Page 4 of Kneel Before Me

“He bears the burden of leadership,” Caspen said. “It weighs on him.”

“Do you really believe he is thinking about leadership right now?”

Caspen sighed. He did not believe that. He knew exactly what his father was thinking about. Bastian did not approve of Harmony. He hated that she had driven a wedge between his sons, and he had ordered Caspen on numerous occasions to end his involvement with her.

But even if Caspen wanted to, he could not sever his relationship with Harmony.

Caspen had been a virgin once, although by now it seemed hard to believe. Losing his virginity had been the first step in his long climb to the throne. A virgin basilisk could not become a proper member of society, could not ascend in rank. And in basilisk culture, the person who took your virginity held power over you—Harmony had taken both his and Apollo’s. It was a strange arrangement, even among basilisks, and it had left them both at her mercy. She had a hold on the Drakon brothers that neither of them could break. They were both indebted to her.

Bastian knew this, and he resented it.

“Why?” Caspen had asked Harmony once. “Why did you insist on having us both?”

She had smiled, her yellow eyes gleaming in the darkness. “Because I knew I could.”

It was the closest thing to an explanation he had ever gotten from her. It had been years since he had asked her anything else concerning their circumstances. He no longer cared to hear the answers anyway. Whether or not Apollo sought them, he had no clue. Perhaps his brother was content simply to fuck Harmony. It would not have surprised Caspen if that were the case. Only Caspen wanted more.

“Shall we give him something to stare at?” Harmony’s hand was moving down his cock, beginning to stroke.

Caspen could not say no to her. His head tipped back as Harmony’s hand pumped his shaft, drawing a gasp from his lips. Her other hand went to his balls, squeezing them exactly the way he liked. She knew him explicitly, understood him in a way no one else did. Her influence over him was undeniable. Caspen had no wish to deny it anyway.

Her breasts were pressed against his chest. He gripped her waist with his hands, pulling her even closer, creating friction between them with every stroke.

Her voice entered his mind: What would your father think of this?

You know what he thinks.

Should we have sex? Simply to make him angry?

No.

Disapproval traveled from her mind to his. You are getting soft in your old age, Caspenon.

There is nothing soft about me.

She laughed quietly. His cock was rigid between them. A decade ago, you would have jumped at the chance to fuck me in front of him.

A decade ago, things were different.

The unrest between the quivers was a recent development, exacerbated during his father’s prolonged reign. Caspen had no desire to make things worse. Not even for Harmony.

Apollo would not be scared to fuck me.

Caspen pulled away slightly, shooting her a glare. She was always taunting him in such a way, dangling her relationship with his brother over his head—reminding him that she was the one in control.

“Mention my brother again,” he said aloud, “and I will not fuck you even if you beg for it.” The words constricted his airway. They were a lie.

Harmony smiled. “Now, now, Caspenon. Do not pretend you could resist me.”

He wished he could resist her. He wished that more than anything.

She leaned in. “You would give me anything I begged for.”

They both knew it was true.

Caspen was about to come. Anticipation gripped him, tensing his entire body. Just as he was ready to release, Harmony dropped her hand. She was without doubt the cruelest woman alive.

Her lips brushed his ear as she whispered, “We will finish this later.”