Knox (Monsters of Veridia #1)

Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

Adrian’s stomach churned as the bus stopped in front of the convention center. The crowd they’d dealt with before they’d headed off had been annoying, but this was a whole other level. The Greenwood Convention Center wasn’t exactly small, and it was crawling with nerds, inside and out.

"This is where we get off," Adrian said, hating his choice of words as he gestured for Knox and the others to file out of the bus.

"None of these people have better things to do?" Zev asked, taking in the crowd in front of the building.

"Most of them probably took time off," Adrian explained. He’d never cosplayed himself, but as a regular con-goer he was familiar with the scene—and he’d certainly drooled over other people’s costumes enough to know what to expect. He took a deep breath and steeled himself. "I think the ticket gates are this way. Stick close to me."

Knox and the others followed him.

The line at the ticket gate stretched out like a serpent, and Adrian couldn’t help but feel like they were about to walk into the beast’s mouth.

He pulled out his phone, hoping to distract himself from the mounting anxiety. But as he scrolled through his social media feeds, his heart sank. Excited messages flooded his timeline, all talking about the same thing: Caelen was already inside, mingling with fans.

Adrian’s grip tightened on his phone. Caelen was scheduled to be on a panel in an hour, and they needed to confront him before that. If they didn’t… who knew what kind of magic the Shadow King might employ to manipulate a crowd of adoring fans?

The line moved forward, and before Adrian knew it, they were at the ticket gate. He handed over their passes, trying to ignore the curious looks the attendant gave Knox and the others.

They made it through, but as soon as they stepped into the main hall, chaos erupted.

"Oh my god, your costumes are amazing!" a girl squealed, rushing up to Lyrian. "Can I get a picture with you?"

"Me too!" another fan chimed in, already pulling out her phone.

Within seconds, they were swarmed. Fans pressed in from all sides, their eyes wide with excitement as they took in Knox, Lyrian, and Zev. Compliments flew through the air, mixed with pleas for photos.

Adrian tried to push through the crowd, but it was like swimming against a current. "Excuse me," he said, his voice drowned out by the chatter. "We need to get through."

No one listened. They were too focused on the trio, their hands reaching out to touch their costumes, faces flushed with excitement.

Adrian’s frustration mounted. They didn’t have time for this.

"Please, let us through!" he tried again, but his words were lost in the din.

Until finally, something inside him snapped.

"ENOUGH!" The word tore from Adrian’s throat, loud enough to cut through the noise. The fans fell silent, staring at him in shock.

Adrian’s chest heaved, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "We need to get through," he said, trying not to show how surprised he was by his own outburst. "Now."

"Whoa, dude," someone said just next to him. "I didn't know you could pull off such an alpha move."

Adrian whirled around to find himself face to face with a stranger—at least that was what he thought until he recognized Daniel. He'd seen pictures online but he'd never seen his friend in person before.

"Daniel?" Adrian blinked, his anger evaporating as quickly as it had arrived. He couldn’t believe it. "You’re… you’re here?"

Daniel grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "In the flesh! Did you really think I would miss all this?"

Adrian could only nod, still trying to process the fact that his online friend was standing right in front of him. He’d been talking to Daniel regularly for the past two years, ever since they’d bonded over their shared love of Monsters of Veridia in the comments section of Adrian’s blog.

Seeing him offline, though, was different.

"You’re shorter," Daniel commented. "But I’m loving the shirt." He gestured.

Adrian nodded vaguely. He hadn’t paid much attention when he was getting dressed that morning, but now he noticed he’d put on a black shirt with a slogan. It read: "Fantasy is my reality."

He’d bought it on a whim at a previous convention, and it felt ironically appropriate now.

"Thanks," Adrian mumbled, feeling a rush of awkwardness. "You look… colorful."

That was an understatement. Daniel’s hair was a riot of colors—blue, pink, and green—styled in messy waves that looked artfully chaotic. He wore a fitted crop top with "Love Wins" printed in glittery letters, showing off his lean frame. Skinny jeans hugged his legs, and he completed the look with rainbow suspenders and white sneakers. His whole ensemble screamed exuberance and unapologetic self-expression.

At Adrian’s comment, he struck a pose, hand on hip. "I know, right? I figured I’d go all out for the con."

Adrian nodded, feeling a little more at ease. "Makes sense. You definitely stand out."

