Page 100 of The Ascended
I stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "Excuse me?"
Xül looked as if he was fighting back a smile. "When greeting your assigned Legend in such official capacity, there's a protocol that must be observed. Most critical among them is kneeling."
I felt the blood drain from my face. "Kneeling? To you? I'd rather eat glass."
"I recall your vehement resistance to any form of obedience," he replied, his eyes glinting with mischief. "But by all means, starling—" he stepped closer, a playful smirk tugging at his lips "—allow me to give you a quick lesson so you don't embarrass us both when you inevitably kneel before me."
I glared at him, crossing my arms. "That's never going to happen."
"Oh, but it is," he insisted. "First, you must approach with appropriate reverence." He gestured to the space between us. "Three steps forward, eyes lowered—but not too low. I still want you to see my face when I accept your devotion."
"My what?"
"Your devotion," he repeated. "Next, you slowly lower yourself to both knees." He made a graceful downward motion. "Hands placed on your thighs, palms up—symbolizing your willingness to offer your service to me."
"I'll offer you something, all right," I muttered, "and it won't be service."
He chuckled. "Then comes the declaration."
"The what now?"
"The declaration of my magnificence," he explained, as if it were perfectly reasonable. "Something along the lines of 'Great Warden Xül, I am humbled by your presence and acknowledge your superiority in all matters.'"
"You've lost your mind."
"What about 'I kneel before you, Warden, because no one else has ever looked quite so good in black'?"
Despite myself, I smiled. "Slightly better."
He reached for my hand unexpectedly, and I let him take it, curiosity momentarily overriding my better judgment.
"You know," he said, his voice dropping lower, "it's easy to joke about, but I'm beginning to think you have no idea how to properly kneel at all."
"Oh, I’ve found myself on my knees more than a few times,” I shot back. "But I have standards when it comes to those I deem worthy of such devotion.”
"Is that so?" he asked softly, his grip tightening just enough. "Then indulge me."
Something twisted inside me sparked at the insistence. Maybe itwas the way he looked at me, or the absurdity of the entire conversation, or just the fact that I was tired of him thinking he could unsettle me.
"Fine," I said, pulling my hand from his. "If it will shut you up."
Before I could overthink it, I sank to my knees before him, maintaining eye contact the entire way down. The cool stone pressed against my knees through the fabric of my dress.
Xül went completely still. For a moment, he seemed genuinely caught off guard.
I placed my hands on my thighs, palms up in exaggerated submission. "Oh insufferable lord of the afterlife," I drawled, with an exaggerated flutter of my hand, "how truly special it feels to bruise my knees for you."
His eyes darkened, fixed on me. He stepped closer. I had to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact.
"Is this what you wanted?" I asked.
Danger flickered in his expression. He reached down, his fingers brushing my cheek. The gentle pressure there made my breath catch.
"The view is certainly... satisfying," he murmured.
We held there, suspended in a moment that had started playfully but had somehow transformed into something else. Our eyes remained locked in a way that made it suddenly difficult to breathe. I couldn't remember the last time we'd been this close without the buffer of hostility between us.
Then, as if remembering himself, he withdrew his hand and stepped back. I rose quickly to my feet, brushing off my dress.
