Page 169 of Kneel Before Me

Despite herself, Daphne smiled back. Without further ado, she undressed slowly, fully aware that Kronos was watching her every move. She removed her dress first, tossing it onto his bed. She was down to her underclothing. Then she removed that too, letting it drop to the floor. Kronos’s pupils dilated immediately. He let out a soft breath. Daphne wanted to taste it. She saw him draw closer, wondering if he even knew he was doing so.

They stepped into the passageway together.

“Tonight will be fairly tame,” Kronos said as they walked. “Each host must finalize their choice of guest. After that, there will be a celebration in the courtyard.”

“What kind of celebration?”

He glanced down at her. “A traditional one.”

Daphne got the impression he wasn’t going to elaborate. “So…where are we going now?”

“We are going to the officially declare you as my guest.”

“How do we do that?”

“I will write your name beneath my vial.”

“Your vial? What’s that?”

Kronos looked down at her. “Daphne,” he said calmly, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Somehow I think it may be better just to show you.”

Daphne smiled back. “So show me.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

They traversed the passageways together, winding deep beneath the mountain. Contrary to what she expected, the air grew warmer the deeper they got. By the time they reached a large pair of double doors, she was sweating. Daphne excepted Kronos to open them, but he didn’t. Instead he turned to her and they stared at each other in the dim lighting of the passageway.

“I cannot believe you are here,” he whispered. “I cannot believe you are doing this.”

Daphne stepped closer. “I would do anything for you,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “You do not understand how much this means to me.”

In reply, Daphne stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to him. They kissed slowly, running their hands over each other’s bodies. He brushed his palms over her hips, up her waist, and onto her breasts, squeezing them gently before cradling her face.

“You honor me,” Kronos whispered. “I will repay you.”

Daphne required no repayment. “Just… Don’t let Caspenon hurt me.”

She was almost joking. But his gaze hardened anyway.

“No one will hurt you. I promise.”

Daphne had heard that before.

Kronos nodded at the doorway. “There will be basilisks in this room.”

“Will they be in their human forms?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice small.

“Yes. They will not transition during the Ranking.”

“Why?”

“Because of you.”