Page 194 of Kneel Before Me

Her words were a taunt. Caspen would not bend to them. “Where were you last night?” he asked even though he already knew.

Harmony flipped her hair over her shoulders. “I was occupied.”

Caspen did not bother asking with whom.

A hush fell over the room as his parents entered.

Bastian clapped his hands. “Welcome to the second day of the Ranking.”

The crowd quieted, everyone turning to face them.

“Today we will see who is the most desired candidate for king,” Bastian began. “The first challenge belonged to the hosts. This challenge belongs to the guests.”

A murmur swept through the crowd. Caspen eyed the chairs, positive he knew what came next. It was not a surprise when his father said, “Will the hosts please step forward and take a seat?”

Caspen did not bother saying goodbye to Harmony. He stepped forward in silence, choosing a chair facing the vials so he could track his progress during the challenge. Caspen had been seated for hardly a moment when Apollo sat beside him. He sighed. Of all the seats available, of course his brother chose that one.

“This challenge will have several rounds,” Bastian continued. “When I clap my hands, the guests will walk around the circle. They will continue until I clap my hands again. At that point, the guests will mount the host of their choosing. Each round will eliminate one guest. When a guest is shut out of the circle, their host leaves with them.”

A murmur of excitement began. The crowd liked this challenge; it would be entertaining to watch.

“Of course,” Bastian continued. “There are the same number of guests and hosts. We need one more person to truly make it a challenge.”

He turned to Deltene, who gave him a resigned smile.

“My wife, your queen, will participate. When she leaves, she will choose a host to leave with her. Their guest will remain.”

Immediately, Caspen looked around for Solomon. He was seated on the other side of the circle, his back to the vials. His guest was a Seneca woman—someone who could not hope to compete with the connection he had with Deltene.

Caspen immediately entered his mother’s mind. You cannot mount Solomon, Mother.

She shot him a glare. I know that, Caspenon.

If you fuck him—

I do not need to be told what will happen.

You must leave in the first round.

Do not command me, Son. I know what is at stake.

But Caspen could think of nothing else. If Deltene mounted Solomon here—if she fucked the man she was in love with and severed the blood bond—chaos would break loose. But Caspen could not worry about his mother right now. He could only focus on what needed to be done. Harmony was already approaching him, a devious smile on her face. His only comfort was that she wanted him to win as badly as Bastian did. As long as she acted like his teammate, there was no reason why victory would not be theirs.

“We will play until there are two guests and one host left,” Bastian said.

The crowd cheered even louder. Nearly everyone was seated—everyone except Kronos. Daphne was pushing against Kronos’s chest, urging him to step forward. The Seneca shook his head. Caspen frowned. Could it be possible that—

“Kronos,” Bastian called. “It is time. Step forward.”

But Kronos remained in place. He shook his head again. “I choose not to participate.”

The crowd went absolutely silent.

Bastian frowned. “If you do not participate, you forfeit the challenge.”

“Then I forfeit.”

Immediately, the blood in his vial plummeted.