Chapter 110: Chapter One Hundred Nine

The hall had reached a fever pitch. Guests whispered in frantic clusters, champagne glasses trembled in nervous hands, and the rumor storm Molly and Elena had conjured was now a full-blown hurricane. But Riven had eyes only for one person. Selene.

She stood near the far corner of the hall, her posture too still, her expression too composed. Theron hovered beside her, his presence protective, his gaze sharp as he scanned the room. Riven moved toward them with purpose, Lucien and Kael flanking him like mismatched bodyguards.

Selene noticed them approaching and straightened, her chin lifting in a way that was both regal and defensive.

Riven: “Selene. I have some questions.”

Theron stepped forward immediately, placing himself between them.

Theron: “About what?”

Riven didn’t blink.

Riven: “About the poison used on Isolde.”

Selene’s eyes flickered—just for a heartbeat—but Riven caught it.

Theron’s jaw tightened.

Theron: “You’re accusing her?”

Riven: “I’m investigating. And she’s the only person in this room with access to asp venom.”

A ripple of gasps spread through the nearby guests.

Selene’s voice was cool, controlled.

Selene: “I raise exotic snakes. That doesn’t make me a murderer.”

Riven: “It makes you capable.”

Theron’s hand twitched toward her wrist—subtle, protective, telling.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. Kael’s breath hitched. Because suddenly, the pieces clicked.

Lucien leaned toward Kael, voice barely above a whisper.

Lucien: “We weren’t hired to kill Darian because of the affair.”

Kael swallowed.

Kael: “No. We were hired to cover something up.”

Lucien’s gaze flicked to Selene.

Lucien: “Or to distract from something else.”

Kael’s eyes widened.

Kael: “The second kill wasn’t part of the game. It was part of the plan.”

Lucien nodded once, grim.

Lucien: “And whoever hired us… wanted Isolde gone.”

Kael’s stomach dropped.

Kael: “So the real mastermind is—”

Lucien cut him off with a sharp shake of his head.

Lucien: “Not here. Not yet. But Selene knows something.”

Kael exhaled shakily.

Kael: “We’re in deep.”

Lucien: “We always are.”

Across the room, Avery had been trying—truly trying—to stay relaxed, to enjoy the game, to let the tension roll off her shoulders.

But the cards wouldn’t stay still.

They trembled.

They hummed.

They burned.

Avery gasped, her hand flying to her chest.

Molly caught her immediately.

Molly: “Avery? Hey—hey, look at me.”

But Avery’s eyes were distant, unfocused, seeing something far beyond the hall.

Her voice came out low, echoing with something ancient.

Avery: “The serpent coils… the truth bleeds… the betrayer stands in plain sight…”

The room froze.

Avery’s gaze snapped toward Selene and Theron.

Her voice rose, ringing through the hall.

Avery:

“THE HAND THAT HIDES THE VENOM

IS THE HAND THAT FEARS THE LIGHT!”

Selene flinched.

Theron stiffened.

Riven’s eyes sharpened.

Lucien and Kael exchanged a look that said we were right.

The crowd erupted into chaos.

Guest #1: “She means Selene!”

Guest #2: “Or Theron!”

Guest #3: “Or both!”

Elena: “This is the best night of my life!”

Molly squeezed Avery’s hand, grounding her as the vision faded.

Avery blinked, breath shaky.

Avery: “It’s not over.”

Riven stepped forward, voice cutting through the noise.

Riven: “Selene. Theron. You’re coming with me.”

Selene’s eyes flashed.

Theron’s jaw clenched.

And the final act of the game—and the truth—was about to unfold.

The hall had quieted into a tense, electric hum. Guests clustered together in nervous pockets, whispering behind gloved hands and feathered fans. Avery’s last vision had sent them scattering away from the suspects and the detective’s, leaving a wide, empty circle in the center of the room.

Selene and Theron sat sequestered near the mirrored alcove, Lucien and Kael standing guard with crossed arms and matching expressions of ‘we dare you to try something’. Selene looked furious. Theron looked bored. Both guilty enough to keep the crowd on edge.

Riven stood alone in the center of the hall, turning the pieces of the puzzle over in his mind. His eyes flicked from the poisoned champagne, to Selene’s snakes, to Theron’s strange behaviour, to Auron’s too-calm demeanor. Something wasn’t adding up.

Molly slipped back into the hall, a folded note in hand. She scanned the room until she found Avery, then crossed to her with a soft smile.

Molly: “Isolde and Darian want to see me. They’re in the side parlor.”

Avery nodded, relieved they were still enjoying themselves behind the scenes.

Molly lowered her voice.

Molly: “It’s almost three. Staff say the guests are getting tired. Time to wrap it up.”

She squeezed Avery’s hand, then moved through the hall with practiced grace, slipping notes to each of the main cast members.

Wrap it up. Final reveal.

The energy shifted instantly.

Everyone straightened.

Everyone prepared.

Everyone knew the end was coming.

Riven inhaled slowly, letting the threads of the mystery settle into place.

Selene had access to venom.

Theron had motive to protect her.

But neither had opportunity for both murders.

And neither had reason to kill Darian.

But someone else did.

Someone who had been close to both victims.

Someone who had been watching the chaos unfold with too much detachment.

Someone who had the most to gain.

Riven’s eyes snapped to Auron.

At the exact same moment, Avery’s cards flared in her hands.

She gasped, stepping forward, voice ringing through the hall.

Avery:

“The serpent’s shadow hides the truth—

but the heart of betrayal beats in the husband’s chest!”

The room erupted.

Auron froze.

Riven pointed at him, voice sharp and triumphant.

Riven: “Auron! You plotted this. You set every piece in motion.”

Gasps.

Screams.

Elena nearly fainted from sheer joy.

Auron’s expression twisted into a perfect mask of villainous indignation.

Auron: “You have no proof!”

Riven stepped closer.

Riven: “You knew about Isolde’s affair. You knew Selene wanted you for herself. You knew Darian was going to expose everything.”

Avery lifted a card — The Tower — and held it high.

Avery: “You wanted to destroy them all at once.”

Lucien and Kael dragged Selene and Theron forward, both sputtering in outrage.

Selene: “I didn’t kill her!”

Theron: “We were framed!”

Riven nodded.

Riven: “Exactly. Auron used your secrets to make you look guilty. Poison from Selene’s snakes. Motive from Theron’s behavior. Opportunity from Darian’s gossip.”

Auron’s shoulders slumped.

Auron: “Fine. I did it. I killed them both. They deserved it!”

The crowd gasped dramatically.

Elena scribbled furiously.

Marielle swooned.

Molly reentered the hall just in time to clap her hands.

Molly: “And that, ladies and gentlemen… concludes tonight’s murder mystery!”

The room exploded into applause.

Auron bowed.

Selene and Theron laughed.

Darian and Isolde emerged from the side parlor, alive and glowing with excitement.

Lucien and Kael exchanged relieved looks.

Riven exhaled, dropping the detective persona with a smirk.

Avery leaned into Molly, smiling brightly.

Avery: “That was incredible.”

Molly: “Told you it would be fun.”

And as the applause echoed through the hall, the cast gathered together — exhausted, exhilarated, and already buzzing about next year’s game.