Benson’s POV
The moon hung heavy over the Healing Kingdom, casting a silver glow that draped across the castle gardens. The air buzzed with magic, anticipation, and the faint hum of whispered conversations. Tonight was the Coming of Age Ceremony, and I was actually here—against all odds.
After everything at Warehouse Fourteen, Finn and I barely made it back in time. The journey was grueling, filled with constant fear of being caught, but the thought of the ceremony, of reclaiming some part of myself, kept me going. We slipped through the last checkpoint and made it to my brother Jared’s apartment just as the first stars dotted the sky.
I hadn’t seen Jared in ages. Not since I’d left for school and then drifted further away from family. When he opened the door, his face registered shock,
