Page 243 of Kneel Before Me

“Some tradition.”

Maximus bristled. He wished she would stop looking at him like that, as if he were a criminal. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. He didn’t want to be arguing with Daphne. He wanted to be kissing her.

“This is just the way things are done, Daphne,” he said desperately, barely believing the words himself. “There is no point in changing it. Animals belong in cages.”

“They’re not animals.”

Indignation swept through him. He remembered the letters Kronos had written her, the foul things he said he wanted to do to her. That was certainly the behavior of an animal.

“That may be the case, but they are not our equals either. You are naive if you think they are.”

Her eyes narrowed. Something irreparable was breaking between them. He could feel it shattering, destroying everything that was just beginning to form.

“And you,” said Daphne clearly, “are a coward.”

Anger rippled through him. “I am the future king.”

She shook her head. “Then you will be no king of mine.”

Maximus stiffened. How dare she question him? The bloodletting may be a terrible practice, but it was the reason his family was in power—the reason the villagers had food during difficult times. “I am doing what is right for my people.”

“I can’t believe you knew about this and didn’t tell me.”

Maximus let out an incredulous laugh. “You can’t believe I knew about this? How do you know about it, Daphne? What happens in this dungeon is not common knowledge, darling.”

As soon as he said it, Maximus realized that he didn’t actually need her to answer. In his heart, he already knew how she knew about this.

“Your basilisk told you, didn’t he?” he whispered. “That snake confided in you.”

Daphne didn’t reply. She didn’t have to. It was the only logical conclusion, and Maximus knew without confirmation that it was the correct one.

“What else has he told you, Daphne?” he asked, his eyes narrowing. “What secrets does that monster whisper in your ear?”

Daphne crossed her arms. “Don’t speak to me that way.”

He hated that he was hurting her. But the thought of her sharing an intimacy with the basilisk that she did not share with him made Maximus want to punch something. He took a deep breath, trying to control himself. Daphne was sensitive. If he was going to steer things back in the correct direction, he had to be careful with his words. This was not the time to lose his temper. That would come later.

“Daphne,” he began slowly. “If we are to have a future together, it starts with honesty. I have shown you the dungeon, as you requested. I did not do so to upset you—I did so because I want you to know every part of me.”

She was still crossing her arms, still regarding him suspiciously.

“There is nothing you could ask for that I wouldn’t give you, Daphne.”

At that, she softened—almost imperceptibly. Maximus seized the opening, stepping forward and taking her face in his hands.

“Last night was one of the best nights of my life,” he said in a rush, eager to get the words out. “I want every night to be like that. I know you don’t trust me. But if you give me the chance, I will never betray you. I will take care of you. I will protect you.”

Something flashed in her eyes. Fear? Doubt? Temptation? It was difficult to tell. She was a closed book—a mystery to him. She always had been.

“Constance is the better match,” she whispered. “You know she is.”

Maximus shook his head again. Couldn’t she tell how good they were together? How well they fit? They were perfect. She was perfect.

“I feel nothing for Constance.” Except perhaps ambivalence. Which was worse than nothing.

“Your father—”

“My father has nothing to do with this.”