CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR #2
That was intimidating to Daphne. “How so?”
Kronos shrugged. “It is different every Ranking; we will not know what it is until the time comes. All we know is that the guests will choose the winner.”
Daphne pursed her lips. She didn’t want to be in charge of choosing anything.
“The third day provides an opportunity for the people to cast their vote. Every attending basilisk will participate in the final challenge.”
Daphne decided right then and there that she didn’t want to know what the final challenge was. The first one was already terrifying enough.
“It sounds like…a lot,” she whispered.
Kronos’s hands rested reassuringly on her waist. “It is,” he said quietly. “But I will be right there with you.”
Daphne nodded. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“The challenges will be difficult. They are meant to test both guest and host.”
Daphne sighed.
“Each night there will be a gathering in the courtyard,” Kronos continued. “After which we will retire to my chambers. That will give you an opportunity to rest.”
She noticed how he didn’t say we. Apparently Kronos did not require rest.
“Daphne,” he whispered. “What are you thinking?”
It was difficult to put what she was thinking into words. To be honest, Daphne was terrified. But it only took looking at the man before her to know that he would not let anything bad happen over the next three days. Daphne already trusted Kronos in theory. It was time to do so in practice.
“I’m thinking… I’m ready.”
Kronos looked upon her with pride. “As am I.”
He gave her a soft kiss on the lips. They were still intertwined; she was still straddling him. Daphne settled herself against his body, kissing him slowly and without hurry. This was the man she had chosen to guide her through the challenges. This was a man who would do so with care.
Eventually, Kronos pulled away. “It is nearly morning,” he murmured. “We should go.”
The passageway was packed with basilisks, all in a fervor.
“Everyone is so excited,” Daphne whispered.
“The Ranking does not happen often,” Kronos said. “Even the Senecas have come from the sea to witness it.”
“I thought it happened every time the prince chooses a wife.”
He shook his head. “The Ranking can occur during the competition. But only if the Serpent King calls for it.”
“Why did the king call for it this year?”
“He wishes to guarantee Drakon power.”
“But the Drakons are already in power.”
“That is true. But if anything happens to the Serpent King—for example, if someone were to kill him—power will pass to the next highest-ranked basilisk. If that basilisk is a Seneca, the Drakons lose power. Bastian wants to keep the kingship in his bloodline.”
“But why call for the Ranking? How will that help?”
“Caspenon is the son of the Serpent King, and his girls always win the competition. If he can win the Ranking, he will be first in line for the throne. It will guarantee his succession if Kora decides Bastian’s rule is over.”
“I can’t believe you just sit around and wait for Kora to make that decision for you.”
“Kora is the judge of us all,” Kronos said simply. “We fight, we fuck, we rank. We offer ourselves to her, but ultimately it is her choice.”
They had reached the double doors that led to the vial room.
Kronos paused before them, turning to face her. “This may be…an interesting day.”
“I know that, Kronos.”
She sounded far more confident than she felt. In truth, Daphne had no idea what to expect beyond those doors. And she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t scared.
As if Kronos could read her mind, he said, “There is nothing to fear, Daphne. I will keep you safe.”
His words were tight; Daphne could tell he was tense.
Despite repeatedly informing her that there was nothing to fear, Kronos was certainly acting as if there was.
Without thinking, Daphne reached for his hand, lacing her fingers with his and pulling him closer in the darkness.
Immediately, she felt better. And if she wasn’t mistaken, it looked like he did too.
They entered the room hand in hand.
Daphne was immediately struck by how warm it was.
It was always warm under the mountain, but here in the vial room it was sweltering.
The space was filled with basilisks. Kronos alone possessed enough beauty to overwhelm her.
But now, surrounded by so many others just like him, Daphne could not comprehend how such creatures were allowed to exist. She could understand how the very first villagers must have felt when they settled here and discovered the basilisks.
It must have been a revelation. Daphne was surprised they didn’t worship them like gods. Perhaps they should.
A circle was forming in front of the vials. Bastian stood in the middle, joined by a tall female basilisk.
“Who’s that?” Daphne whispered.
“That is Deltene,” Kronos whispered back. “She is the Serpent Queen.”
“Caspenon’s mother?”
“Yes.”
Daphne could see where Caspenon got his eyes from; they were the same striking gold shade as hers. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is,” said Kronos simply.