Daniel laughed, the sound light and infectious. "That’s the idea!" He glanced around at the crowd still surrounding Knox, Lyrian, and Zev. "So, you’ve got the whole gang here, huh?" He gave a low whistle. "They look even hotter in real life." His gaze lingered on Knox, and Adrian felt a sudden surge of possessiveness. The thought of his friend flirting with Knox made something twist uncomfortably in his gut.

"Yes, they’re very hot," he said, voice tight.

"No need to give me that look." Daniel patted his shoulder. "I know the incubus is yours. Bros before book boyfriends, or something like that. Besides, you know I got a thing for bad boys."

Adrian suppressed a sigh. "Please tell me you didn’t come all this way to see Caelen."

"How does that surprise you? Really, Adrian, I’m hurt! It’s like you don’t know me at all!"

"I do know you, that’s why I’m worried."

"You worry too much. I promise I’m only going to drool from afar."

Adrian wasn’t sure he believed that, but he didn’t have the time to argue either. They needed to get going and find Caelen and put an end to him before hopeless idiots like Daniel could empower him.

Adrian was about to go and grab a hall plan when he saw something that made him freeze. There, close to the entrance to hall 1 stood someone who had absolutely no business being here.

His brother, Grant.

Adrian wanted to vanish into the crowd, but he’d already been spotted.

Fuck.

Grant was coming toward him, and he would be nothing but annoying, even more so if Knox and the others entered the conversation. "Be right back," Adrian said to Daniel, and then he turned and walked toward hall 2 as quickly as he could.

He knew he wasn’t going to shake his brother, but he could at least deal with him somewhere away from the center of insanity.

"Adrian! Wait!" Grant called.

Adrian ducked into hall 2 and stopped near a vendor booth selling dragon figurines. He spun around, catching his breath just as Grant reached him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Adrian demanded, voice sharp.

Seriously, Grant was the last person Adrian wanted to see today.

His brother raised his hands in mock surrender. "I live in this town, remember?"

Adrian’s jaw clenched. "I meant what are you doing at this convention? This isn’t your scene."

Grant sighed. He was two years younger than Adrian, but that moment, he looked older, weary. Adrian didn’t feel pity for him, though. If their meeting stressed him out, it wasn’t because of anything Adrian had done.

Grant had caused his stress for himself because ever since they were little, he always needed to have what Adrian had.

"I read on your blog that you were going to be here," Grant explained. "Thought maybe we could talk."

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "What made you think I want to talk to you? Did I not delete your emails quickly enough?"

Grant winced at the accusation. "Look, I know I’ve been an ass. But I wanted to make things right. I thought I could apologize."

Adrian didn’t want to hear it. His brother had been trying to apologize to him for months, but Adrian couldn’t bear to even think about what Grant had done.

"I never meant to hurt you," Grant said. "You’ve got to believe me. I wasn’t thinking."

Adrian looked away, biting his lower lip. "You didn’t meant to sleep with my boyfriend? You don’t mean to marry him now?"

Silence.

By the guilty look on his brother’s face, Adrian knew the wedding was still on. Of course it was.

Chris hadn’t just lost his mind for one night. He’d actively chosen Grant over Adrian.

Walking in on them had been the worst punch in the gut Adrian had ever experienced.

"It just happened," Grant said. "We didn’t mean for it to go this far. It was a mistake at first, but then…" he trailed off. Maybe he realized how stupid he was sounding.

Adrian’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. How was he supposed to handle this situation when he couldn’t look at Grant without being reminded of his own inadequacy? Obviously, Grant did not have all the issues Adrian had, or Chris would not have picked him.

His little brother was better than him, and Adrian hated him for it, hated himself too.

Grant spoke up again. "At least let Grandma come to the wedding."

Adrian shook his head. He hadn’t told their grandmother not to attend. That was a decision Evelyn had made all by herself. "If I went, I’d tell everyone what he did," she’d said. Adrian didn’t want that.

He wouldn’t survive the shame of everyone finding out that he’d been left for his little brother.

Grant opened his mouth again and Adrian braced himself for being pressed again—but then Daniel suddenly sauntered up to him, slinging an arm around Adrian’s shoulder. "There you are, darling! Your super hot boyfriend is looking for you. He seems quite lost without you."

Adrian blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by Daniel’s sudden appearance and the mention of his "boyfriend."

