Page 258 of Kneel Before Me

Kronos blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“By order of the king, you must come with me.”

Kronos tightened his grip on Daphne. “I am not going anywhere with you.”

The basilisk stepped closer. He wasn’t the only one; one moment they were alone, and the next they were surrounded by imposing basilisks.

“Come with us, or we will kill her.” The basilisk pointed at Daphne.

This was utterly the wrong thing to say to Kronos. Any semblance of calm disappeared from his face as he drew himself up to his full height and said, “Touch her, and I will kill you.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the basilisk dove for Daphne. Kronos dove too, throwing his body in front of hers so quickly she barely had time to blink. The other men were upon him in an instant. Daphne clawed at them with her fingernails, drawing blood before their skin immediately healed itself. She felt a familiar warmth in her core as Kronos drew from her, using the power of their crest to defend them both.

It was not enough.

They were outnumbered; even Kronos could not hold back four basilisks at once. Daphne cast her gaze around the room, searching for a friendly face. Everyone was oblivious to their battle; the crowd had a mind of its own as Senecas fought with Drakons, the altercations becoming bloody.

“Someone—anyone—help!”

For a single, desperate moment, Daphne caught Caspenon’s eye. He stepped forward. Then his gaze slid beyond them, and he turned in the other direction. Arms were around Daphne’s shoulders, pulling her away from Kronos.

“No…Kronos…no!”

Daphne reached for him. He reached for her.

Then a sharp pain slammed into her temple, and everything went dark.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Caspen

Caspen shoved basilisk after basilisk out of his way.

Harmony was at the edge of the crowd, surrounded by a throng of men, her arms pinned behind her back, her yellow eyes wide with fear. The men were dragging her into the passageway. Caspen was nearly upon them, his arm outstretched, reaching for her, when someone blocked his path. Rowe.

“You took my father from me.”

Caspen attempted to push him aside, but he did not move. “I took only what you were willing to lose,” he snapped.

“I was not willing to lose my own father.”

There was no time for this. Harmony needed him. Caspen looked Rowe straight in the eye, aiming his taunt like a knife. “Were you not? If that is the truth, then why did you not fight me?”

Rowe hesitated. “I—”

“What kind of son does not intervene when his father is attacked?”

Caspen knew the answer, even if Rowe was unwilling to admit it. It was not an unusual situation in basilisk culture: father against son, brother against brother. Solomon had been ranked above Rowe; with him gone, Rowe was one step closer to the throne.

“How dare you?” Rowe whispered.

Caspen no longer cared for decorum. This wound would not heal anyway. There was no point in attempting reparations when what he had done was unforgivable. The only thing he could do now was assert his power and show that his actions were justified.

Without hesitation, Caspen swung his fist at Rowe’s face.

Rowe barely managed to turn aside before Caspen moved again, this time aiming for his sternum. Here, finally, he made contact. Rowe’s bones broke beneath his fist, caving his chest in. Rowe doubled over. Caspen took the moment of reprieve to scan the room for Harmony. She was gone. Before he could move to look for her, Rowe was upright once more. This time when he lunged, Caspen was ready for him. So was Apollo.

His brother appeared out of nowhere, his eyes dark with determination. It was only once they joined forces that they were able to beat the Seneca back, pushing Rowe toward the vials. The Drakon brothers landed hit after hit, forcing Rowe to his knees.