Jace – First Person POV
The buzz of my phone jolted me out of half-focus. I slid it out under the desk, shielding the screen from the teacher’s eyes. One new message lit up the display.
Father: I’m waiting at the school gate. Come.
My stomach dropped. He never texted like that unless it was serious.
I slipped out the moment the bell rang, heart thudding faster with every step down the hallway. Students brushed past me in waves, laughter echoing off the walls, but it all sounded distant. When I pushed open the academy’s front doors, the sight waiting for me was impossible to miss.
A sleek black car sat idling at the gate, polished so clean it reflected the afternoon sunlight like a blade.
The back window rolled down just enough for me to catch the unmistakable silhouette inside.
“Get
