Page 259 of Kneel Before Me

Caspen was just about to crack Rowe’s skull on the edge of the stone basin when he happened to look up. What he saw made him freeze in his tracks. Apollo froze too, his face tilting upward, watching in raptured silence. Rowe wrenched himself from their grasp, using their moment of distraction to disappear. Caspen could not blame him; he would have done the same. It did not matter anyway.

The brothers stared up in disbelief as one vial began to drain. Even with their father’s blood bond destroyed—even with Kronos ranked in first place—nothing would change. Perhaps Kora was waiting for something, although for what, Caspen could not know.

Whatever her reasons, her decision was final. Kora had made her choice, and she had chosen not to pass the power.

Bastian would remain the Serpent King.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Daphne

Daphne, wake up.”

The world was dark. Her head hurt.

“Daphne, wake up.”

Someone was shaking her.

“Kronos is gone, Daphne.”

That was enough for her to open her eyes. Agnes was leaning over her, her brows drawn in concern.

“Where is he?” Daphne asked, her voice hoarse.

“They took him.”

“Where?”

“I do not know, but they went that way.” Agnes pointed at the passageway.

Immediately, Daphne sat up. That motion alone caused her head to spin.

“You should rest,” Agnes said.

“No. I need to find him.”

Agnes pursed her lips but didn’t argue. Instead she helped Daphne stand, supportive arms wrapping around her waist. The vial room was still packed with basilisks, only now they were no longer fighting. Now they stood in silence, staring at the vials as one of them steadily drained. Daphne went numb the moment she saw whose vial it was. Bastian’s.

Kronos would not be Serpent King.

There was no time to process this as Agnes pulled her to her feet, helping her into the passageway. It was empty save for a messy trail of blood. Daphne’s throat tightened at the sight.

“Agnes,” she whispered.

“I know, Daphne.”

They leaned on each other, steadily picking up speed as Daphne regained strength. By the time they were out of the caves, they were running. Snow was just beginning to fall; Daphne could barely see the Alpha Serpentis. The moment they reached the wall, the sounds of a struggle greeted them. Daphne scanned the group of bodies quickly, trying to discern what was going on. Kronos was not the only basilisk being hauled away—a woman was struggling the same way he was, lashing out against the men surrounding her. Daphne recognized her as Caspenon’s guest. They were both fighting valiantly, but they were simply outnumbered.

“Stop,” a deep voice cried.

Out of sheer surprise, everyone stopped. Daphne turned to see the source of the voice, her heart leaping at the sight of Caspenon and his brother, both covered in blood. She had never been so happy to see the Drakon brothers.

Caspenon’s eyes fell on Agnes and narrowed.

“Agnes,” he snapped. “Go back to the caves.”

“No.”