Page 174 of Kneel Before Me

Kronos’s grip was becoming painful. Daphne tried not to wince.

“She is under my care.”

A slow, cruel smile spread over Bastian’s face. “Of course she is,” he said quietly. “You must protect what’s yours. Otherwise someone may take it from you.”

Daphne had never seen Kronos so stiff before. But now, with his arm firmly around her waist, holding her body against his, she felt his rage. “Nobody will take what is mine.”

Daphne wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but she was sure she never wanted to find out. Kronos was always calm—he had become a stabilizing force in her life. But now smoke was coiling over his shoulders, and his voice had dropped to a growl. It hardly seemed like an appropriate way to speak to the Serpent King. Daphne felt a sliver of fear for Kronos.

“In that case, I shall leave you two alone,” Bastian said with one last smirk. He looked once more at Daphne. “Good luck in the Ranking.”

Then he was gone.

They stood in silence, watching him walk away. Kronos didn’t drop his arm, and Daphne found she didn’t want him to. She felt safe standing here with him, pressed against his body, his skin warming hers.

“Kronos?” she whispered. “What was that all about?”

“He is threatened by me.”

“Why? I thought you said human guests were rare, that we would face scrutiny.”

“They are, and we will. But he also knows you make me strong.”

Daphne turned to face him and took his face in her hands. “And I shall continue to do so.”

He looked down at her. He did not smile. Daphne felt the stakes of their situation—how, if they did not do well in the Ranking, Kronos would be in danger. The entire village would be in danger. Kronos opened his mouth, but before he could reply, another basilisk appeared beside them. This one was a familiar face.

“Daphne,” Agnes said, her eyes flicking first to Kronos before landing on Daphne. “What are you doing here?”

“She is my guest,” Kronos replied before Daphne could. “Is that a problem, Drakon?”

“Kronos.” Daphne placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Agnes is my friend.”

Agnes beamed. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did at the Passing of the Crown.”

Kronos frowned. Daphne spoke before he could. “It was nothing.”

“It was not nothing. You saved my life.”

Daphne shook her head. “I shouldn’t have had to, Agnes. It’s not safe for you to come into the village.”

Agnes sighed. “You sound like my brother. He nearly ripped my head off the moment he got me out of there.”

“Can you blame him?”

She gave a small shrug. “I suppose not.”

“Promise me you won’t go past the wall again,” Daphne insisted.

Agnes rolled her eyes. Without answering, she leaned in, kissed Daphne gently on the cheek, then swept away.

Kronos turned to her. “What happened at the Passing of the Crown?”

Daphne sighed. “Agnes came to the village to watch the ceremony. When the guards spotted her, they attacked. Caspenon showed up and defended her. I was afraid he might hurt someone, so I asked Maximus to call the guards off.”

Kronos’s frown deepened. “And did he?”

“He did.”