Daphne understood that she might as well have said the sky was blue. The basilisks were all beautiful. Sweat shone on their skin, giving them an ethereal glow, every inch of them designed to draw Daphne in. She was once more acutely aware that she was the only human here in the room.
Deltene and Bastian were speaking to one another in a low murmur.
“They look so good together,” Daphne said.
“They are blood bonded.”
“Blood bonded?”
“It means their lives are linked,” Kronos explained. “If one dies, so will the other.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“That seems…terrifying.”
“It is only terrifying if it is the wrong person. Otherwise, it is quite beautiful.”
“Such magic…” Daphne trailed off.
It seemed unbelievable to her that such a thing was possible. It was rather beautiful, she supposed. Daphne could see how it was romantic to bind your life to someone else’s. It showed commitment, if nothing else. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t also terrifying.
“Will they ever part?”
“The only way to break the blood bond is if one of them falls in love with someone else and sleeps with that person.”
“How horrible,” said Daphne.
“If you think that is horrible, you will not like what happens after.”
“What happens after?”
“Once the blood bond is broken, a curse is triggered. The person who was betrayed must kill the person who did the betraying.”
Daphne stared at Bastian and Deltene. She couldn’t imagine either of them killing the other.
“The curse is why, in recent centuries, there have been very few bonded couples. Bastian and Deltene are one of the last.”
Daphne tried to process the term recent centuries. Exactly how old was Kronos? Before she could ask, the Serpent Queen stepped forward. Instantly, the chatter died down and the crowd went silent. Deltene raised her palms, extending them in a wide circle.
“Brethren,” she said, her voice deep and lyrical, “we gather for the Ranking.”
A low, quiet hiss filled the room.
“Your king has called you to compete. Are you ready to do so?”
The hiss grew louder. A shiver crept up Daphne’s spine.
“Will the guests please follow me?”
Deltene gestured to the center of the room, where a low stone bench sat. Daphne turned to Kronos.
“What’s happening?”
“It is time for the queen to bless the guests.”
Daphne watched as someone in the crowd handed Deltene two glass bottles. She walked to the bench, setting them on the edge of the stone. A line was already forming behind her.
“Please,” Deltene said to the first guest. “Sit.”
The woman sat eagerly, spreading her legs.
Daphne immediately blushed as she got a full view of the woman’s center.
Then she scolded herself for being so juvenile.
She was going to see a lot of centers tonight; she might as well get used to it.
Daphne watched as the queen knelt before the woman, opening the first bottle and spreading oil on her left thigh.
“Ylang-ylang is for bravery,” Deltene said. She opened the second bottle and spread it on the woman’s other thigh. “Sandalwood for heat.”
Daphne really only needed one of those things.
“These scents are sacred,” she continued. “It is an honor to wear them.” The queen rubbed her hands up and down the woman’s thighs before trailing a single finger over her exposed clitoris. Then she stood, bowed, and gestured to the next guest.
“Daphne,” Kronos murmured in her ear. “The line.”
Daphne was the only one not in the line, yet she couldn’t seem to move.
“I will be right here,” Kronos said. “I promise.”
Daphne did not turn to him. If she did, she’d never leave his side.
Without a word she dropped his hand, stepped forward, and joined the back of the line.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but she could have sworn the entire crowd looked at her as she did so.
It was agony to be perceived in such a way.
The line went quickly. Guest after guest sat, spread their legs, and received the oils. By the time it was Daphne’s turn, the hiss she had heard earlier was nearly deafening. She sat gingerly on the bench, unsure what to do with her hands.
“Open your knees,” the queen said calmly.
There was no use resisting. She allowed her knees to tilt open, sitting perfectly still as Deltene took ylang-ylang oil and spread it on her left thigh. The sensation was a pleasant one; the oil was warm, and so was Deltene.
“You hardly need this,” the queen said quietly. “By being here, you are already brave.”
Pride surged through her. If Deltene thought she was brave, then she must be. “I’m here with Kronos,” she said.
“I see.” The queen glanced over at Kronos, who was watching them intently. “He is a good man.”
The pride only increased. “I know.”
The queen smiled as she took the sandalwood oil and rubbed it on Daphne’s other thigh. “My husband would not share the same sentiment.”
“Your husband scares me.”
That elicited a small laugh from Deltene. “He scares many.” Her face sobered. Her next words were a whisper. “Including me.”