Elsie's pov

I felt my knees buckle as I staggered back, my breathing ragged and uneven. My body screamed at me to stop, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. The witches surrounded me, their chants growing louder, their powers hitting me like waves crashing against a rock.

My hands shook as I summoned my energy, throwing a firebolt at the nearest one. She blocked it with a flick of her wrist, her laugh echoing in the chaos. My heart sank, but I gritted my teeth and pushed forward.

“Is that all you’ve got, Elsie?” my cousin, Freya, sneered, her eyes glowing with dark magic.

I clenched my fists, ignoring the throbbing...