CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT #2
Daphne was in awe of his surety. It seemed impossible to her that someone would want to take a chance like this.
He was putting so much on the line for her.
For them. Yet she found that she felt the same.
Life before Kronos had been meaningless—empty and dull.
Devoid of color. Now Daphne felt alive in a way she never had before.
She knew he was the sole reason for it. Something was changing within her—something beautiful and raw and significant. She had no desire to remain stagnant.
“If you wish,” he whispered against her skin, “you could tell me how you feel too.”
Why was this so difficult? If she told him how she felt, he might not feel the same. But if she withheld her feelings, he might think she didn’t care. How could he expect Daphne to articulate how she felt when she could hardly define it for herself?
At her silence, Kronos leaned in. He pressed a gentle kiss to one cheek, then the other. Daphne closed her eyes. Somehow it was easier to talk to him that way.
“I only want to be with you,” she whispered. “And I only want you to be with me.”
It was like throwing herself off a steep cliff. Daphne felt her chest tighten as the words left her lips, realizing that she had never said anything like that to anyone before. She opened her eyes to see Kronos smiling.
“It would appear we want the same thing.”
He said it so simply. Perhaps for the basilisks, it was a simple thing to be straightforward.
But Daphne was used to games—to evasions and power plays and the dishonesty of men.
She did not know how to express her feelings this way, honestly and calmly.
It wasn’t a skill she had been taught, but it was one she was willing to learn for Kronos.
“So…what now?”
His smile faded. “If we are only to be with each other,” Kronos said slowly, “then I must disclose something to you.”
Here it was. The catch.
“Disclose what?”
Kronos pursed his lips, clearly deciding what to say.
Daphne waited anxiously for him to speak, her anxiety increasing with every second.
“I…must do something.”
“Do what?”
Still, he hesitated.
“Kronos,” Daphne begged. “Please just tell me. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it.” She wasn’t sure of that at all. But anything was better than not knowing. “Just tell me,” she said again.
Kronos took her hands in his. “Remember, the training is not the only factor that influences our rank,” he began slowly. “The basilisks have a competition of our own. It is called the Ranking.”
For some reason, the moment he said it, a chill ran down Daphne’s spine. She felt as if her life were about to change. “And what is the Ranking?”
“It is an opportunity to improve our position.”
An opportunity. That sounded purposefully vague.
“The Ranking is a tool used to determine the hierarchy of succession,” Kronos continued. “We use it to establish who is next in line for the throne. After the Ranking, a closing ceremony will occur. On that night, Kora will decide whether or not to pass the power to the highest-ranked basilisk.”
“I thought you said the king was chosen based on sexual prowess.”
“The order in which we rank is based on that. But the choice to transfer power ultimately belongs to Kora. The current Serpent King will be king until Kora chooses to pass the power.”
“But what if she never does that? What if she never relinquishes power?”
“No basilisk can be king forever.”
“So… Kora chooses the new king?”
“Kora chooses whether or not it is time for a new king.”
“And if it’s time, she’ll pass the power to the highest-ranked basilisk?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know if it’s time?”
“Only Kora knows.”
“But how does she decide?”
“Kora sees all. She sees the future, and she understands the past. She chooses who rules at what time because she weaves the threads of life. Basilisks believe in fate. We believe everything is predetermined. If she does not pass the power, then that is the way it is meant to be.”
“Do you think she’ll pass it on this year?”
Kronos shrugged. “I do not know. Bastian has been Serpent King for several competition cycles. His own son has retained the highest rank, and she has not passed it on.”
“Isn’t there some other way for Caspenon to be Serpent King?”
“The only other way would be to kill his own father.”
Daphne winced. That was unlikely to happen.
“Anyone able to kill the king is powerful enough to earn his title,” Kronos continued. “The Serpent King holds extraordinary power—few are willing to try to take it. Fewer still are able to.”
She nodded. It was all very strange to her.
“Regardless,” Kronos said, “it is essential that I do well in the Ranking. I must put myself in the best position possible should Kora decide it is time for a new king.”
“How do you do well in the Ranking?”
Now Kronos paused. Daphne could tell he didn’t want to say whatever came next.
“I must prove that I am worthy of the throne.”
It was vague. Yet also indicative. Daphne had a sinking feeling in her stomach—a hot thread of dread. She was dying to know the details, but she was afraid. “Would it require you to be with…someone else?”
Kronos paused before whispering, “It…might.”
“What does that mean?”
“Each basilisk who participates in the Ranking must choose a guest to participate with them. Host and guest will participate in a series of challenges together.”
“What sort of challenges?”
Kronos pursed his lips. “Difficult ones.”
Daphne didn’t bother asking anything further. She thought of what she’d seen in the courtyard before Agnes found her. If the challenges were anything like that, they would be beyond her wildest imagination.
She stared numbly into the fire. When she said nothing, Kronos continued quietly. “If I could abstain from the Ranking, I would. But I must participate, Daphne. I have no choice.”
“Then participate with me.”
The words were out before she could stop them, and the moment she said them, a low hiss filled Kronos’s chambers. He stared her with a mix of awe and caution. “Are you…certain?”
Daphne felt both wildly out of control and simultaneously completely calm. What was she thinking? She didn’t know a single detail of the Ranking. Still, she said, “Yes.”
“I am honored you would offer yourself as my guest,” Kronos said quietly. “But you may wish to take some time to think about it.”
Daphne looked up at him. “Why?”
He sighed, and she saw the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Daphne,” he said slowly. “If you do this with me, you will see and experience things you cannot imagine. It is not something I would expect of any human, much less you.”
“How much time do I have?”
“You would need to decide by the Passing of the Crown.”
Daphne’s stomach twisted. So soon.
“You should also know,” Kronos continued, “that the Ranking will take place over three days.”
Her heart dropped. “Three days?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t be here for three whole days.”
Kronos pursed his lips. “If you cannot be here, then I must choose another guest. And if I choose another guest…” He took a deep breath, delivering his last words softly. “I will not be able to be faithful to you.”
If Daphne wasn’t his guest, Kronos would choose someone else. He would touch someone else.
He brushed his fingers over her cheek.
Daphne closed her eyes. It felt as if she had no other choice. She wanted him to be faithful to her. But she also understood that his culture dissuaded that—Penelope was merely the latest example in a long line of traditions that Daphne was quickly realizing Kronos was beholden to.
“Daphne,” he said quietly. “I will not force you. You know this.”
She knew that—but she also knew she would have to decide soon. The Passing of the Crown would happen in a matter of days. Yet a decision like this could not be rushed.
Daphne didn’t know a single detail of the Ranking—she had no idea what she would actually have to do.
In a way it didn’t matter. It wasn’t about the Ranking at all.
It was about whether or not she believed Kronos would keep her safe.
Daphne couldn’t think of a more fitting problem for her to be faced with.
It wasn’t enough just to tell him she cared about him or to voice the way she felt about their relationship.
It was time to decide whether she trusted him.
Just minutes ago, Kronos had implored her to tell him how she felt. This was a chance to show him.
Daphne looked him in the eye.
“I’ll decide soon.”