Page 191 of Kneel Before Me

“And you,” Rowe continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “are making it rather difficult.”

“Maybe you should talk to Kronos about that.”

Anything to get him away from her—to halt his advance.

“Now why would I talk to Kronos when you are right in front of me?”

He was far, far too close. Daphne’s chest was tight.

“You share a connection with him,” Rowe said.

It was a statement of fact. “He’s my teacher,” Daphne said carefully.

“I think he is much more than that.”

Daphne wondered whether perhaps it was time to panic. “If you think that,” she said as steadily as she could, “then you can imagine what he will do if you harm me.”

Rowe’s eyes narrowed. By the way he was looking at her, that was exactly what he’d planned on doing. Yet her words gave him pause. And in that pause, he stepped even closer.

“Imagine what I will do,” he whispered, “if I do not win the Ranking.”

Daphne was out of options. Just as she was about to cry out for help, a deep voice cut between them. “What is the meaning of this?”

Daphne turned, hope rising in her chest. The hope vanished immediately as she saw who was walking toward them. Caspenon. The last time she’d spoken to the son of the Serpent King, he’d ordered Agnes to escort her out. He did not like humans, and he certainly did not like her. Daphne could have cried. Now she was alone with two dangerous basilisks.

“Caspenon,” said Rowe smoothly. “How nice of you to join us.”

To Daphne’s complete surprise, Caspenon stepped between her and Rowe, angling his body to shield hers. He was several inches taller than Rowe, and this comforted her.

“You did not answer my question,” he said sharply.

Rowe dropped the act. “Our business is our own,” he said just as sharply.

“You have no business with her. She is here as a guest.”

Rowe’s expression darkened into something sinister. He had been restrained before, but his rage was seeping out now. “She is a human,” he spat.

“That does not matter. Guests are not to be harmed.”

“And who will stop me? You?” He said the last word with complete disdain.

Caspenon straightened. “Yes,” he said simply.

Rowe seethed, his gaze flicking from Caspenon to Daphne, then back again. Something passed between the two basilisks—something deadly. Daphne could not remember a time when she was ever in the presence of such dark, potent tension.

Without another word, Rowe turned and disappeared into the darkness.

“Thank you,” Daphne breathed.

Caspenon turned to look at her, his brow furrowing. “I did not do it for you.”

“Then… Why did you do it?”

His gaze slid down her body. Despite the heat, Daphne shivered beneath it. “I saw you protect my sister at the Passing of the Crown.”

Daphne could feel her apprehension begin to lift. Caspenon had a moral compass. It didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. But it meant he knew what was right—possibly it meant she could trust him.

“Now come with me,” Caspenon said, gesturing toward the courtyard. “I shall escort you back to your host.”