Page 226 of Kneel Before Me

Kronos blinked. “Yes.”

The queen nodded as if this explained everything. But Daphne was still in the dark.

“What does that matter?”

Instead of answering, the queen settled herself in a chair, clasping her hands in her lap. “Daphne,” she began softly, “I do not wish for you to be alarmed.”

That statement alone was alarming.

“The crest is a powerful magic,” Deltene said. “It…has a mind of its own.”

“How so?”

“When a basilisk crests a human, it creates a bond. Not one of love, like the blood bond. But one of obedience.”

Daphne nodded. She knew that much already.

“Bonds of any kind are sacred to basilisks. It is said that Kora herself must bless them. When love is involved, such bonds are…especially significant.”

A pause. The queen looked at Kronos, then back at Daphne.

“I cannot know for sure,” she continued, “because I have never seen this myself. But I believe when Kronos crested you, it had a specific effect.”

Daphne blinked. “What effect?”

The queen leaned forward. Her next words were a whisper. “Have you felt a pull to one another?”

Kronos looked at Daphne. She looked at him.

Of course she’d felt a pull to Kronos. She’d been drawn to him since the moment she met him, and that draw was even stronger now. They were dealing with something far beyond her knowledge—something magical. It scared her.

“Yes,” Daphne whispered. She looked at Kronos. “Have you?”

“You have always been hard to resist,” he said with a small smile. Then his smile faded. “But I must admit it has been…especially difficult lately.”

Deltene nodded. “Bonds between lovers must be honored fully,” the queen continued. “You must seal this in the only way Kora respects.”

Daphne frowned. “Seal it? What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Deltene said slowly, “you must honor your bond. You must consummate the crest.”

Beside her, Kronos was silent. Perhaps he was in shock.

Daphne was simply numb. “And if we don’t?” she whispered. Her tongue felt like sand in her mouth.

The queen sighed. “You mentioned feeling ill. I suspect that will continue. And eventually, it will claim you.”

“Claim me how?”

“Permanently.”

Understanding finally hit her. “Are you saying I’m going to die?”

Deltene pursed her lips. “I am saying you must consummate the crest.”

So this was what it came down to at last. Somehow she’d always known there was a catch, that something about this was too good to be true. Daphne tried to quell the panic rising in her stomach. The fire was too warm, the air too thick. Everything in her vision seemed too large, somehow, as if the walls were closing in around her. Her chest was tight as she turned to Kronos.

“Did you know?” she whispered. “Tell me the truth.”