Chapter 13 · Exam Room Chaos

"Hands on the conduit, Renner. Now," the examiner snapped.

Jax didn't move. He couldn't. He was too busy trying not to suffocate. Beside him, Elise was practically vibrating, her shoulder brushing his with every shallow breath she took. The distance between them was barely two inches, and the living gear in Jax’s chest was humming a low, warning frequency that made his teeth ache.

"Is there a problem?" the man asked. He was a lean, vulture-like guy with a silver monocle that magnified a judgmental eye. He looked at Jax’s grease-stained boots and then at the pristine brass conduit on the table. "Or does the street rat need a map to find the equipment?"

"I'm good," Jax grunted, finally stepping forward. "Just checking the alignment."

"Alignment?" The examiner scoffed. "This is a standard resonance test. You either channel the star-core or you don't. There is no 'alignment' for people who grew up eating scrap."

Elise stepped in, her voice a sharp blade. "He's just thorough, Examiner. Something you might find useful if you actually spent time in the field instead of this sterile box."

The examiner’s lip curled. "Watch your tone, Huntress Vane.