Grant frowned, looking between them. "Boyfriend? What boyfriend?"

Daniel looked at Grant with a mischievous glint. "Oh, haven’t you heard? Our dear Adrian has snagged himself quite the catch. Tall, dark, and absolutely delicious." He licked his lips for emphasis.

Grant’s eyes widened, then narrowed at Adrian. "Who are you seeing?" he demanded.

"Someone much hotter than the douche you stole from him," Daniel said smoothly.

Grant’s face reddened. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Daniel’s tone was light, but there was an edge to it. "Now, why don’t you run along and leave Adrian alone? He’s got more important things to do than listen to your pathetic attempts at an apology."

Grant opened his mouth, then closed it again, apparently at a loss for words. He shot Adrian one last pleading look, but Adrian shook his head.

"Just leave."

For a moment, Grant looked like he might argue. But then, with a frustrated huff, he turned on his heel and stalked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Adrian blew out a breath. "Thanks," he mumbled, glancing at Daniel. "For the rescue."

Daniel squeezed his shoulders again before letting go. "Anytime. That’s what friends are for." He cocked his head, studying Adrian with a hint of concern. "You okay?"

Adrian nodded, even though he felt far from okay. The encounter with Grant had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. But he couldn’t dwell on that now. They had a mission, and he needed to focus.

"I will be," he said, squaring his shoulders. "Once we stop Caelen."

Daniel’s expression turned serious. "Right. The evil hottie." He glanced around, as if expecting the Shadow King to materialize out of thin air. "So what’s the plan? How do we take him down?"

Adrian took a deep breath. "First," he said, "we need to find Knox and the others."

"That shouldn’t be difficult."

Adrian frowned, wondering what Daniel meant by his comment. But before he could ask, Daniel was already tugging him back toward the entrance hall.

As they approached, the reason for Daniel’s confidence became clear. A small crowd had formed around Knox, Zev, and Lyrian, their excited chatter filling the air. Fans pressed in from all sides, their phones out as they snapped pictures and asked questions about the fabrics of their costumes.

"They’re like rock stars," Daniel said. "You’re so lucky Knox crashed into your house."

Adrian could only nod, his mouth dry. He had been lucky, hadn’t he?

He’d been in the right place at the right time; surely that was why Knox had picked him.

But now was not the time to contemplate that.

How was he going to cut through the crowd to get to the incubus?

As if in answer to his unspoken question, Lyrian suddenly stepped forward. He raised his hands, and the crowd fell silent, their eyes locked on him in rapt attention.

And then he began to sing.

His voice was pure magic, the melody washing over the crowd like a gentle wave. People swayed in place, their faces slack with wonder as they listened.

Adrian felt it too, the pull of Lyrian’s song. It was like being wrapped in a warm blanket, all his worries and fears melting away.

He barely even noticed Knox and Zev slipping away from the crowd, moving toward him and Daniel at the edge of the hall, barely even noticed Knox taking his arm and pulling him away from the entrance hall and the singing.

When the spell finally broke, Adrian had no idea how he got to hall 3.

"That was…" Daniel trailed off, blinking rapidly. "Intense." He stood next to Adrian, a loopy smile on his face.

"Yeah." Adrian’s voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "He’s mesmerizing."

"Lyrian’s magic is fairly potent," Knox said. "But you don’t have to be too enchanted."

Zev shot Knox a look. "Jealous?"

Knox turned to the night fae. "Don’t be silly."

Zev smiled—an expression that quickly faded when Daniel stepped into his personal bubble and did his best to pop it.

"Wow," Daniel breathed, leaning close. "Your eyes really are violet. Wild. "

The night fae’s beautiful eyes narrowed. "I don’t believe we’ve been introduced, human."

Adrian could only watch as Daniel grinned up at Zev, seemingly oblivious to the night fae’s irritation.

"I’m Daniel," he said brightly. "But you can call me puppy."

Zev stiffened, and Adrian cringed inwardly. Puppy had been Zev’s nickname for his ex—who’d been a wolf-shifter. Their relationship had ended in tragedy. "You’re not a puppy," Zev said sharply, "you’re a sparkling nuisance."

Adrian watched in horror as Daniel’s grin faltered for the briefest moment before his resilient spirit kicked back in. "Sparkling nuisance, huh? Yeah, I can see how that suits me."

