Page 178 of Kneel Before Me

“That is true. But if anything happens to the Serpent King—for example, if someone were to kill him—power will pass to the next highest-ranked basilisk. If that basilisk is a Seneca, the Drakons lose power. Bastian wants to keep the kingship in his bloodline.”

“But why call for the Ranking? How will that help?”

“Caspenon is the son of the Serpent King, and his girls always win the competition. If he can win the Ranking, he will be first in line for the throne. It will guarantee his succession if Kora decides Bastian’s rule is over.”

“I can’t believe you just sit around and wait for Kora to make that decision for you.”

“Kora is the judge of us all,” Kronos said simply. “We fight, we fuck, we rank. We offer ourselves to her, but ultimately it is her choice.”

They had reached the double doors that led to the vial room.

Kronos paused before them, turning to face her. “This may be…an interesting day.”

“I know that, Kronos.”

She sounded far more confident than she felt. In truth, Daphne had no idea what to expect beyond those doors. And she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t scared.

As if Kronos could read her mind, he said, “There is nothing to fear, Daphne. I will keep you safe.”

His words were tight; Daphne could tell he was tense. Despite repeatedly informing her that there was nothing to fear, Kronos was certainly acting as if there was. Without thinking, Daphne reached for his hand, lacing her fingers with his and pulling him closer in the darkness. Immediately, she felt better. And if she wasn’t mistaken, it looked like he did too.

They entered the room hand in hand.

Daphne was immediately struck by how warm it was. It was always warm under the mountain, but here in the vial room it was sweltering. The space was filled with basilisks. Kronos alone possessed enough beauty to overwhelm her. But now, surrounded by so many others just like him, Daphne could not comprehend how such creatures were allowed to exist. She could understand how the very first villagers must have felt when they settled here and discovered the basilisks. It must have been a revelation. Daphne was surprised they didn’t worship them like gods. Perhaps they should.

A circle was forming in front of the vials. Bastian stood in the middle, joined by a tall female basilisk.

“Who’s that?” Daphne whispered.

“That is Deltene,” Kronos whispered back. “She is the Serpent Queen.”

“Caspenon’s mother?”

“Yes.”

Daphne could see where Caspenon got his eyes from; they were the same striking gold shade as hers. “She’s beautiful.”

“She is,” said Kronos simply.

Daphne understood that she might as well have said the sky was blue. The basilisks were all beautiful. Sweat shone on their skin, giving them an ethereal glow, every inch of them designed to draw Daphne in. She was once more acutely aware that she was the only human here in the room.

Deltene and Bastian were speaking to one another in a low murmur.

“They look so good together,” Daphne said.

“They are blood bonded.”

“Blood bonded?”

“It means their lives are linked,” Kronos explained. “If one dies, so will the other.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“That seems…terrifying.”

“It is only terrifying if it is the wrong person. Otherwise, it is quite beautiful.”