“That’s me,” she said. “Rare.”
So very.
“Imagine being able to neutralize someone else’s spell,” I said.
“Like, poof, make it go away?”
“In some cases. I don’t believe nullification would work on an eras spell.”
“What’s that?”
“A wizard’s spell that has lasted for a very long time.”
“Are there any of those out there?”
“I’m sure there are,” I said.
“Nullification.” She tapped her chin. “Create areas where magic won’t work. Nullify that space, you could say. Could magic like that block someone’s ability to draw from their own well of power or the magic lurking around them? I’ve met fae who could freeze someone with one look, make it impossible for them to draw power. Maybe they possessed this skill.”
“There are spells that will do that. I doubt it was true nullification, because nullification would make it impossible for someone else to use their magic, not freeze them for a time tokeep them from drawing it in. In that case, with your fae friends, the spell would only last until the one frozen, as you said, could overcome it. In true nullification, they can’t. Never.”
“I assume nullification could make a page appear blank unless the person who cast the spell wanted you to see what was written.”
“Excellent.” I’d only found one book in the library that referred to nullification, and it had only mentioned a few uses for it. My wildfire was thinking and analyzing this, and coming up with ideas no one else had ever dreamed of. Merrick didn’t need to tell me she was clever. That she could be conniving. It bloomed on her, shedding its perfume for those discerning enough to catch the scent.
Like me.
“Thank you.” The true smile she gave made it impossible to breathe. “How would someone counter a nullification spell?”
“I’m not sure it’s possible.”
“Not even for someone who can command nullification themselves?”
“I’m not sure anyone knows.” I forced my lungs to work as they should because she was still smiling. A real one. For me. “Let’s see if you can work with a shadow tonight.” I flicked my hand toward the wall where ours still dueled. “Never call your own.”
“Why not?” She peered at the wall. “It’s right there, waiting.”
“Your shadow will exhaust your magic much faster, and it might use the opportunity to merge with you and take over.”
“The other shadows won’t?”
“They’re not created from you, which means they can’t.”
A shiver ripped through her. “There’s no way to kick it out?”
I shook my head. “It also might latch onto your fears and magnify them.”
“I don’t need that.” She faked a curtsy to her shadow who did the same to her as if she stared at herself in a mirror before turning back to me. “Tell me how to do it.”
I rubbed my hands together and explained about gathering the wisps of power around her and calling to the shadows. She learned how to find the power she needed with surprising speed, but bargaining with shadows was not going to be as easy. Mine would refuse to listen to her—at my command. The wall itself created a shadow, and I guided her in working with that.
Without success.
She tried much longer than most would’ve before she finally slumped against the stone and blew hair off her face that settled back down to irritate her.
“Enough for tonight,” I said, tugging her forward a step before going around behind her. “We’ll keep practicing each night until it’s seamless.” I released her hair from the band she’d used to secure it and fingered through the strands, resisting my urge to thrust my face into it and just breathe. I made a quick braid, tied it off, and got away from her as fast as I could.
“Thank you.” Frowning, she fingered the tip of the braid. “I’m not very good with hair. Did you have a sister and practice with her?”
