Page 240 of Kneel Before Me

Of course he hadn’t yet proposed. Daphne was sitting right here.

“The Ranking is over, and the prince has yet to choose his queen,” Caspenon continued as if there were no interruption. “So tell me. How is it that your rank surpassed mine?”

Kronos stared at Caspen. Eventually, his gaze returned to Daphne. Only one thing had happened since the Ranking—one thing that could possibly have given Kronos a significant amount of power. The very thing they had just done.

For a moment, the three of them sat in silence. Daphne still wasn’t sure why Caspenon was here, what purpose his presence could possibly serve. She was too afraid to ask. So she simply looked between the two men, waiting until one of them spoke. Eventually, Caspenon did.

“My father means to cause you harm.”

Kronos’s hand went protectively to Daphne’s waist. “How?”

“I do not know. But he thinks Kora will pass the power. If your rank remains above mine…” He trailed off, the meaning of his words hanging between them.

“She may pass it to me,” Kronos finished quietly.

Caspenon nodded. “If that happens, I believe you are in danger. I thought you deserved the courtesy of a warning.”

Kronos frowned. “I am a Seneca,” he said. “Why would you warn me?”

“Because I am not my father,” Caspenon said simply.

It was the only explanation he provided, and it was clear to Daphne that it was the only explanation necessary. The moral compass she had sensed in Caspenon was fully formed now. She couldn’t explain how, but she knew they could trust him.

Kronos stood.

“Where are you going?” Daphne asked.

“I must see my vial for myself.”

Caspenon frowned. “I assure you it has risen.”

“I did not say I did not believe you,” Kronos said. “I said I wished to see it for myself.”

Caspenon pursed his lips. “Very well. I shall take you.”

“I want to come,” Daphne insisted.

“No,” both Caspenon and Kronos said at the same time.

Daphne crossed her arms. “And why not?”

Kronos turned to her. “The prince will be expecting you.”

It was all he said, yet Daphne knew what he meant. Kronos’s words flashed through her mind: It may be time for both of us to make a choice. Daphne was ready to make hers.

Before she could say anything else, another familiar face appeared in Kronos’s doorway.

“Brother?” Agnes said, her eyes flicking over Caspenon, then Kronos, then Daphne. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing, Agnes. Leave us.”

Agnes crossed her arms. “Father is roaming about looking murderous and Apollo is doing the same. Mother is nowhere to be found, and you are in here scheming. I demand to know what is happening with our family.”

“I am not scheming,” snapped Caspenon. “I am having a private discussion, which you are interrupting.”

“The door was open. That is hardly private.”

“Agnes.”