Page 81 of Awakened Ash and Alchemy

“I will not have her harmed.” This time, the edge in Zarek’s voice was unmistakable as the Claiming rolled through him, building fire in his chest.

“We wouldn’t want to harm her,” Martar replied quietly. “You know we wouldn’t, because we know what she means to you.”

Helviti! By rights, this woman should mean nothing to him. Not only was it against the Accords by which he was bound, but he would not take advantage of her trust like that either. All because his magick had recognized something in her, even though no one else could find it?

“Bellus,” Zarek snapped. “Have you found a cure for this… Claiming?” He hated what it was doing to him.

Bellus shook his head. “I’m trying. But why the rush? She seems a nice lady.”

“I thought so, in my three-minute conversation with her yesterday.” Condorr shrugged his beefy shoulders, while his chair creaked beneath him.

The day Zarek had felt the heated pangs of jealousy for the first time, when Condorr had done nothing wrong. He trusted Condorr.

But what made it worse was that he’d snapped at Angela, too. The guilt he’d felt after that conversation made him skip dinner with her, even though he enjoyed those moments. But he shouldn’t. She was a guest here in Paradox for a reason. And he was just following orders.

“Fix it, so I can do my job.” Zarek pushed up from his chair and paced restlessly across the room. “So I can command without calculating proximity, to account for… distraction.”

He exhaled slowly and forced himself still. “I understand why you wish to test her further. And as a captain, I fully agree. But until we understand whether her power shields or absorbs, I have to limit her exposure.” He had to protect her, no matter the cost.

Gellar inclined his head and studied Zarek for a long moment. “Very well. In the meantime, let us test others who possess a similar kind of blocking ability to see if we can use it on the battlefield against the Black Cloaks.”

Zarek nodded and resumed his seat even though they all knew there was no one else like her. Others might block, shield, or deflect. None did it passively, or invisibly, while their own magick remained entirely undetectable. Angela Duboise was in a category that did not exist yet.

“Is there anything else troubling her?” Gellar asked.

“She wakes from nightmares.” Dropping his elbow on the table, Zarek rubbed his eyes.

“Nightmares?” Rocharde stopped fiddling with his earring.

“Angela does not remember them. Only the fear.” Zarek knew her terror too well, and how it spiked to make him bound out of bed and fly through their shared door. Waking her, holding her hand, trying to help her calm down. The confusion in her eyes when she woke, the sweat on her brow, and how she couldn’t remember anything except that fear.

“Obviously you feel these nightmares through her, huh?” Martar asked bluntly.

Zarek didn’t justify it with an answer.

“May I suggest a Sleep Wizard?” offered Rocharde. “I had one when I was a child.”

“Why?” Condorr asked.

“I had nightmares because I worried about not developing my power.”

“Now look at you.” Condorr grinned, playfully punching Rocharde.

“That’s a great idea. A Sleep Wizard may give answers, especially as we don’t know her magick by conventional means. It’d be worth the try.” Bellus sat higher, pushing up his glasses as if to contain his excitement. “I’d love to observe. Without intrusion, of course.”

“I will consider it.” Zarek would have to talk to Angela first, because the nightmare she had to confront might be detrimental to both of them.

“Where is Angela Duboise now?” Gellar asked.

“In Magick School. It was Bellus’s suggestion.” And it was part of their treaty.

Bellus nodded as he leaned his arms on the table and spoke to the rest of the Sworn Exarchs. “Knowledge cannot harm her. And, from what I hear, Angela Dubiose is already well-versed in the esoteric arts.”

Zarek allowed himself the smallest trace of pride to settle on his shoulders. “Her aunt taught her, and their family business sells esoteric items. Angela told me she grew up around it, even though she didn’t believe in magic.”

But she certainly believed in it now.

“That,” Gellar said while thoughtfully stroking his beard, “is interesting.”