Page 96 of Knox
The world dissolved into a blur of colors and nausea, and then Knox was slammed onto hard ground, the breath knocked out of him. He lay there for a moment, gasping, his bruised and battered body screaming in protest. Every muscle ached; every bone felt out of place. He was vaguely aware of Caelen landing nearby with a pained grunt.
"Well, this is just delightful," Caelen's voice rasped, thick with sarcasm. "Stuck with you in the middle of nowhere."
Knox pushed himself up, wincing. He looked around. They seemed to be in a dense forest, towering trees blocking out most of the light. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves—and magic.
He was back in Veridia.
Home.
The thought did not fill him with joy.
Caelen laughed, standing. "Oh, how I love that sad look on your face."
Knox pushed himself up, ignoring the throbbing in his shoulder. "Shut your mouth," he growled, though the words lacked force. He felt utterly drained, his magic a mere flicker compared to its usual strength.
"Why would I?" Caelen smiled. "You can’t make me. This is your punishment for your crimes against me and my family."
Knox’s gaze narrowed. In a sense, Caelen was right. He’d brought this on himself. He’d served the wrong masters for too long, and now he had to deal with the consequences of his actions.
But they were too harsh.
His mate would disagree with all of this.
"Embrace your fate, great warrior of the Night Court," Caelen taunted, because that was what Caelen did; he found an open wound and kept digging his fingers into it. The only joy the Shadow King knew came from watching others suffer the way he did, as if he could halve his pain by sharing it. He sneered. "You’ll never see your precious Adrian again."
The mention of Adrian's name was like a punch to the gut. Knox staggered back, a surge of rage rising within him. No. He wouldn't accept this. He wouldn't let Caelen win.
He lunged at the Shadow King, a snarl ripping from his throat. Caelen, caught off guard, stumbled back. They grappled, their bodies colliding, a tangle of limbs and fury. But the fight was short-lived. Both were exhausted, their magic depleted. They landed in a heap on the forest floor, breathing heavily.
Knox lay there, staring up at the canopy of leaves. He had to get back to Adrian. He had to.
And then he felt it. Faint, almost imperceptible, but undeniably there—the bond with Adrian. It shouldn't be possible. He was in a different world, cut off from his mate. Yet, the connection remained, a fragile thread of warmth in the overwhelming despair.
Adrian.
Hope surged through him. He wasn't alone. He wasn't defeated. He would find a way back. He had to. For Adrian, and for himself. He deserved that much.
He turned to Caelen. "Where did you find the magic that opened the portals?"
Caelen laughed again. "In that other world."
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Much later that day, Adrian stepped through the front door of his grandmother’s apartment, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. The events of the day—the battle, Knox’s disappearance, rescuing Daniel and Malik—had left him drained, both physically and emotionally.
Evelyn sprang up from the couch as soon as they entered while Leon, with his injured leg, remained on the couch. Adrian noticed the worry lines etched on his grandmother’s face, the tightness around Leon’s eyes.
"Thank goodness you’re all right," Evelyn breathed, pulling Adrian into a quick hug before stepping back to assess the group.
Leon’s gaze darted between them, his brow furrowing. "Where are Zev and Knox?"
The question hit Adrian like a punch to the gut. He swallowed hard, fighting to keep his voice steady. "Zev’s still at the hospital. There was someone who needed help, a guy named Malik. He’s staying with him for now."
Adrian paused, the words sticking in his throat. He could feel Daniel and Lyrian’s eyes on him, their silent support doing little to ease the ache in his chest.
"And Knox?" Leon pressed.
