Page 193 of Kneel Before Me

Caspen turned slowly, bracing himself for Bastian’s wrath. His father’s arms were crossed, his jaw clenched. He looked every inch a king.

“I did not let him do anything. He won of his own accord.”

“It should have been you.”

“Do you think I do not know that?”

“You are losing to a Seneca and a human. Are you not embarrassed?”

“I am doing the best I can,” Caspen snapped. “It is you who are embarrassed.”

“And why should I not be? You are a disgrace.”

Caspen shook his head, downing the elixir.

“You chose your guest carelessly,” his father continued. “Harmony is not a source of strength for you.”

Caspen was beginning to suspect that himself. The thought was too painful to admit.

“She is poison, Caspenon. When will you accept that?”

Caspen had no answer for him.

“You share her with Apollo. She will never be fully yours.”

“Apollo’s feelings for Harmony are irrelevant. They do not change how I feel about her.”

His father only shook his head. “It is time to grow up, Caspenon. You cannot play these games forever.”

“It is not a game, Father. It is my life, and I choose how to live it.”

“Then you choose to waste your life.”

“That is your opinion.”

“That is a fact.”

Caspen was done with this conversation. The elixir was beginning to go to his head.

“I will see you tomorrow, Father.”

“You will,” Bastian said. “And I expect you to win.”

Without another word, Caspen left him. He ended up in his chambers, alone, staring into the fireplace. No doubt Harmony was with Apollo tonight. It was just like her to choose Caspen for the Ranking yet spend her nights with his brother. No clarity. No commitment. No communication. She was an enigma, and Caspen was no closer to understanding her despite centuries of knowing her.

He settled back on his pillows, allowing the flames to lull him into a trance. The second challenge was tomorrow, and if Caspen did not win it, he might as well drop out of the Ranking. It was bad enough that Kronos was close to overtaking him—worse still that Apollo was as well. Caspen’s brother had chosen Adelaide as his partner.

She was a worthy choice, to be sure. Apollo’s performance in the first challenge was proof enough of that—not only did it threaten Caspen, but it had done so publicly. Nothing could be worse. It spoke to the fractures in their family—fractures that could crack open at any moment.

Caspen fell asleep on his back, the elixir still in his hand. When he woke, he made his way quickly to the vial room, following the crowd of basilisks already headed there. Eleven stone chairs were arranged in a perfect circle in the middle of the floor, their seats facing outward. The vials loomed behind them, ever-changing, blood bubbling as it rose and fell.

Basilisks from both mountain quivers were mingling—but not the group who had come from the sea. They remained aloof, standing outside the crowd, watching the proceedings in silence. Something about them made Caspen uneasy. His gaze fell on Kronos, who stood with his arms firmly around Daphne. Every once in a while, he would bury his face in her curls, as if to breathe in her scent. The next time he did it, Daphne tilted her head up toward him. Their height difference was significant; Kronos had to bend down to reach her. She whispered something in his ear, and he smiled. Then he kissed her with such tenderness Caspen nearly looked away. Instead he continued to watch, seeing how they melted into one another, two beings becoming one. He wondered what it would be like to connect with someone that way.

“Are you ready for the challenge?”

Caspen turned to see Harmony. “Always,” he replied.

“Confidence,” she said. “A first for you.”