Chapter 96

Tonight was the Crescent Moon Annual Dinner event...and my anxiety was clearly on the rise.

‘Get it together, Mia,’ I thought briskly to myself. ‘It’s just one evening, nothing you can’t handle.’

My brother was awake and on the mend and I had been taking an excessive amount of honey supplements for the past few days, per Chris’ instruction.

There was so much to be happy and thankful for but I couldn't shake the worry that came from potentially facing Edward again. According to James, it was very likely that his menacing uncle was set to make an unwanted appearance.

Just the thought of seeing Edward put me on edge.

It wasn’t fear that coursed through me but rather anger. Hatred. There was a strange feeling that spiraled through me, one that I never experienced before. Vengeance.

I wanted to make Edward Derek hurt the way he’d consistently hurt my family. I wanted to make the man suffer for all the pain and destruction he’d persistently spread like some kind of inhuman plague.

James was right, it had to stop. Edward had to be taken down.

In the meantime, James could tell I was heavily on edge about this evening. He’d done his best to assure me that everything was going to work out. Oddly enough, I found it, somewhat, assuring that David and Michael were planning on attending.

Depending on what Edward was planning, I knew that we needed all the backup we could get.

Lily and a few other maids helped me get ready. Tonight, I had chosen a dark red dress that tastefully fitted my curves while not feeling too constricting.

My hair was curled and pinned back to frame my face. My makeup, although usually kept natural and light, was darker and defined.

Jame was dressed in a dark, charcoal gray suit with his hair gelled back.

“Handsome as always,” I commented with a smile.

The man scoffed and shook his head. “You’re one to talk. Have you seen the way you look?” He looped an arm around my waist and pulled me in close. “I have half a mind to forgo this stupid event and spend the remainder of my night taking you apart in our bed.”

My face flushed. I playfully rolled my eyes and sighed. “Honesty, I just want tonight to be over.”

James nodded his head. “I know. I can tell that you’re tense.”

“The man is reckless, James. You cannot blame me for being worried.”

“I don’t, love. Tonight, everything will come to an end with him.”

The two of us made off the banquet hall and were met with happy, familiar faces. Lana and Kristen were glad to see us and immediately jumped into the latest rumors. It was interesting to see David conversing with Ellison on such a mundane level. And, as usual, Diana was making sure that everything was scheduled to go on as planned with the caterers.

Everything was smooth and as calm as ever...

Of course that all vanished to the back of my mind when I caught a dark glimpse of Edward out of the corner of my eye.

“He’s here,” I spoke under my breath.

James snapped his attention toward the older man who was slowly making his way through the room. Edward wore a smug look on his face as though he knew something that everyone else didn’t.

“Mia, so sorry to hear about your brother,” he slithered.

I bit my tongue to stop whatever crude remark was wanting to fly out. “Thank you for your concern,” I said. “However, I’m happy to report that Chris is fully awake and on the fast road to recovery as we speak.”

Edward went stiff where he stood.

“In fact, he’s well enough to explain his most recent discovery over in Egypt. Do the words ‘Moon Tears’ mean anything to you?” I added coyly.

Edward sneered at my daring words and turned on his heels. Obviously, the man was still relying on Chris not gaining his consciousness back so soon. No matter, I enjoyed watching the man become flustered and storm out of the room.

When it came time for everyone to take their seats at the table, Edward was still nowhere to be found. The wine was being poured and the first course was just beginning to be brought out.

All seemed normal...Until a sharp, grueling sound of coughing and snarls broke out around the table.

My heart slammed within my chest in fear as I watched several of the patrons grab at their throat and gasp for air.

“The wine...He’s put poison in the wine!” I shouted.

Edward emerged from the shadows, slowly clapping his hands together in pride at my quick conclusion. “Well done, Mia,” he chuckled.

“You used Moon Tear didn’t you?” I questioned accusingly.

He smirked. “Bright as ever.”

Both James and Michael jumped up from their seats and began rushing around to help those who’d been poisoned.

“You’re not going to get away with it this time,” I told him.

Edward let out a harsh growl before trying to make another getaway; however, he was abruptly stopped when a group of guards rushed out of the back rooms. He was instantly surrounded and cursed under his breath.

David smiled and rose from his own seat. “Finally,” he said. He reached into his suit jacket to take out a familiar-looking handgun. “I’ve been wanting to do away with you for years.”

“David, wait.”

“Mia, he deserves this.”

“I have no doubt about that,” I said.

As much as I wanted Edward to be gone, it felt wrong to have his life wiped out with a bullet. Instead, I turned around and picked up one of the wine glasses and held it out to him to drink. He and I both knew that the wine was heavily laced with poison—there was no chance of surviving it.

“You killed my parents, and no doubt, so many others. I think it’s only fitting, don’t you?”

Edward grinned. “How poetic. To go out the same way I killed your mother,” he said.

He raised the glass to his lips and downed the entire glass. Not a minute passed before Edward fell to the floor, gasping for air.