Page 196 of Kneel Before Me

Adelaide and the other guest left the circle. The brothers set their chairs back to back.

Caspen was glad he could not see Apollo’s face; it would only make him angrier. He could feel his brother pushing against the barrier in his mind, trying to force himself in. Caspen did not let him. Instead he stared at Harmony, who was smiling like this was the greatest day of her life. Caspen expected nothing less.

Bastian clapped, and the final round began.

Harmony circled the brothers slowly, looked them in the eye every time she passed. She opened the corridor to their minds, pulling them both into hers.

Well? Who shall I choose?

Me.

Caspen nearly rolled his eyes. Of course Apollo would be so desperate.

Caspen’s answer was far more dignified. You should choose whoever you wish to be king.

And if I do not know?

You know.

Harmony let out a quiet laugh. Caspen barely heard it over the roar of the crowd. The basilisks were working themselves into a fervor, screaming in both pleasure and anticipation. In front of Caspen, the blood in the vials roiled. Apollo’s was nearly as high as his.

Harmony was exactly halfway to Caspen when his father finally clapped. She froze, caught between the two of them. Then she began to circle again. Rage filled Caspen. Harmony was playing games, drawing out the challenge. All eyes were on her, and as a result, all eyes were on the Drakon brothers.

Choose, Harmony. Now.

Is that an order, Caspenon?

It is your duty. I should not have to order you to do it.

Maybe I like it when you order me to do things.

Anger surged from Apollo’s mind to his. Now he was the one to say, Choose, Harmony.

Not you too.

You must choose.

And if I—

But Caspen had grown tired of this charade. She was humiliating them both.

Enough games. Choose now, or I will leave.

Now, now, Caspenon. Do not make a scene.

You are the one making a scene. You play us both for fools.

Suddenly Harmony was before him once more. Caspen was just raising himself from his chair when she leaned in, put her hand on his shoulder, and mounted him. The crowd erupted into cheers as she slid herself down his cock, arching her head back in triumph. Caspen was so angry he barely had room to be happy. Of course she had chosen him. She should have chosen him the moment his father had clapped. There should be no choice.

Normally when Caspen fucked Harmony, he enjoyed it. Now he could only look at her as his adversary. If she truly wanted him to be king, she would not have hesitated. She would not have drawn things out between him and Apollo, taunting them publicly, making it seem as if Apollo was an equal option. Harmony’s loyalty was only to herself.

Caspen could barely bring himself to come inside her. The moment he did so, he yanked her off his cock and stalked away. Behind him, he could feel the fury in Apollo’s mind. He shut it out, focusing only on getting as far away from the vial room as possible. He headed straight to the courtyard. He needed to get drunk, and he needed to do so quickly.

By the time he was on his second goblet of elixir, the rest of the basilisks had arrived. And long before he was ready, Apollo appeared beside him.

Caspen spoke before he could. “She chose me, Apollo.”

“She only did so out of pity.”