Zev’s eyes narrowed further, but before he could say anything else, Knox stepped in. "That’s enough, Zev. Daniel’s Adrian’s friend."

While the incubus spoke, Adrian pulled Daniel away from the night fae.

"Let’s focus," Knox continued, addressing all of them. "We need to find Caelen before he gathers more power."

Adrian nodded, trying to get his mind back on task. "Right. The con’s massive. Any ideas on where to start?"

"Let me just check." Daniel pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Here we go." Daniel’s thumbs flew over his phone screen, eyes darting as he scrolled through posts and tweets. "Got it," he said, snapping his head up. "Caelen’s in hall 1, chatting with fans."

Adrian’s stomach churned. "Are you sure?"

"Yup," Daniel confirmed. "We better move."

They threaded their way through the throng of cosplayers and enthusiasts, Knox leading with a determined stride. The air buzzed with excitement and chatter, but Adrian’s focus narrowed to the growing tension in his chest.

Knox glanced back at him. He reached out, taking Adrian’s hand in his. "Everything will be fine," he promised.

Adrian squeezed Knox’s hand, drawing strength from the warmth of his grip. "You can beat him?"

Knox’s eyes flickered with determination. "I can. But I need you to do something for me."

"What’s that?"

"When we get there, I need you to hide in the crowd."

Adrian frowned. "Why?"

Knox’s gaze bore into his. "Because I need you to be safe. If anything goes wrong, I can’t risk you getting hurt."

Adrian’s heart clenched at the concern in Knox’s voice. "But I want to help."

"You are helping," Knox insisted, his grip tightening slightly. "You’ve helped me so much already, but if Caelen spots you, you could become a weak point."

Adrian wanted to protest, but Knox’s words shut him up.

He could be a weak point?

Did Knox really care that much about him?

Before Adrian could respond, Daniel grabbed his free arm. "I’ll keep an eye on him," he promised Knox. "You go be a bad-ass."

"Thank you," Knox said.

Just like that, the matter seemed settled.

As they entered hall 1, Knox’s hand slipped from Adrian’s as the incubus scanned the crowd.

"There," Zev said, pointing toward the far end of the hall.

Adrian followed his gaze and froze when he spotted Caelen. The Shadow King stood surrounded by a throng of admirers, smiling, chatting easily with the fans, but there was a predatory edge to his charm that Adrian would never be able to ignore.

Knox’s jaw tightened. "Stay here," he said to Adrian, not taking his eyes off Caelen. "Daniel, keep him safe."

Daniel nodded, his usual playfulness replaced by a serious determination. He tugged Adrian back, positioning them behind a booth selling fantasy art prints.

Adrian watched, heart in his throat, as Knox and Zev approached Caelen.

The Shadow King looked up, his smile turning sharp as his gaze landed on Knox. "Well, well," he said, his voice carrying easily. "Look who decided to join the party."

Knox didn’t flinch. "This ends now, Caelen."

The Shadow King laughed, the sound sending chills down Adrian’s spine. "Oh, I don’t think so," he said, spreading his arms wide. "I’m just getting started."

Caelen’s gaze swept over his admirers, a wicked smile playing at his lips. "My loyal subjects," he said, "these intruders seek to disrupt our glorious ascension. We cannot allow that, can we?"

A murmur rippled through the crowd, a mix of confusion and growing agitation. Adrian watched in horror as Caelen’s followers began to move, their eyes glazing over.

"Stop them," Caelen commanded, pointing at Knox and Zev. "Stop the unbelievers."

As if a switch had been flipped, the crowd surged forward, hands outstretched to grab at the incubus and night fae. Knox and Zev dodged the assaults, but they were vastly outnumbered.

Soon, Knox was grappling with a burly man in a dragon costume, while Zev was trying to fend off women with long fake nails that dug into his arm.

"We have to do something," Adrian whispered urgently, turning to Daniel. "They’re going to be overwhelmed!"

"No, look." Daniel pointed at Knox.

Knox’s eyes blazed molten gold. Shadows began to swirl around him, dark tendrils coiling and writhing like living entities.

The air seemed to thicken, charged with a palpable energy that made the hairs on the back of Adrian’s neck stand up.

"Stay back," Knox commanded, his voice resonating with an authority that was impossible to ignore.

And then, the illusion took hold.

