Dakari's Point of View
I could feel my heart racing, the blood pounding in my ears as the witches moved closer. I wanted to be brave, to protect my friends, but the fear was like a living thing, coiling around my chest, squeezing the breath from my lungs.
I looked at Aurora, lying so still on the cold stone floor, her face pale and still as death. Anger surged through me, hot and fierce, washing away the fear for a moment. I wouldn't let them hurt anyone else. I wouldn't let them win.
"You're not going to break me," I spat, glaring up at the man wearing Khali's face. "You're nothing but a coward, hiding behind your magic and your lies."
The man's expression darkened, his smile fading. "A coward, am I?" he hissed, stepping closer, his shadow falling over me like a dark cloud. "We'll see about that."
