Page 104 of Kneel Before Me

“I didn’t,” Daphne said. “At least, not formally. We dance in the village sometimes, and at the Horseman.”

“The Horseman?”

“It’s a pub.”

“I see.”

“Have…you ever been to a pub?”

Kronos shook his head. “I have not.”

Daphne remembered their conversation the first time he’d walked her home—how he never ventured into the village. How he was hardly free. “Do you want to?”

His eyes shifted down to hers. “No,” he said simply.

Daphne nodded. She didn’t even know why she’d asked. They couldn’t go to the Horseman even if Kronos wanted to. The villagers would never accept a basilisk in their midst. Kronos would be seen as a danger to everyone. Sudden, irrevocable sadness passed through Daphne. How were they supposed to be together if they couldn’t even go to the local pub? This was all wrong. She was dancing with a basilisk, wearing something magical he had given her, while the person she was supposed to be pursuing—a prince, for Kora’s sake—was just beyond a doorway. What was she doing? Perhaps Maximus had been right to renegotiate their arrangement. He was the only one thinking properly about their future. It didn’t matter that Augustus didn’t accept her—she had far more of a chance with Maximus than she did with the man before her.

“Kronos,” Daphne whispered. It didn’t matter that they were in a loud ballroom, that music was playing. He was more than close enough to hear her. “What are we?”

His grip tightened on her waist. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” she began, her throat suddenly tight, “what are we doing? We can’t be together.” She looked up into his golden eyes. “I mean—I don’t even know if you want to be together. All I know is that I’m—I’m—”

She paused, searching for the right word. What was she, exactly? She was not in love, at least she didn’t think she was. She was infatuated, that was for sure. She was emotionally attached to him—developing feelings that scared her. And was she alone? They didn’t talk about things like this. Perhaps they needed to, if they were going to risk everything for it.

Kronos had long since stopped moving. He stared down at her as he whispered, “What are you, Daphne?”

She settled on the word he’d once used to describe her—a word she hated: “Lost.”

Sadness passed over his face. “Daphne…”

“What are we, Kronos?” she asked again. “Because if we’re anything less than in love, maybe we shouldn’t be anything at all.”

There was so much at stake. So much risk. Daphne had never heard of a situation like theirs before—of a teacher getting involved with his student or of a basilisk getting involved with a human. Both were anomalies, and both were dangerous. She didn’t know how anyone would react to their union—her mother, Ella, Maximus. Everyone she knew would be at best, shocked, and at worst, disgusted. The villagers did not trust basilisks. It might even incite a war. The full weight of their reality crushed her like an avalanche. Daphne couldn’t believe she’d let this go on so long without clarity.

“Daphne,” Kronos said quietly. “Do you love me?”

She stared up at him. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Just answer.”

Daphne couldn’t answer. It was too soon. She didn’t love Kronos—not yet. But she knew she could. Somehow, despite her previous track record and her deep-seated doubt that she was worthy of love, she knew she could love him. Just not right now.

“I can’t answer,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

“And you should not have to.”

They were inches apart. Daphne did not know whether anyone else was watching—whether the royals were staring at the teacher and his student. But none of that mattered. All she cared about was this.

“Love cannot be rushed,” Kronos continued, seemingly equally oblivious to those around them. “It cannot be convinced, or forced, or set to a deadline. It must be felt in its own time.” He took her face in his hands, looking her straight in the eye as he whispered, “Whatever we are is worth the wait.”

Daphne stared up into his golden eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. The conviction. Perhaps they were nothing yet. But they would be something someday. And Daphne had no doubt that day was worth waiting for. Eventually, Kronos held her once more. They swayed to the music, not quite dancing, not quite standing still.

The music swelled again, but this time Kronos didn’t spin Daphne out. Instead he held her against his chest, his lips against her forehead. His hand was splayed flat on the small of her back, his thumb gently stroking her skin. Even that was almost too much for Daphne to bear. Their faces were far too close together. Suddenly Kronos pulled back, looking at something beyond her. He tensed.

“What is it?” Daphne asked.

She followed his eyeline until she saw who he was looking at: a tall, terrifyingly attractive basilisk who was looking right back. Daphne immediately recognized him as the formidable man who had confronted her in the passageway: Agnes’s brother.