Page 2 of Knox
"That’s why I’m offering to introduce you to Mrs. Peterson’s grandson," Evelyn insisted. "He’s single, successful, and enjoys long walks on the beach. What more could you ask for?"
"A decent Wi-Fi connection and a shared aversion to reality TV?" Adrian muttered under his breath, reaching for his laptop.
"What was that, dear?"
"Nothing, Grandma. I’m going to go back to my room and get some work done. Thanks again for the cookies."
He quickly gathered his laptop and the plate of cookies. He’d never say no to his grandmother’s baking, but before she could launch into another matchmaking campaign, he escaped to the sanctuary of his bedroom.
Safe in his room, surrounded by posters of characters fromMonsters of Veridia, Adrian let out a sigh of relief. He loved hisgrandmother, he really did, but her relentless attempts to pair him off with anyone who had a pulse were exhausting.
He opened his laptop and navigated to his favorite online forum, "The Book Nook," where a lively discussion about the latest chapter ofMonsters of Veridiawas already underway.
Anyone else think Knox is making a HUGE mistake going to the Shadow Court?,he typed, hitting enter.This is SO going to end badly.
Within seconds, replies started popping up.
OMG, I know, right?, Daniel, username BookBoyfriendLover69, posted.But maybe it’ll be a good kind of badly? Like, enemies-to-lovers tension with the Shadow King?
You just got a hard-on for the Shadow King,another friend, LiteraryLion, chimed in.What’s it with you always loving the villains?
Adrian smiled and typed out a quick reply, already feeling a little better. This was his favorite site on the internet—aside from his own blog. His safe space.
He typed:Knox and the Shadow King would be HOT together, but I swear if that incubus wasn’t the main character he’d get himself killed and then I’d be left with a broken heart and an unhealthy collection of badly written fanfiction.
As he hit enter, a loud clap of thunder shook the house, making him jump.
The lights flickered, plunging the room into momentary darkness. Adrian swore under his breath. Great. Just what he needed—a power outage on top of everything else.
He glanced at the storm raging outside his window. The wind was howling like a banshee, rain was lashing against the glass and making it difficult to see even the buildings across the street.
Maybe it was time for a little escapism.
Adrian openedMonsters of Veridiaand scrolled back to a scene from an earlier chapter, one he’d reread countless times, seeking comfort in its familiarity. It was the scene where Knox, after weeks of chase, finally confronted Lord Silas, a cruel and ancient vampire known for his ruthlessness.
Adrian could practically recite the words from memory, but he still felt a thrill course through him as he reread the description of Knox unleashing his powers—his eyes turning molten gold, shadows gathering around him like a living cloak, and two ebony horns, sleek and sharp, erupting from his forehead, revealing him as the demon he was.
"Lord Silas sneered, baring fangs that glinted like shards of obsidian in the flickering candlelight. ‘You think you can threaten me, incubus? This court is mine. You are nothing but a stray dog sniffing at my heels.’
Knox’s smile was slow, predatory, the curve of his lips dangerous. ‘You haven’t learned, have you, Silas? Power isn’t about lineage or titles. It’s about knowing how to take what you want.’
Silas lunged, a blur of motion, but Knox was faster. He caught the vampire lord by the throat, the grip of his hand inhumanly strong. Silas struggled, his eyes widening with a mix of rage and fear as Knox leaned in close, his breath warm against his cheek.
‘Let’s see how long your arrogance lasts,’ Knox whispered, his voice a silken thread woven with dark magic, ‘when I make you beg for it.’"
Adrian shivered, his skin prickling with a strange combination of fear and fascination. It was just a story, he reminded himself, a fictional scene crafted to thrill readers. Yet, he couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to be on the receiving end of that kind of power, to be consumed by primal desire like that.
He snapped the laptop shut, a blush warming his cheeks. This was ridiculous. He was a grown man, not a teenager with a crush on a fictional demon.
Another clap of thunder, closer this time, shook the house, the lights flickering once more. Maybe it was time to unplug everything and try to get some sleep.
But as he reached for the power cord, the world seemed to tilt beneath his feet. The walls groaned, the windows rattled, and the sound of shattering glass echoed through the apartment.
He whirled around, his heart pounding in his chest, just in time to see a figure come crashing through his skylight, landing in a heap amidst a shower of broken glass and rain.
Adrian stared, his mouth agape, his mind struggling to comprehend what his eyes were seeing. It couldn’t be…
But there he was, lying on the floor of his bedroom, soaked to the bone, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, his clothes ripped and mud-stained. Even in the dim light, Adrian recognized the sharp angles of his face, the lean, muscled frame, the pointed ears, the ebony horns.
