Page 180 of Kneel Before Me

“Open your knees,” the queen said calmly.

There was no use resisting. She allowed her knees to tilt open, sitting perfectly still as Deltene took ylang-ylang oil and spread it on her left thigh. The sensation was a pleasant one; the oil was warm, and so was Deltene.

“You hardly need this,” the queen said quietly. “By being here, you are already brave.”

Pride surged through her. If Deltene thought she was brave, then she must be. “I’m here with Kronos,” she said.

“I see.” The queen glanced over at Kronos, who was watching them intently. “He is a good man.”

The pride only increased. “I know.”

The queen smiled as she took the sandalwood oil and rubbed it on Daphne’s other thigh. “My husband would not share the same sentiment.”

“Your husband scares me.”

That elicited a small laugh from Deltene. “He scares many.” Her face sobered. Her next words were a whisper. “Including me.”

Daphne felt a sudden pang of concern for the queen. She thought about what Kronos had said—how her life was bound to Bastian’s. It was not a fate she wished for Deltene. She wanted to comfort the queen, to say something that would bring back her smile. Before she could do so, Deltene trailed her fingers up Daphne’s thighs and brushed gently over her clitoris. Daphne gasped. She had never been touched that way by a woman before. As soon as it began, it was over. Deltene extended her hand and helped Daphne up from the bench, holding on to her until she was fully upright. Then she turned to the guests and said, “Return to your hosts.”

There was nothing Daphne wanted more. She walked back to Kronos as quickly as she dared without looking like an overeager idiot, reaching for him the moment he was in range. He pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips to her forehead.

“You did well.”

She smiled against his chest. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“The queen talked to me.”

“Did she now?”

“Yes. She—”

Before she could tell him the details, Deltene spoke again. “Once you have shared your scents with your host, proceed to your mats.”

Daphne looked up at Kronos questioningly. “Share our scents?”

“It is a way to bind us together,” Kronos said. “As guest and host.”

Daphne was rather wary of bonds at the moment.

At her expression, Kronos said, “It is only symbolic.”

“How does it work?” she asked.

In reply, Kronos pulled her closer. He slipped his hand between her legs, sliding it up both her thighs until he reached her center. Then he brushed over her clitoris in the same way Deltene had mere moments ago. Daphne tried not to moan as he did it. His touch was just as brief as the queen’s had been; the moment it began, it was over. She watched as he slid his hand between his own thighs before palming his cock. He dropped his hand.

“Now we are bonded,” Kronos whispered.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Daphne whispered back.

He smiled. “Indeed.”

There was a bustle of activity behind him. Twelve mats were being laid out, one beneath each vial. At the end of each mat stood corresponding stone tables with what looked like silk scarves lying on them. Daphne squinted. Blindfolds. Kronos touched her waist, pulling her toward the mat beneath his vial. The crowd formed a circle around the mats, standing far closer than Daphne would have liked. The hiss was deafening now, the energy in the room undeniably high. Whereas before there had been respectful silence for the queen, now Daphne heard moans and exclamations as the basilisks around them began to have sex. At the sight, her throat became tight. She remembered that she was about to have twelve orgasms. In front of other people.

Bastian stood in front of the mats, his arms thrown wide, addressing the crowd.

“The Ranking will begin with the first challenge. The rules are simple: Bring your guest to climax twelve times. This is a way to exercise control, to demonstrate leadership.”