Page 237 of Kneel Before Me

“Do not speak to me about right and wrong.”

“Her life is in your hands. You must—”

“Her life is in her own hands,” Bastian said sharply. “And she has chosen to be careless with it. I must do nothing.”

“She deserves a warning at the very least.”

His father shook his head. “And where was my warning? She has not confided in me either, Son. My actions are no worse than hers. She does not deserve the courtesy of a warning.”

Caspen was too shocked to speak. This was beyond rationality. He had always known that his father was a bitter, cruel man. But even this went too far. This was wrong.

Before Caspen could decide how to proceed, Apollo appeared.

“Father,” he said. “There you are. I was—”

Bastian whirled on his other son. “And you,” he snapped. “Yet another weak link in this family.”

Apollo stopped in his tracks, a frown creasing his forehead. “I beg your pardon?”

“How is it that I have raised sons who are incapable of doing what must be done?”

“What are you referring to?” Apollo said blankly.

Bastian’s eyes narrowed. “I am referring to the stain upon you both. I am referring to the person you refuse to cut ties with. I am referring to her.”

Harmony.

Apollo’s eyes slid to Caspen’s as his voice entered his mind:

What is the meaning of this?

Wordlessly, Caspen pointed at Kronos’s vial.

Apollo’s eyes widened. “How can that be?” he whispered.

“It does not matter how it came to be,” Bastian said. “All that matters is that the Drakons are no longer first in line for the throne.”

“The prince has yet to choose a wife,” Apollo said. “He may choose Caspenon’s girl.”

“And if he does not?”

Apollo opened his mouth, then shut it.

“Kora will pass the power to Kronos,” Bastian said. “And the Drakon rule will be over.”

“You do not know if Kora will—”

“I will kill him before I allow him to be king,” Bastian yelled.

Apollo glanced at Caspen in bewilderment, who looked pointedly at the floor.

“I…do not understand what this has to do with Harmony,” he said tentatively.

“She weakens you both,” Bastian said. “Your priority will never be the throne as long as she is in your lives.”

“We owe her everything,” Caspen said quietly. “You know this.”

“I know you are weak.” Bastian spat the word out as if it were poison.