Page 186 of Kneel Before Me

“It is not elixir,” Kronos said. “It is white wine.”

“Oh.” She could use some wine. Slowly, Daphne took the goblet and had a small sip. Immediately, she felt better. “How did you know I like white wine?”

“You told me,” Kronos said. “At the castle.”

Daphne thought back to that night. She hadn’t made a big deal of it—how she didn’t like red wine, how she preferred white. She was touched that Kronos remembered it.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Of course. How are you feeling?”

Daphne shifted, trying to stretch her body without touching any of the ones around her. “Fine,” she said. “Just…overwhelmed.”

“Would you like me to fix that?”

She raised an eyebrow. “How would you fix that?”

“I can take it away.”

Daphne wasn’t sure what he meant by that. But after another sip of wine, she was willing to find out. When she nodded, Kronos shifted closer, placing his hand on her sternum, directly between her breasts. At first, Daphne felt nothing. Then, slowly, warmth seeped from his fingers as a curious pulling sensation tugged at the center of her chest. Her anxiety lessened; suddenly she was calm, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

She smiled Kronos. “That…feels amazing.”

He smiled. “I am glad.”

“I can’t believe you don’t do that all the time.”

His smile faltered. “It is not permanent. It…must be given back. I will have to return it to you eventually.”

Daphne nodded. As long as eventually wasn’t right now, she hardly cared. “How long was I asleep?”

“Not long.” Kronos looked out over the courtyard. “It has just begun.”

Daphne followed his gaze. Before her was an extraordinary sight, not unlike the one she’d witnessed the first time she’d ventured under the mountain. The courtyard was full of basilisks—all naked, all touching each other. Bodies writhed in groups—in piles. Women with women, men with men, and every combination in between.

Rather than overwhelm her, Daphne found it intriguing. Perhaps it was an effect of what Kronos had just done. Either way, she asked, “Can we walk around?”

Kronos pursed his lips in worry. “Are you feeling well enough?”

“Yes.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.” She shook the goblet at him. “This helps.”

A small smile tilted his lips. “Very well.”

Kronos helped her out of the alcove, gently lifting her onto the floor as if she were made of glass.

“I’m not going to break, Kronos.”

His smile widened, but he didn’t say anything aloud.

They made the rounds of the courtyard slowly, observing the crowd. Whenever Daphne had a question, Kronos answered it. He pointed out the different members of basilisk society, what their roles were, and how long they had held their positions. Daphne saw several people she recognized, including Caspenon, who was sequestered in a corner with his guest. It wasn’t until she saw a male basilisk with long brown hair that Daphne nearly stopped in her tracks. Her gaze fell between his legs.

“Is his cock…?” But Daphne trailed off, because no words could possibly convey what she was currently seeing.

“Ridged?” Kronos finished for her. “Yes. It is.”