Page 63 of Knox

"Let him go!" Adrian yelled.

Caelen laughed. In the momentary distraction, the Shadow King had managed to slip free from Knox’s shadows, leaving the incubus grasping at empty air.

"Well, well," Caelen purred. "It seems I have your energy source."

Adrian stared.

Was the Shadow King mistaking Daniel for him?

Adrian shot Knox a pleading look. They couldn’t let anything happen to Daniel.

Knox didn’t give any sign that he understood, but there was a new tension in his stance, a hesitation that hadn’t been there before. His gaze flicked to Daniel, then back to Caelen, calculation warring with concern in his eyes.

Zev had frozen mid-strike, his sword hovering inches from Caelen’s neck. But he, too, seemed uncertain, unwilling to risk Daniel’s life with a hasty move.

Adrian’s heart hammered in his chest. This couldn’t be happening. They had been so close, so close to ending this nightmare.

"What will it be, incubus?" Caelen taunted, his voice dripping with false sweetness. "Will you strike me down and risk your lover’s life? Or will you stand down and admit defeat?"

Knox’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. Adrian could see the struggle in his eyes. He wanted to strike Caelen down, but was he willing to pay the price?

Would he take advantage of the fact that Daniel wasn’t Adrian?

Was he a sacrifice Knox was willing to accept?

"No," Adrian mouthed at him.

Knox kept his gaze fixed on Caelen. "Let him go," he ground out.

"Sure," Caelen said, "once I’ve secured my escape."

Adrian’s breath caught in his throat as Caelen took Daniel from his servant, twisting his fingers in Daniel’s hair. The cruel smile on Caelen’s face sent a shiver down Adrian’s spine. He watched, helpless, as Daniel’s eyes rolled back, his body going slack in the Shadow King’s grip as Caelen drew energy from him.

"I can see what you like about this one," Caelen murmured. "He’s quite tasty."

Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. He wanted to scream, to rush forward and tear Daniel from Caelen’s grasp, but he couldn’t make himself move.

"Cut it out," Knox growled.

Caelen’s smile widened. He lifted his free hand, drawing on the energy he’d stolen from Daniel. Shadows coalesced around his fingers, forming a dark, swirling vortex.

"On second thought," Caelen said, "I think I’ll keep him."

With a flick of his wrist, Caelen stretched out his hand, the shadows expanding and solidifying into a portal.

Before either of them could do anything, he was gone, and he’d taken Daniel along with him.

Adrian shook his head, mind racing.

What the fuck were they going to do?

Chapter

Fifteen

Knox stared out the bus window, his jaw tight with frustration. Caelen had slipped through his fingers once again. Worse, he had taken a human hostage—Daniel, Adrian’s friend. And he’d come so close to grabbing Adrian himself. The thought churned Knox’s insides, a bitter mix of anger and fear.

What would he have done if Caelen had taken Adrian?