Chapter 12 · The Rogue's Trial

"You’re shaking, kid. It’s pathetic," Elise whispered, her breath hot against the shell of my ear.

She had me pinned against the cold stone wall of the Academy’s outer courtyard, her forearm pressing firmly into my collarbone. The scent of ozone and expensive leather clung to her, a sharp contrast to the smell of grease and old copper that lived in my pores.

"I'm not shaking," I shot back, though my teeth were practically rattling. "It's called anticipation. Ever heard of it?"

Elise scoffed, her lips curving into a smirk that didn't reach her eyes. She leaned in closer, the fabric of her huntress uniform brushing against my chest. "Anticipation is for people who aren't about to get thrown in a dungeon for fraud. You're a rust-rat, Jax. A scavenger. You can't even cast a spark without that cursed gear in your chest doing the heavy lifting."

"Who says I'm not a Magus?" I grinned, though my heart was hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. "Maybe I'm just... understated."

"You're a liar," she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous low. She didn't move her arm. If anything, she pressed harder, forcing me to look up at her.