The floor around Knox seemed to shimmer and distort, transforming into a red, bubbling landscape. It was as if the ground itself had turned to lava, the heat radiating off it in waves. The attackers' eyes widened in terror, their fear palpable as they recoiled from the perceived danger.

Cries of panic erupted from the crowd as they stumbled back, their aggression forgotten in the face of what they believed to be a deadly threat.

Adrian watched in awe, his breath catching in his throat. The sheer power of Knox’s magic was breathtaking, the illusion so convincing that even he could almost feel the heat of the imagined lava.

Zev took advantage of the momentary reprieve, slipping free from his attackers and moving to stand beside Knox. The night fae’s eyes gleamed with approval as he glanced at the incubus.

"Pretty hot," he said.

"Not nearly hot enough," Caelen claimed. "I have too much magic here for your little parlor tricks to stop me."

He raised his hands, shadows swirling around his fingers as he gathered his power. For a split second, Knox’s gaze flicked to Adrian, and Adrian understood immediately. Knox wanted him to seek shelter, to get out of the line of fire. He grabbed Daniel’s arm, tugging him back.

Daniel didn’t argue, and together they dived underneath a table laden with collectibles, pressing close to each other in the cramped space.

From their hiding spot, Adrian could see Caelen and Knox squaring off, the Shadow King’s face twisted in a malicious grin.

"You’ve been a thorn in my side for long enough." Caelen thrust his hands forward, a blast of dark energy surging toward Knox and Zev.

Knox reacted instantly, throwing up a shield of shadows that absorbed the brunt of the attack. But the force of it still sent him staggering back, his face contorted in effort.

Zev leapt forward, his sword materializing in his hand as he slashed at Caelen. The Shadow King dodged, his movements fluid and almost lazy as he evaded the night fae’s attacks.

Under the table, Adrian gripped Daniel’s hand tightly, his heart in his throat as he watched the battle unfold.

"Together," Knox called to Zev.

The night fae nodded, and in the next instant, they launched their attack. Knox’s shadows surged forward like living entities, while Zev moved with the speed and grace of a predator, his sword a blur of motion.

Caelen’s smile widened, and he met their assault head-on. Darkness clashed with darkness, shadows colliding in a spectacular display of raw power. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the hall, causing people to yell and run—and film with their smartphones.

Knox and Zev fought with a fluid, practiced synergy, their attacks complementing each other perfectly. Knox’s shadows twisted around Caelen and struck, creating openings that Zev exploited with lethal precision. But Caelen was no easy foe. He countered their every move and slipped their grasp as if he were made of shadow himself.

The way he fought was relentless. He laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Adrian’s spine, and pressed his advantage. For a moment, it seemed as if he might overwhelm them.

Then, with a sudden, decisive move, Knox broke through Caelen’s defenses. Shadows surged forward, wrapping around Caelen like a vice. Zev’s sword found its mark, slicing through Caelen’s defenses and drawing a cry of pain from the villain.

Caelen staggered, his smile faltering for the first time. He looked at Knox, his eyes narrowing. "This is impossible! Where do you draw your magic from, incubus?"

Knox’s expression was cold. "I’ll never tell you."

One of Caelen’s shadows snaked out, faster than Adrian could follow, and brushed against Knox’s arm. Knox flinched back, but Caelen had already gotten the information he needed; his gaze snapped to Adrian and Daniel.

"No," Adrian whispered, feeling his blood run cold.

Knox growled. "You had better keep your eyes focused on me ."

Caelen turned back to Knox. "Jealous?"

Adrian’s hands tightened around Daniel’s, the pressure grounding him amidst the chaos. He wanted to shout, to do something, but his fear held him in place. He could feel the weight of Caelen’s malevolent energy, the dark power that seemed to seep into the very air around them.

"Adrian," Daniel whispered urgently, pulling him closer. "We need to move. If he comes for us?—"

But Adrian couldn’t tear his eyes away from the confrontation.

Knox’s shadows still held Caelen. Surely there was nothing the villain could do now.

Adrian’s heart seized as Knox moved in for the kill, magic swirling around his hands. This was it. The moment they won.

But before Knox could strike, a sudden commotion drew everyone’s attention. Adrian felt a rush of cold air as Daniel was yanked away from him, pulled out from under the table.

Adrian scrambled out after them, his eyes widening in horror.

A burly man with vacant eyes held a knife to Daniel’s throat. Daniel’s eyes were wide with fear as he stood frozen.

"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?