CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE #3
Daphne knew there would be no convincing him. So she decided to say what she was really thinking. “I know you’re lying to me about the severity of the bite.”
Finally, Kronos went still. He met her eye. “Basilisks cannot lie,” he said slowly.
“Then they can bend the truth. How long would it really take Caspenon to siphon all of your power?” She knew he didn’t want to answer but crossed her arms and waited.
Eventually, he said, “I already told you. It could take years.”
“I’m sure it could. But it won’t, will it?”
Kronos studied her face, his expression slowly turning from uneasy surprise to potent curiosity. He almost looked like he wanted to ask something. Instead, he shook his head. “You cannot risk your life for mine, Daphne. It is as simple as that.”
She noticed how he didn’t admit that he had lied. “If the situation were reversed, you would do it for me. I know you would.”
“It does not matter what I would do for you. The situation is not reversed. And you do not have my permission.”
“And if you die? What happens then? The Drakons will remain in power. Is that what you want?”
Kronos pursed his lips. He was silent, his eyes searching hers. “If the choice is between your life or mine, I choose yours, Daphne.”
It was a beautiful sentiment. But it was not enough to convince her. “My life will be in danger if this bite doesn’t heal, Kronos. If the Drakons remain in power, there will be a war with the humans. Isn’t that what you told me?”
“Daphne.” He shook his head. “Enough. The risk is too great.”
Daphne fell silent. She wanted to cry. He wouldn’t let her do this for him. There had to be another way to help him, to give him enough power to heal himself. “We…could have sex,” she whispered.
Immediately, Kronos shook his head. “No. Not like this.”
“I’m ready.”
“Daphne. No.”
She held up her hand. “You told me basilisks gain power through sex. You told me your rank changes by the hour, even by the minute.”
“That is true. But it is not a good enough reason for us to have sex.”
“It is if it would give you could gain enough power to heal the bite.”
Kronos shook his head. He was so pale. “Sex would not be enough, Daphne.”
Unlike earlier, when the words had pained him, this he said easily.
He was telling her the truth; sex would not save him.
Silence fell. The only sound was their combined breathing.
It was a horrible situation, and Daphne felt helpless.
What would give him an extraordinary amount of power?
A memory came to her suddenly of a conversation they’d had long ago.
“Isn’t there another way for you to gain enough power?” she whispered.
“The crest might give me enough.”
Daphne looked him in the eye. “Crest me.”
If possible, he went even paler. “Why would you say that?” he whispered.
“You told me it was a way to gain power.”
“I also told you it was not an option.”
“But it will save you. Won’t it?”
Kronos didn’t answer.
“Won’t it?”
He closed his eyes as if to block out this entire conversation.
But Daphne was not going to let him retreat. “Whatever it is, just do it, Kronos. I can take it.”
“It is not a matter of taking it, Daphne. I cannot crest you.”
“Why not?”
“Because it is not what I wish for you.”
“I don’t understand. Can’t you just—”
His eyes flew open. “You are more than a source of power for me.”
Daphne recoiled at his tone. Tears pricked her eyes.
At her expression, Kronos immediately softened. “What I mean to say is that I do not wish to draw from you. The crest is a forceful act; it cannot be undone. It will not just give me power; it will make you beholden to me. Any order I give you, you would have to obey.”
Daphne frowned. She did not want to have to obey Kronos. “You would never give me any orders. Would you?”
“Not on purpose,” he said. “But even I am not perfect.”
Daphne almost laughed. He was as close to perfect as anyone could get. She trusted him with her life, which meant she trusted him with this. “Kronos,” she said. “You—”
Suddenly his eyes slammed shut. His entire body went rigid; the hand that was resting over Daphne’s gripped it so hard that she gasped.
“What is it?”
Kronos was trying to speak. “Caspenon—he—”
He did not need to explain; Daphne could see that the Drakon was siphoning from him.
The lingerie was reacting too—one moment it was scalding hot and the next it was freezing cold.
Kronos’s body was jerking; Daphne tried to hold him down to no avail.
He was seizing, seizing, seizing, then he went limp.
Daphne could not cry out; she could not make a sound.
All she could do was cradle him as he lay there, praying to Kora that he would open his eyes.
Eventually, he did. “Daphne,” he whispered.
“Yes—I’m right here. What can I do?”
He didn’t answer. His normally luminous skin was dull, his eyes blank and wide.
Daphne couldn’t stand to see him like this. She had no idea how many times Caspenon could siphon from him before he would die, and she was not about to find out. It was time to take control.
“Kronos,” Daphne whispered firmly. “Crest me.”