Kneel Before Me

“Daphne?” he asked, his brow furrowing in concern. “What is the matter?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I think I just need…to rest.”

Without another word, Kronos picked her up and carried her through the passageway. He didn’t stop until he reached his chambers, at which point he laid her down on the bed and curled himself around her. Immediately, she felt better, his proximity a balm to her ailment.

“Have you spoken to Caspenon since last night?” she asked as soon as the room stopped spinning.

“I have not,” Kronos said. “He is otherwise occupied.”

“With what?”

“With whom is the better question.”

Daphne looked up at him. After everything Kronos had shared with her about the basilisks, she hadn’t considered Caspenon could be involved with someone specific.

“Who?”

“A woman named Harmony.”

“Are they…” Daphne trailed off. She had no idea whether basilisks could get married. Given what Kronos had told her about how they gained power, it seemed unlikely.

“They are not a good match,” Kronos said.

“Why not?”

“Caspenon’s brother is involved with her too.”

“Oh,” Daphne said. That was inconvenient.

“She plays them both for a fool.”

“How so?”

“She does not love either of them.”

“Then why are they involved with her?”

“Because they do not want the other to have her.”

Daphne nodded. Her experience with devotion was quite limited, but she could imagine how intoxicating it would feel to have two basilisks obsessed with you at once.

“You’d think the son of the Serpent King would not be so careless.”

Kronos tightened his grip. “The son of the Serpent King thinks only of himself.”

Daphne laid her head against his chest. She couldn’t stand the thought of Kronos being in danger—of him having a target on his back. It only made her feel more justified for what she’d done with Maximus.

“Kronos…” she whispered against his skin. “Maximus took me on a date today.”

Kronos stiffened.

“We went horseback riding. And then he…”

The only sound was the crackling of the fire. Daphne physically couldn’t seem to form the words.

“Daphne,” Kronos said, and she felt his fingers tighten on her waist. “I do not wish to know what the prince did.”

“But I—”