Page 57 of Knox
"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 sincethey’d bonded over their shared love ofMonsters of Veridiain 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. Thethought 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."
