Chapter 11 · Rust and Secrets

"Put it on the table. Now," Silas Boone barked, his voice sounding like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

Jax didn't move. He kept his hand clamped over the dead star-core, feeling the cold metal seep through his calloused palm. He could feel Elise behind him, her presence a constant, suffocating pressure. The curse was humming—a low, vibrating itch under his skin that told him she was barely three feet away.

"I'm not just handing it over," Jax said, glancing back at her. "We don't even know what this thing does. For all we know, it'll blow the roof off the shop."

Elise stepped closer, her boots clicking sharply on the grease-stained floor. She didn't look at Jax; she looked at the core. Her eyes were narrowed, sharp and predatory. "It's not going to blow up, kid. But if you keep clutching it like a security blanket, I might actually lose my patience. And you really don't want to see what happens when I lose my patience."

Jax smirked, though his heart was hammering against his ribs. "Threats? Really? We're practically soulmates now, Elise. Let's try some trust."

"We are not soulmates," she snapped, her voice dropping an octave.