Page 98 of Awakened Ash and Alchemy

“I heard she made the classes rain,” another woman said. “I thought Magick School was protected to stop wild magick while they learn. How could she do that?”

“Why can’t the Great Captain Zarek focus on me?” another woman complained.

“Consider yourself lucky,” her friend beside her said with a laugh. “Zarek would burn you if he tried.”

The group erupted into giggles.

Angela’s chest tightened as she remembered his hand smoothing her hair. His teal eyes holding hers intently, as if exploring the colors. The way he’d removed his gloves whenever he was near her, as if he knew he couldn’t hurt her.

“Such a waste of a great man,” one woman sighed dreamily.

“Um… what is Claiming, Matriarch?” Starss asked timidly. “One of the house staff overheard the term.”

“Why, I don’t know.”

“I think it’s… an attraction? But stronger. Like the Great Captain has been bound to this strange female as his mate, whether he chose it or not,” another woman guessed.

“Then why do the soldiers fear their own field commander when they’ve always respected him?” someone else asked.

“Because of his power.”

“Can’t he control this thing?”

“This Claiming must be rare if even the Matriarch doesn’t know of it.”

“Well, I heard it’s dangerous for any man to get near the mortal female,” a woman said. “They fear she will reject the Captain. That’s why no one is allowed to talk to her or even go near her.”

“Why?” another woman asked.

“Because of the jealous rage. The soldiers say it’s territorial. And that he will kill anyone who gets too close to her. That’s not love. That’s being possessive, isn’t it?”

“How do you know this?” the Matriarch demanded.

“The soldiers. It’s part of their orders not to approach her. They told us.”

“Remember, ladies,” the Matriarch interrupted. “We are sworn to keep the secrets shared with us in the Keep. That is why the Vanguard honor us.”

“I hear this female mortal shows no respect to the Great Captain,” Pella said. “That she called him names when she arrived. And was rude to him.”

“Did he damn her to hell to make her show respect?” Starss asked.

“No. Instead, she wears the gown bearing his staves and silver threads.”

Angela looked at the silver threads on her cuffs. She knew they were his, but the way they were talking, it was as if he’d proclaimed her like she was his property.

“How is it she can be rewarded like this? If any of us dared—”

“Ladies, please,” the Matriarch interjected. “That is for the Sworn Exarchs to deal with. Remember our honored duty.”

“For all we know, this woman is kept for his amusement,” one said coolly. “Or she has something they want. I bet that’s why she has their protection, that once she’s fulfilled their need, she’ll be banished or punished for her insolence.”

Angela gripped the medallion as if trying to get a grasp on this entire conversation. This would teach her to eavesdrop.

“Isn’t it against the Continuum Council’s Accords on magick purity for our Great Captain Zarek to choose a woman like this?” another woman asked. “She’s wearing his lineage threads and she’s not even Hearthbound.”

“I bet that’s why our Great Captain has tried to stay away from her.”

“Don’t worry, my darlings,” the Matriarch said smoothly. “We all know that, with his power, he could kill her just by being with her—which is why none of us has ever been serviced by the Great Captain. Remember your duty and the honor of being a Hearthbound. And don’t worry, I’m sure this female will be dealt with accordingly.”