Page 179 of Kneel Before Me

“Such magic…” Daphne trailed off.

It seemed unbelievable to her that such a thing was possible. It was rather beautiful, she supposed. Daphne could see how it was romantic to bind your life to someone else’s. It showed commitment, if nothing else. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t also terrifying.

“Will they ever part?”

“The only way to break the blood bond is if one of them falls in love with someone else and sleeps with that person.”

“How horrible,” said Daphne.

“If you think that is horrible, you will not like what happens after.”

“What happens after?”

“Once the blood bond is broken, a curse is triggered. The person who was betrayed must kill the person who did the betraying.”

Daphne stared at Bastian and Deltene. She couldn’t imagine either of them killing the other.

“The curse is why, in recent centuries, there have been very few bonded couples. Bastian and Deltene are one of the last.”

Daphne tried to process the term recent centuries. Exactly how old was Kronos? Before she could ask, the Serpent Queen stepped forward. Instantly, the chatter died down and the crowd went silent. Deltene raised her palms, extending them in a wide circle.

“Brethren,” she said, her voice deep and lyrical, “we gather for the Ranking.”

A low, quiet hiss filled the room.

“Your king has called you to compete. Are you ready to do so?”

The hiss grew louder. A shiver crept up Daphne’s spine.

“Will the guests please follow me?”

Deltene gestured to the center of the room, where a low stone bench sat. Daphne turned to Kronos.

“What’s happening?”

“It is time for the queen to bless the guests.”

Daphne watched as someone in the crowd handed Deltene two glass bottles. She walked to the bench, setting them on the edge of the stone. A line was already forming behind her.

“Please,” Deltene said to the first guest. “Sit.”

The woman sat eagerly, spreading her legs. Daphne immediately blushed as she got a full view of the woman’s center. Then she scolded herself for being so juvenile. She was going to see a lot of centers tonight; she might as well get used to it. Daphne watched as the queen knelt before the woman, opening the first bottle and spreading oil on her left thigh.

“Ylang-ylang is for bravery,” Deltene said. She opened the second bottle and spread it on the woman’s other thigh. “Sandalwood for heat.”

Daphne really only needed one of those things.

“These scents are sacred,” she continued. “It is an honor to wear them.” The queen rubbed her hands up and down the woman’s thighs before trailing a single finger over her exposed clitoris. Then she stood, bowed, and gestured to the next guest.

“Daphne,” Kronos murmured in her ear. “The line.”

Daphne was the only one not in the line, yet she couldn’t seem to move.

“I will be right here,” Kronos said. “I promise.”

Daphne did not turn to him. If she did, she’d never leave his side. Without a word she dropped his hand, stepped forward, and joined the back of the line. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she could have sworn the entire crowd looked at her as she did so. It was agony to be perceived in such a way.

The line went quickly. Guest after guest sat, spread their legs, and received the oils. By the time it was Daphne’s turn, the hiss she had heard earlier was nearly deafening. She sat gingerly on the bench, unsure what to do with her hands.