Page 236 of Kneel Before Me

“That is why you called for the Ranking,” Caspen said in epiphany. “To guarantee I would be first in line when she breaks the bond.”

Bastian said nothing.

It was confirmation enough for Caspen. “You knew,” he whispered. “All this time, you knew she was unfaithful.”

“Of course I knew,” Bastian snapped. “I have known for years.”

Years.

Time moved differently for the basilisks—years to them were minutes to humans. But Caspen had not anticipated that his father already knew. All this time, he had worried. He had lost sleep; he had been in agony keeping a secret that was not a secret at all. Now he understood why his father had been so cavalier with his lovers, why he flaunted his affairs and did not cherish the blood bond. He had known that Deltene’s heart lay elsewhere.

“Does she know you know?”

“She does not.”

Caspen could not believe what he was hearing. “So you do this? You call for the Ranking—you put pressure on me—instead of talking to her?”

“Her heart lies elsewhere,” Bastian yelled. “You, my dear son, have never been in love. Your infatuation with Harmony is shallow—a lie. You do not understand what it means to give your soul to someone and have them destroy it in return. You may never understand. For years you have ranked first, and for years Kora has refused to pass power to you. Do you not question why? Do you not wonder why she thinks you an unworthy successor?”

Caspen had assumed that his father had retained power because of the strength of his blood bond with Deltene. It had never occurred to him that he himself was part of the reason Kora had chosen not to pass it on.

“The moment your mother sleeps with Solomon,” Bastian continued, his words rushed and sharp, “I will lose the power that has preserved my position for so long. Kora will make the next highest-ranked basilisk Serpent King. If your girl does not win”—he jabbed his fingers at the vials again—“if that Seneca is first, the power will go to him.”

Of course. Everything made sense now. The reason his father had been so agitated lately—the reason he had asked Caspen to do the unthinkable: to crest another basilisk. He was desperate. At any moment, Deltene could break the bond. And at that moment, Kora could choose to pass the power to the highest-ranked basilisk: Kronos.

“Your girl was supposed to win,” Bastian said slowly, his tone barely under control. “Your girls always win.”

Caspen closed his eyes. Not this time. His father had made a bad bet—he had assumed things would continue on as they had been. Instead Kronos’s student had stolen the heart of the prince, and Caspen’s rank had suffered.

“You do not know what Kora will do,” Caspen said. “She may not pass the power. You may remain king.”

His father scoffed. “Why should I? My bond with Deltene will be broken.”

“You do not know whether Kora—”

“Do not speak for Kora,” Bastian snapped.

“I only mean to say that—”

“I do not care what you mean to say, Caspenon. You know nothing about what it takes to be king. And now, it is possible that you never will.”

Finally, Caspen fell silent. He had never seen his father this way.

“It is only a matter of time,” Bastian whispered. “You must prepare yourself.”

Caspen shook his head. It was too much to process. “If you know Mother’s heart lies elsewhere,” he said quietly, “then you also know you will have to kill her.”

Rather than eliciting sadness, his words seemed to anger Bastian further. “Of course I know that,” he snapped.

Caspen crossed his arms. “Does it not bother you?”

“I have no choice. It is a curse for a reason.”

“The chivalrous thing to do would be to kill yourself in her stead.”

“You think I should kill myself for her?” Bastian cried. “Why should I do such a thing? She loves another—she is unfaithful. She does not deserve my mercy.”

“You must tell her you know, Father. It is the right thing to do.”