Page 79 of Kneel Before Me

“Hardly my business?” He stepped closer, stopping only when they were inches apart. “You refuse to train with me,” he said, his voice low and rough. “You deny me the right of my people, and you deny me the power that comes with it. You go to the castle with the human prince, and he undresses in front of you, and now you tell me it is none of my business?”

They were so close his body was nearly touching hers. He was so tall she had to crane her neck to look up at him, the heat of his skin warming her even from inches away. Not for the first time, Daphne felt a sliver of fear. Kronos must have sensed it because his expression softened and he said, “I…should not have said that.”

It was a rare admission of fault from Kronos. Daphne could not remember a time when he had ever admitted to making a mistake. But if this was a mistake, she was dying to know why.

“Kronos.” She purposefully lowered her voice, drawing him even closer. “You can talk to me.”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

In reply, he stepped back. On pure instinct alone, Daphne grabbed his arm, holding him close. He froze, staring down at the place where she was touching him. She thought suddenly about the last time she was here—how they’d sat and talked and then he’d walked her home and kissed her against the garden fence. Daphne had felt their bond deepen that day, and she knew he’d felt it too.

“Kronos, please. Let me in.”

He stared down at her, obvious pain in his eyes.

“Don’t you want to?” she whispered, barely able to get the words out. Why was he making her beg? Surely, he wanted this too.

Still, he did not answer.

Daphne stepped forward and pressed her forehead to his chest. Kronos shuddered as she did so. She could feel the tension in his body—she could sense just how much effort he was expending in order to resist her. Daphne leaned into him, resting her whole body against his. He was unbelievably warm. Slowly, as if he were moving through water, his arms wrapped around her. They were embracing. It was the first time they had done that. They stood there, pressed together, the fire crackling beside them.

“You do not understand how difficult it is for me to be this close to you,” Kronos murmured into her hair.

Daphne understood quite well, since it was just as difficult for her to be this close to him. “I wish you would let me be closer.”

She didn’t mean physically, although she had no doubt they both wanted that. She wanted him to let her in.

Kronos sighed and pulled away.

“Daphne,” he said quietly. “My position is complicated. Things are difficult with my people right now.”

“How so?”

Again, he hesitated. Daphne realized he had probably never told these details to a human before. She wondered briefly whether any human had ever heard them before. Until now it had seemed rude to ask about his private life. Now it seemed stupid not to.

“Kronos,” she said quietly. “What is going on with your people?”

She could see in his eyes that he knew it was time for them to lower the wall between them. If they were to progress in their relationship, it needed to happen right now. Kronos turned from her, crossing to the bed and sitting on it. Without a word, Daphne followed. The last time they were on his bed, he’d asked her to stay the night. She wondered if he would do so again.

“For you to understand my situation, you must know that basilisks are divided into two quivers,” he began slowly. “Only one quiver can hold power at a time.”

Daphne raised her eyebrows but didn’t interrupt.

“Both quivers have fought for the throne over the course of centuries. The Drakon quiver is currently in power.”

“Is that your quiver?”

“No. I am a Seneca.”

Daphne remembered their first conversation in the cave. Kronos Seneca. “I thought you said Seneca was your last name.”

“It is.”

“So…your quiver is your family?”

Kronos pursed his lips but did not answer. Daphne studied his handsome face, wishing she could touch it. Then she realized she could. Without hesitating, she reached for him, cupping his jaw in her palm. His eyes met hers.