Page 167 of Kneel Before Me

Daphne decided to tell her mother that she was babysitting Gabriel.

It was a lie; Nathan was gone for the week, so Ella was home with the baby. But it was the closest thing Daphne could think of that would not draw suspicion. She’d babysat for Ella before, and often for days at a time. Daphne did not mind lying to her mother. It was another thing entirely to lie to her best friend.

“I don’t understand,” Ella said, her arms crossed. They were sitting in her kitchen drinking the wine Maximus had gifted her. Gabriel was cooing in his nursery.

“What is there to understand? If my mother asks where I am, just tell her I’m babysitting Gabriel.”

Ella frowned. “But…you’re not babysitting Gabriel.”

“Obviously.”

“Then why am I lying for you?”

“Because…I have to do something.”

Ella arched an expectant eyebrow. Daphne knew it was probably time to confide in her best friend, but that didn’t make it any easier to do so.

She took a deep breath before diving in. “I have to help Kronos.”

Ella frowned. “Help him how?”

“He’s in the running to become Serpent King, and he needs my help to win.”

“Serpent King?”

“The ruler of the basilisks.”

“And why does he need your help becoming the ruler of the basilisks?”

“Because we’re together.”

“You’re…together.”

“Yes.”

“Together together?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.” Ella shook her head as if to clear it. “Are you saying that you’re dating your teacher?”

“I’m not…dating him, exactly. We’re just…” Daphne had no idea how to define it. Boyfriend felt far too casual for who Kronos was to her. She settled on the word they’d already said too many times: “Together.”

Ella took a sizable gulp of wine. “Daph,” she said slowly. “That’s a little bit insane.”

Daphne almost laughed. It was incredibly insane. “I know,” she said. “Trust me, I know.”

“Trust you? Daphne.” There was a pause as Ella drained her wineglass before refilling it immediately “You’re involved with a basilisk. Even if you did actually want to babysit Gabriel, I wouldn’t let you do it because clearly you’ve lost your mind.”

“I haven’t lost my mind,” Daphne insisted. “Kronos is different than anyone I’ve ever been with.”

“Obviously. He’s a reptile.”

“He’s honest. And patient. And kind.”

“And hot, I’d assume.”

“Yes,” sighed Daphne. “He’s hot.”