Page 3 of A Fury Of Shadows

That is an interesting idea, Brimstone observed.

Na Ri mulled it over.It might work.

Mae smiled fiercely. “Let’s do it!”

“Who are you talking to?” Cortes narrowed his eyes at her before directing a suspicious stare at Brimstone. “He’s not helping you, is he?”

“No,” Mae said guiltily.

Cortes’s jaw set in a hard line.

She sighed.I’d forgotten this guy’s like a dog with a bone when he wants an answer.

Few people knew that Na Ri’s soul lived inside her. There hadn’t been an ideal opportunity to reveal her secret to Cortes and Anya yet.

“I mean, it’s not as if I can just bring it up over dinner and drinks,” she mumbled under her breath.

A sound had her looking down. Karin and Derrick were almost free ofWind Fury. Determination tightened her limbs.

It’s now or never,she told Na Ri.

I’m ready.

Mae took a deep breath and zeroed in on their two cores. Magic and Na Ri’s life force warmed her blood as they invoked the spell.

Ice Fortress!

A giant cage of ice exploded into view inside Mae’s consciousness. Her heart stuttered. She could see the blue runes of Anya’s magic within it.

Ice Fortressstarted to dissipate.

Mae dug her nails into her palms. She and Na Ri drew on their demonic powers. The spell solidified again. An idea struck her then.

Instead of deconstructing the Illusion Sorcery spell, how about we use a second incantation inside Ice Fortress to shatter it?

She sensed Na Ri’s surprise.

Her first incarnation pondered her suggestion.We have nothing to lose.

Let’s invoke Negate.

They strengthened the link between their souls and voiced the spell. Anya’s magic did not so much as flicker. They attemptedDevourandNullifynext. The Illusion Sorcery held.

Mae’s jaw ached from grinding her teeth. She could sense Na Ri’s aggravation. They were close to a breakthrough. She was certain of it.

We should give Severa go, Na Ri said abruptly.

Mae blinked.

It was the spell they had used on Nikolai in Prague to break the link between his and Alastair’s cores and a familiar who’d been consumed by Fire Magic.Severhad also released Jared from Anya’s illusion a few weeks back.

She stiffened in the next instant.

Ice Fortresswas quivering violently.

They had mere seconds left to attempt the next incantation.

Karin and Derrick escapedWind Furyand launched a volley of attacks at her.

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