Page 173 of Kneel Before Me

His eyes burned into hers.

This, finally, was the effect of the elixir on Kronos. He was used to the sexual urges—he knew how to control them. But his thoughts and emotions were another thing altogether. Perhaps it took the influence of a drink that lowered your inhibitions for him to be honest about what he wanted from her. Even his endless patience must come to an end.

“You cannot know what it is like to be around you but unable to fuck you,” he continued, his hands still on her face. “It is agony. I wish I were a better man—I wish I did not want the things I want. But I do, Daphne. I want everything. And I want it with you.”

“So tell me,” she whispered. “Tell me everything you’ve ever wanted to do to me. Right now.”

“I cannot tell you.” His fingers tightened behind her skull. “It will only make me want to do them more. I do not possess such restraint.”

“Yes you do. I trust you.”

Kronos shook his head. “You should not.”

But Daphne knew she could. Kronos would never hurt her. He would rather die than let anything happen to her. “Just do some of it,” Daphne said.

“Some of what?”

“What you want to do to me.”

“Some of it?”

“Yes. Haven’t you ever heard of moderation?”

Kronos let out a deep laugh. “Basilisks do not practice moderation.”

“They should.”

His hands moved to her hips. From the way he was gripping them, Daphne knew he was already practicing moderation with her. He was always practicing moderation with her. “And what shall I do?” he asked.

Daphne was so turned on he could have looked at her a certain way and she would come. “You choose.”

Despite giving him permission, Kronos shook his head. “I cannot do anything without your consent.”

“You have my consent.”

Kronos shook his head again. “You are under the influence of the elixir. Anything I do would be taking advantage of you.”

Daphne was rather in the mood to be taken advantage of. But she understood what Kronos was saying. Later, when the elixir had left her system, she might regret what they’d done. He did not want that for her. Truth be told, she did not want it either. Before she could say anything else, Kronos stiffened, all traces of intimacy disappearing in an instant as he straightened, pulling her firmly against his side. Daphne looked up to see a basilisk with dark hair and even darker eyes. Something about him looked familiar, but she was positive she’d never seen him before. He appraised her with clinical intelligence, looking her up and down for a long moment before finally looking her in the eye. Daphne got the distinct sense he was analyzing her, although to what end she could not guess. Beside her, Kronos’s grip tightened. Daphne knew him well enough to know he was being protective. This basilisk was not a friend.

“Daphne,” said Kronos, “this is Bastian, our Serpent King.”

Now his familiarity made sense; Daphne saw the resemblance to Caspenon immediately. Every feature on his father was harsher: the sharp jawline, the chiseled muscles, the wide shoulders. His cock was extraordinarily thick at the base—so thick Daphne could not imagine it actually fitting inside someone. Somehow he looked exactly how she imagined the Serpent King would look.

“Kronos,” Bastian said, directing the question at her. “Who is your guest?”

Daphne did not do any of the things she would normally do when being introduced to someone. She did not extend her hand or say hello or even look Bastian in the eye. Instead she stayed silent, staring at a spot somewhere above his shoulder, trying to ignore the warning bells that were screaming inside her. There was something about the way he looked at her—like he was hungry—that made her skin crawl. Even Kronos’s presence couldn’t soothe the fear creeping slowly up her spine. She did not have to wait long before he spoke for her.

“This is Daphne.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Daphne,” Bastian purred.

Still, Daphne didn’t answer. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

“She is human,” the Serpent King continued as if he were commenting on the weather.

“She is.”

“And yet she dares to come here?”