Page 78 of Knox

It had been an eventful day. There was so much to think about, Adrian couldn’t hold it all in his head.

"My friends are capable," Knox said. "You don’t need to worry about them."

Only a moment later, as if to call Knox’s words lies, knocking at the door made Adrian jump. He hurried to open it, revealing Lyrian and Zev, both looking exhausted.

And they didn’t have Daniel with them.

"What happened?" Adrian asked, ushering them inside.

Lyrian collapsed onto the couch next to Leon, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "It’s unbelievable," he said. "We couldn’t even get close to Caelen. There were too many followers around him."

Zev leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking utterly displeased with himself.

"I sang," Lyrian continued, frustration evident in his voice. "I put everything I had into that song, but nobody was swayed. Absolutely nobody. They’re so deeply under Caelen’s control, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before."

Adrian had experienced the effects of Lyrian’s song firsthand before. It was difficult to believe that someone might be immune to it, and so many people at that.

Zev shook his head. "I don’t understand how it’s possible. Lyrian’s song was so powerful, even I was almost swayed, and I wasn’t even the target."

The room fell silent as they all processed this news.

Adrian chewed his lower lip. How were they going to get Daniel away from Caelen like this?

Leon cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "But you found his lair, right?"

Zev nodded grimly. "We did find his lair," he confirmed. "Caelen’s taken over a mansion just outside town."

A mix of relief and apprehension washed over Adrian. They had a location, but what would they face when they got there?

Zev continued, his voice tense. "We can lead you there in the morning, but be prepared for a tough fight. The magic surrounding that place… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe this much power exists in this world."

Knox stepped forward. "Thank you for the intel," he said. "You both did well. Caelen will fall tomorrow."

Adrian’s attention snapped to Knox. How could he be so confident?

Zev voiced Adrian’s thoughts. "How can you be so sure? What’s your plan?"

Knox’s eyes flickered to Adrian for a moment before he addressed Zev. "That’s a matter between Adrian and me." He reached out, taking Adrian’s hand. "If you’ll excuse us."

Chapter

Nineteen

Before Adrian could process what was happening, Knox was leading him toward his bedroom. Adrian’s pulse sped up, anticipation and nervousness flooding through him as they left the others behind.

As they entered his room, Adrian had a thousand questions on his mind. What plan did Knox have? And why did it involve only him?

"Close your eyes," Knox said softly.

Adrian hesitated for a moment, then complied, letting his eyelids flutter shut. He felt a sudden shift in the air around him, a tingling sensation that danced across his skin. When Knox gently instructed him to open his eyes again, Adrian knew they were in a dream.

They were still in his bedroom, but it was… different. The edges of everything seemed softer, blurred as if in a dream. Warm light filtered through the window, bathing everything in a golden glow. Adrian’s gaze drifted upward. His skylight was intact, no sign of the damage from Knox’s dramatic entrance.

"No one can see or hear us now," Knox said. "It’s only you and me."

Adrian swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. "What are you going to do?"

Knox stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His eyes never left Adrian’s as he spoke. "I’m going to show you exactly why you’re worth protecting."