Page 86 of Kneel Before Me

“You went to watch the village without me. I saw you returning just now.”

Caspen arched his head up to the ceiling. Was there no end to his plight? “I do not need to update you on my whereabouts. And you do not need to be watching the village at all.”

Her pout deepened. “Why not?”

“It is not safe.”

“Of course it is. We always use our true forms.”

“That does not matter. You will not go anymore. I forbid it. Do you hear me?”

Tears filled Agnes’s eyes. “Is this because of Daphne? I did not tell her to come here. She is Kronos’s responsibility, and he—”

“This is not because of Daphne. This is simply common sense. I am your older brother, and it is my job to protect you. You will not watch the village anymore, and that is final.”

He did not wait to see her reaction. He simply swept away.

Caspen circled the shores aimlessly, speaking with no one. It was not until he had returned to the crowd that he heard a single word directed at him.

“Cuckold,” Rowe whispered as he passed, so quietly only Caspen heard it.

Caspen sighed. The insult was a knife in his chest. Caspen was tired of being seen as weak because of his emotional connection to Harmony. He would not tolerate it any longer; he would find someone else to satisfy him tonight. Perhaps Adelaide and her exceptional tongue were available.

Caspen set off into the passageway, opening doors at random. It was standard practice under the mountain; doors did not truly indicate privacy here. They were only installed because basilisks liked to be caught having sex. More often than not, the interrupter joined the interrupted. It was exactly such a situation that Caspen now sought, knowing that whoever he walked in on would jump at the chance to be with him. He was the son of the Serpent King, and he could have anyone he wanted.

The first room he came across was empty. The second as well. When Caspen opened the third door, he expected it to be empty too. He was wrong. The bed was occupied by a man and a woman. The man he recognized as Rowe’s father, Solomon.

The woman was his mother.

“Caspenon,” Deltene gasped. “What are you doing here?”

Caspen stared at the Serpent Queen and Rowe’s father, betrayal coursing through him.

“Have you lost your mind, Mother?” he snapped. “Of all the people you can fuck, you choose him?”

Solomon was the highest-ranked Seneca. By choosing him to be in her bed, his mother might as well have declared war.

Caspen pointed at Solomon. “Get out. Now.”

Solomon straightened. “You cannot order me to—”

“I can do anything I please,” Caspen cried. “I am ranked higher than you. Get out. Or I shall rip your head from your shoulders.”

Silence fell. Then Solomon stood slowly, casting one last glance at Deltene before leaving the room and closing the door after him. Caspen wasted no time.

“He is a ranked Seneca, Mother. Father will be furious.”

“You cannot tell your father, Caspenon.”

“I do not need to tell him. This will get out. Do you truly think you can trust Solomon? He seeks the throne. He will betray you, and then he will hurt our family.”

“He would not do that. You do not know him.”

“I know he is a Seneca. And I know that Father will—”

“Your father cannot find out.”

Caspen took a step toward her. “He will.”