Page 150 of Kneel Before Me

Daphne was in awe of his surety. It seemed impossible to her that someone would want to take a chance like this. He was putting so much on the line for her. For them. Yet she found that she felt the same. Life before Kronos had been meaningless—empty and dull. Devoid of color. Now Daphne felt alive in a way she never had before. She knew he was the sole reason for it. Something was changing within her—something beautiful and raw and significant. She had no desire to remain stagnant.

“If you wish,” he whispered against her skin, “you could tell me how you feel too.”

Why was this so difficult? If she told him how she felt, he might not feel the same. But if she withheld her feelings, he might think she didn’t care. How could he expect Daphne to articulate how she felt when she could hardly define it for herself?

At her silence, Kronos leaned in. He pressed a gentle kiss to one cheek, then the other. Daphne closed her eyes. Somehow it was easier to talk to him that way.

“I only want to be with you,” she whispered. “And I only want you to be with me.”

It was like throwing herself off a steep cliff. Daphne felt her chest tighten as the words left her lips, realizing that she had never said anything like that to anyone before. She opened her eyes to see Kronos smiling.

“It would appear we want the same thing.”

He said it so simply. Perhaps for the basilisks, it was a simple thing to be straightforward. But Daphne was used to games—to evasions and power plays and the dishonesty of men. She did not know how to express her feelings this way, honestly and calmly. It wasn’t a skill she had been taught, but it was one she was willing to learn for Kronos.

“So…what now?”

His smile faded. “If we are only to be with each other,” Kronos said slowly, “then I must disclose something to you.”

Here it was. The catch.

“Disclose what?”

Kronos pursed his lips, clearly deciding what to say.

Daphne waited anxiously for him to speak, her anxiety increasing with every second.

“I…must do something.”

“Do what?”

Still, he hesitated.

“Kronos,” Daphne begged. “Please just tell me. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it.” She wasn’t sure of that at all. But anything was better than not knowing. “Just tell me,” she said again.

Kronos took her hands in his. “Remember, the training is not the only factor that influences our rank,” he began slowly. “The basilisks have a competition of our own. It is called the Ranking.”

For some reason, the moment he said it, a chill ran down Daphne’s spine. She felt as if her life were about to change. “And what is the Ranking?”

“It is an opportunity to improve our position.”

An opportunity. That sounded purposefully vague.

“The Ranking is a tool used to determine the hierarchy of succession,” Kronos continued. “We use it to establish who is next in line for the throne. After the Ranking, a closing ceremony will occur. On that night, Kora will decide whether or not to pass the power to the highest-ranked basilisk.”

“I thought you said the king was chosen based on sexual prowess.”

“The order in which we rank is based on that. But the choice to transfer power ultimately belongs to Kora. The current Serpent King will be king until Kora chooses to pass the power.”

“But what if she never does that? What if she never relinquishes power?”

“No basilisk can be king forever.”

“So… Kora chooses the new king?”

“Kora chooses whether or not it is time for a new king.”

“And if it’s time, she’ll pass the power to the highest-ranked basilisk?”