Page 171 of Kneel Before Me

Wordlessly, she held out her hand. Kronos took it in his, placing the tip of the knife on her palm. With a single, precise motion, he sliced her skin. Daphne gasped, and his brow furrowed. Then he slashed his own palm, pressed it to hers, and held both of their hands out over the basin. Daphne watched as their blood pooled in it. With his other hand, Kronos traced a single word: Daphne. He let go of her hand, and Daphne looked at her palm in wonder; the cut was already healed.

“That’s amazing,” she whispered.

Kronos set the knife back on the edge of the basin. “It is done,” he said. “You are officially my guest.”

For some reason, a chill ran down her spine. Daphne understood that what they’d just done was bound by the magic of Kora. There would be no changing her mind halfway through the Ranking—no quitting what she’d started. She was in this until the end.

“What happens now?” Daphne asked.

Kronos turned to her. “Now there will be a celebration in the courtyard.”

“Will there be food there?”

He frowned. “Are you hungry?”

“No. Just curious what a basilisk celebration looks like.”

He smiled. “You shall soon see.”

The other basilisks were already filing out of the room. Slowly, conversation returned to the crowd, and with it, relief. Daphne did not want to be the center of attention, especially at an event like this. They followed everyone out into the passageway, and Daphne marveled at just how tall the basilisks were. Even the women stood at least a head above her. The men even more. She was suddenly thankful to have Kronos by her side, who towered over everyone.

The courtyard was large—far larger than the room with the vials. It was circular in shape, and at the center was a bubbling fountain filled with shimmering liquid. Basilisks gathered around it, dipping goblets in its contents and drinking from them.

“What’s that?” Daphne pointed at the fountain.

“It is…an elixir.”

“An elixir? What does it do?”

“It…helps you have a good time.”

“In that case,” Daphne said, walking toward it, “can I try it?”

Kronos laughed, holding her back. “I think not.”

“Why not?”

“It is not meant for humans.”

“I want to try it.”

He shook his head. “Daphne. It is not for—”

She cut him off. “I don’t take orders from you, remember?”

Daphne knew they both remembered the crest—how she was beholden to him—how it was his responsibility not to abuse that privilege. Kronos sobered immediately.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I remember.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Then he nodded and said, “It is up to you.”

A thrill passed through Daphne. Before she could talk herself out of it, she turned and walked toward the fountain. Basilisks parted for her; not a single person even came close to her vicinity. Daphne didn’t know whether they were scared or simply cautious. Kronos followed behind her like a guard dog, staring down anyone who lingered too long.

The fountain was beautiful; Daphne had never seen anything with such otherworldly aura. The liquid was shiny and smooth, tumbling from the top down into subsequent tiers.

“What is it?” she whispered.