Page 88 of Knox

Caelen’s gaze swept over them, lingering on Adrian for a moment too long. A smirk played at the corners of his mouth.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Caelen said, spreading his arms in a mocking gesture of hospitality. "I’ve been expecting you."

"Where’s Daniel?" Adrian blurted out, surprising himself with his own boldness.

Caelen’s smirk widened. "Ah, yes. Your friend. He’s been quite… entertaining."

Adrian’s stomach churned at the implication in Caelen’s tone. Knox took a step forward, placing himself between Adrian and the Shadow King.

"This ends now, Caelen," Knox growled. "You’re not getting away from us this time."

Caelen laughed. "Why would I try to get away from you when you’ve delivered yourself right into my trap?" Caelen looked at Adrian, and Adrian felt the weight of his gaze like a physical thing. He wanted to shrink away, to hide, but he forced himself to stand tall. He wouldn’t let this monster intimidate him.

Knox’s eyes narrowed, shadows dancing at his fingertips. "Where does your power come from, Caelen?"

Caelen focused his attention back on Knox. "Now, why would I tell you?"

"I suppose I don’t have to know," Knox said. "All I have to do is stop you." He lunged forward, the shadows at his command surging toward Caelen. The two clashed in a whirlwind of dark energy that seemed to take up most of the space.

Adrian scrambled backward not to be caught up in it.

Knox had grown exceedingly powerful—but so had Caelen, and the Shadow King fought with a ferocity that was terrifying. His shadows lashed out like whips, striking at Knox with blinding speed.

Knox deflected each blow, his own shadows forming a shield around him, but Adrian could see the strain on his face. Caelen was relentless, his attacks coming faster and harder with each passing second.

For a moment, Adrian feared that Knox would be overwhelmed.

Through their bond, he could feel the incubus’s frustration, how hard he was drawing on his magic, drawing on Adrian too.

Adrian didn’t resist the pull; he wanted to give Knox everything he had.

Something shifted. Knox’s eyes began to glow, the golden light cutting through the darkness. His shadows seemed to grow, expanding and solidifying until they were like a physical force. With a roar, Knox pushed back against Caelen’s onslaught, his shadows slamming into the Shadow King and knocking him back.

Caelen stumbled. He tried to rally, to summon more shadows to his defense, but Knox’s magic was binding his arms to his sides and his legs together.

The smirk faded from Caelen’s face, replaced by a look of cold anger.

"You think this measly power of yours can defeat me?" he spat, his eyes darting between Knox and Adrian. "I know where you got this newfound strength from."

Knox tightened his grip, his gaze hardening. "I’ll never let you hurt him."

"Oh, but I don’t have to," Caelen replied.

Before Adrian could question the meaning behind his words, a door creaked open behind them.

Adrian’s breath caught in his throat as Grant stepped through the door.

How…?

What…?

Had Caelen kidnapped Grant? Was he brainwashed, or worse, had he willingly become one of the Shadow King’s followers?

"Hi, Adrian," Grant said casually.

Adrian ignored him, his eyes fixed on Caelen. "What did you do to him?"

Caelen smirked. "Isn’t it more important to talk about what Grant did to you? Oh yes, I know all about that. Oh, the betrayal."