Chapter 99

• Bennett's POV
• The grand hall was buzzing with energy, the kind that drilled against your skin and set your teeth on edge. Voices mingled with the low hum of conventional drums, creating an atmosphere that was both electric and agitating. I stood just outside the entrance, hands gripped behind my back, trying to keep my breathing steady.
• “Bennett, stop pacing. You’re making me nervous,” Elias murmured, conforming the cuffs of his formal jacket. His voice was sharp but not unkind.