Shadowed desires- Adrian thorn

Chapter 40: Shadows Among the stars

The room was filled with soft whispers of their breath, tangled in the serenity of the night sky above. Adrian and Eva lay on the massive bed, gazing up through the glass ceiling that revealed a blanket of stars. The moonlight spilled through the crystal-clear panes, illuminating their bare skin as they gently played with each other's bodies.

Eva traced the outline of Adrian's chest, her fingers teasing the rigid muscles beneath her touch. "This is perfect," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet night. "Just you, me, and the stars."

Adrian smirked, his hand sliding down the curve of her waist. "Perfect doesn't even begin to describe it," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her neck softly, sending shivers down her spine.

They were wrapped in the silence, the world outside forgotten, when suddenly, Adrian's phone buzzed on the nightstand, shattering the peacefulness. The sound was urgent—a loud emergency alarm blaring through the device.

Adrian's body tensed immediately, and Eva noticed the shift. He grabbed the phone, his eyes narrowing as he read the message.

Before he could process it, the door to their room flew open, and Greg stormed in, his face pale with fear.

"Adrian!" Greg's voice cracked with panic. "We're under attack!"

Eva sat up, clutching the sheets around her. "What? Here? In the palace?"

Adrian's jaw clenched as he jumped out of bed, pulling on his pants in one swift motion. "How the hell could they even get close? This place is impenetrable."

Greg swallowed hard, his eyes wide. "It's not a physical attack—at least, not at first. They've hacked into our systems, Adrian. All of our online security has been compromised. The firewalls, the cameras, everything. Systems are failing all over the estate."

Adrian's eyes darkened, fury simmering just beneath the surface. He cursed under his breath and turned to Eva. "This is bad. Really bad."

Eva stood, quickly pulling on a robe. "Who's doing this?"

Adrian didn't answer right away. He was piecing it together, his mind racing through the possibilities. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "It's Wolfe. He's after the crystal. All of this—the war, the attacks—it's because of that technology your father and my father were a part of. Wolfe's father was one of the scientists on that project, but his vision was twisted. He wanted to use the technology to take over the world, to conquer everything."

Eva's breath hitched as she listened, her heart pounding. "And Wolfe wants to finish what his father started?"

Adrian nodded. "Yes. But my father and yours stopped him. Wolfe's father died in an explosion trying to steal the crystal. That's why Wolfe's been after me for so long. He wants that technology, and he'll stop at nothing to get it."

Eva's heart raced. She had known bits and pieces of this, but hearing the full story—how deeply they were entangled in this war—made her realize just how dangerous things had become.

Adrian's phone buzzed again. This time, his men were reporting attacks at the perimeter of the estate. "Damn it!" Adrian growled, his fists tightening. He turned to Eva, his expression fierce but protective. "Eva, I need you to take Mia and the crystal. Get to the helicopter on the rooftop and get out of the city. I'll handle this."

Eva's heart ached at the thought of leaving him, but she knew he was right—this was a war, and she and Mia were vulnerable here. She opened her mouth to argue but stopped when she saw the desperation in Adrian's eyes. He didn't want her to leave, but he needed her safe.

"No," Eva said firmly. "I'll send Mia and the crystal, but I'm staying with you. I'm not leaving your side. Not now. Not ever."

Adrian's eyes flickered with frustration, but there was a deep appreciation and love in his gaze as well. "Eva—"

"I'm not going anywhere, Adrian," she said softly but with conviction. "We face this together."

Adrian exhaled, nodding. There was no time to argue further.

The Attack Begins

Minutes later, Mia had been whisked away to the rooftop, the crystal hidden in her possession, as the helicopter carried her to safety. Adrian, Eva, and Greg stood in the grand garden of the palace, the air thick with tension as Adrian's most elite men gathered.

Adrian stood before them, the moonlight casting an eerie glow across the grounds. His voice was calm but commanding as he addressed his men. "We've been compromised. Wolfe has broken through our defenses, and this is no ordinary attack. He's coming for the crystal, and he's sending everything he has."

The men shifted, their eyes flicking nervously between each other. This palace was a fortress, but the idea that it could be attacked so easily shook them.

Adrian's gaze swept over his team. "We will defend this estate with everything we have. But be prepared for anything. Wolfe has resources beyond our imagination, and if he's brought his elite force, we're in for a hell of a fight."

Eva stood beside him, her hand resting on the small of his back, silently lending him her strength. Adrian turned to her, his voice low. "This isn't just about the crystal anymore. Wolfe's been planning this for years. He's been waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and now, he thinks he has the upper hand."

"Then we'll take it back," Eva said fiercely.

Adrian smirked slightly, admiring her fire, but the moment was interrupted by the distant sound of footsteps. Black-clad figures emerged from the shadows—Wolfe's elite force of ninjas, their faces masked, moving swiftly through the darkness.

The attack had begun.

Adrian's men sprang into action, their guns blazing as they opened fire on the approaching enemies. But these weren't ordinary soldiers—these were trained killers, and they moved with precision, dodging bullets and slicing through Adrian's defenses like they were paper.

The palace grounds erupted into chaos. Adrian grabbed a gun with one hand and a sword with the other, his movements fluid as he sliced through the oncoming attackers. Blood sprayed into the air as he cut through them with the cold efficiency of a man who had been trained to kill.

Eva watched in awe, her heart pounding as Adrian fought like a man possessed. His strength was terrifying, and yet it was everything that had drawn her to him. He was unstoppable, a force of nature.

But even as Adrian tore through the enemies, more kept coming. The palace was being overrun, and it was clear that this wasn't just an ordinary attack. Wolfe had sent his best—his deadliest warriors—and they were relentless.

Eva grabbed a gun from the ground, firing at the nearest ninja who tried to sneak up on Adrian. The adrenaline coursed through her veins as she defended the man she loved, refusing to back down even as the battle intensified.

"Eva!" Adrian shouted, slicing through two more attackers with his sword. "Get inside! It's too dangerous!"

Eva shook her head, firing at another enemy. "I'm not leaving you!"

Just as the words left her mouth, a group of black-clad figures appeared on the rooftop, preparing to descend on them from above. Adrian's eyes widened in rage.

"I'll kill every last one of you!" he growled, his voice filled with a fury that Eva had never heard before.

He swung his sword in a deadly arc, slicing through the attackers like they were nothing more than shadows. But even as he fought, his mind raced with a single, terrifying thought: This is only the beginning.