CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Daphne
The crowd descended into madness the moment Caspenon killed the queen’s lover.
Kronos’s arms closed protectively around Daphne, pulling her away from the chaos. They only made it a few feet before a male basilisk stopped them.
“Come with me,” he barked at Kronos.
Kronos blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“By order of the king, you must come with me.”
Kronos tightened his grip on Daphne. “I am not going anywhere with you.”
The basilisk stepped closer. He wasn’t the only one; one moment they were alone, and the next they were surrounded by imposing basilisks.
“Come with us, or we will kill her.” The basilisk pointed at Daphne.
This was utterly the wrong thing to say to Kronos. Any semblance of calm disappeared from his face as he drew himself up to his full height and said, “Touch her, and I will kill you.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the basilisk dove for Daphne.
Kronos dove too, throwing his body in front of hers so quickly she barely had time to blink.
The other men were upon him in an instant.
Daphne clawed at them with her fingernails, drawing blood before their skin immediately healed itself.
She felt a familiar warmth in her core as Kronos drew from her, using the power of their crest to defend them both.
It was not enough.
They were outnumbered; even Kronos could not hold back four basilisks at once. Daphne cast her gaze around the room, searching for a friendly face. Everyone was oblivious to their battle; the crowd had a mind of its own as Senecas fought with Drakons, the altercations becoming bloody.
“Someone—anyone—help!”
For a single, desperate moment, Daphne caught Caspenon’s eye. He stepped forward. Then his gaze slid beyond them, and he turned in the other direction. Arms were around Daphne’s shoulders, pulling her away from Kronos.
“No…Kronos…no!”
Daphne reached for him. He reached for her.
Then a sharp pain slammed into her temple, and everything went dark.