Chapter 2

*Two Years Later*

Five minutes. 

He had five minutes to get to the East Gate, and he’ll bid the godforsaken academy goodbye. 

For two years, Cole had been stuck here. For two years, he had wanted nothing but to get the hell out. 

And finally, after months of trying, he would be free. 

The witch, Genevieve, was a hard shell to crack. She was the one who brought him here, and Cole was sure to make her life a living hell because of it. But, a year ago, she promised that if he could leave her alone for twelve months, she'd arrange for him to go. 

Of course, it hasn’t been easy. Cole was called the Prince of Darkness for a reason. Everyone here feared him, or at least respected him, even the headmistress. So, going all this time without poking fun at Genevieve was hard, but hell, it was worth it. 

He rechecked his watch, which showed him that he had four minutes to go. He could make it. He had to. 

Unici Academy for Supernaturals wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t the place for Cole. He was dark, powerful and the only Phoenix in the entire school. There was no way he belonged here. But Genevieve, that damn witch—she was hell-bent on keeping him here, telling him nothing but it was ‘her duty.’ 

But her duty can kiss his ass. 

He was busting out of here. And he was sure as hell going to enjoy squeezing her neck while he did.

That, obviously, wasn’t part of the deal. But did she really expect that he’d just leave quietly after all this time and not get one last chance to cause some real damage? Hell no. She deserved it, and he was going to ensure she felt his wrath. 

Three minutes. 

Of course, he could’ve easily dashed through the school like a maniac with his supernatural speed. But, someone was bound to notice if he did. So, he moved at a collected pace but still fast enough to ensure he wouldn’t miss his chance. 

Today was also the perfect day for him to slip out unnoticed. The new supernaturals were coming in, so there was much more in and out traffic than usual. It happens every year. So, the barriers wouldn’t make any alerting vibrations when Genevieve set him free. 

It was all perfect. And it was finally going to happen. 

Cole’s strides became longer as he moved towards his goal. Finally, the gate was in sight, and he knew he could be there with a minute to spear if he kept his pace. 

But then something—or someone, rather—bumped into him. A tiny squealing sound came from her, and her grip on his shirt was iron to keep herself from falling. 

Her books crashed to the ground, and her phone skidded across the grass, crashing into a tree. 

“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry,” she mumbled, and Cole no longer noticed anything around him. 

He no longer remembered his goal two seconds ago. All he could see and hear was… her. 

If it was anyone else who bumped into him like this—even the headmistress herself, Cole knew damn well they would have seen his wrath. They wouldn’t even want to show their faces in this academy again. 

But this girl—whoever she was—all she did was talk, and she had him paralysed both by the mind and by his body. 

She stepped away from him and ran to collect her phone, which was now in pieces. She had yet to look at him, but he saw all of her. 

It felt like he knew her—like his entire purpose of living was in this small person right in front of him. Yet, he knew had never met her in his life. 

He watched her movements. So gracious and delicate, as if she didn’t want to hurt the grass. A frown lingered on her lips as she examined her phone, and Cole gathered the books she had dropped when she bumped into him. 

Her name was scribbled on the front in dainty handwriting. Syanna. 

Syanna. 

It rang in his mind like a familiar song and caused his body to move with tingles he had never felt before. 

Gosh. What was this? What was this thing he was feeling for this girl he didn’t even know?

“It’s okay, I guess. I’m sorry for bumping into you like that—” But she stopped as she looked at him for the first time, and her eyes lit with something like realisation as the phone slipped from her hands again. 

Her fingers trembled as they rose to cover her mouth, and if Cole didn’t know better, he thought she might cry. 

But all she did was stare at him for an entire minute until her face fell in…hurt? 

Why would she be hurt? 

“I’m Syanna,” she said, sounding slightly out of context as if she were testing him. She watched him a bit longer and pulled her dark, long hair from her face up into a high messy ponytail. 

She stared at him for a bit longer, and Cole had no idea why he didn’t say anything. But then her face fell in defeat, and she released her hair, allowing it to fall over her shoulders again in voluminous curls. 

“Sorry.” She cleared her throat and avoided his eyes at all costs. “You seemed like you were in a rush to be somewhere, and I needed to find my roommate. I’m sorry, I don’t need to tell you anything. Sorry.” 

“Why are you apologising so much?” Cole asked, finally somehow finding his voice. 

Syanna shrugged, still not meeting his eyes. “I need to go.” And then, she did. 

She retrieved her books from him and grabbed her phone before moving down the path like fire was on her heels. 

Cole watched her in confusion. He was confused about how she affected him so much and why her demeanour suddenly changed when she looked at him. 

Syanna. 

How could one girl do so much to him in three minutes? 

And then it hit him. Three minutes! 

Shit. 

Without even thinking, he dashed towards the East Gate with supernatural speed, arriving in a split second. But as he suspected, he was too late. Genevieve, along with the portal, was gone, leaving him once again trapped here. 

And if he knew Genevieve, she wouldn’t give him another chance to leave, at least for another year. She wouldn’t risk it, and she’d tell him specifically that it was his fault that he was late. 

“Fuck!” he shouted, slamming his fist against the gate. The twigs and vines on the gate shrivelled and turned black, falling to the ground along with the other dead leaves he had unintentionally burned. 

He closed his eyes, trying to compose himself so he didn’t set the damn school on fire. But he was angry. Gosh, he was angry. 

He was mad at himself for missing this one chance. Mad at Genevieve for being so damn specific about time. 

But most of all, he was livid with HER—with her mesmerising eyes and enchanting voice. What had Syanna done to him to make him miss this one chance? And now, he was yet again stuck here. 

Stuck at this academy all because of her.