Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169 An Anger

Misdirected

Phoebe’s POV

“Fiona? Where have you been?” Darius’s voice cut through the fog in my mind as he approached. My thoughts felt scattered, and I struggled to grasp the meaning behind his words. I had a vague sense that he was patrolling this area, but everything seemed to blur together.

I caught him glancing in the direction from which I had come, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece together my whereabouts. The early morning light bathed the surroundings in a soft glow, and I realized that it was far too early for me to be wandering alone in this part of the kingdom.

“This isn’t safe for you,” he insisted, his grip tightening around my hand. I could feel the tension radiating from him. “The royal warriors could easily sneak up on you and capture you.”

His words barely penetrated the haze that enveloped me. The remnants of the drug pulsed through my veins, and I inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp morning air against my skin. It was refreshing, almost invigorating, and I closed my eyes, feeling myself begin to sway.

“Fiona!” Darius’s voice became urgent as he caught me, our bodies tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs. He hadn’t anticipated my sudden loss of balance on the flat surface, and I could feel the warmth of his body pressing against mine. “What’s wrong with you?”

I heard him groan softly as he cradled my head in his hand, preventing it from hitting the ground too harshly.

“What’s going on?” He leaned closer, his gaze searching my face for answers.

His eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of concern and confusion swirling within them. “Are you drunk?” he asked, and I could sense that he was beginning to piece together the puzzle. I might have appeared intoxicated, but when he leaned in to sniff my breath, he found no trace of alcohol. There was, however, something else lingering in the air.

Before he could pinpoint the source of my disorientation, I cupped his face with my hands, pulling him down to me as I pressed my lips against his.

It was a bold, passionate kiss, one that ignited a spark I hadn’t anticipated.

Darius froze, his expression shifting from shock to disbelief. He stared at me as if trying to comprehend the impossibility of the moment.

When the realization hit him, he pushed me away with a force that surprised us both. It was easy for him to do so; I felt utterly drained, my body lacking the strength to resist.

“Fiona! What the hell!” Darius exclaimed, springing to his feet and glaring down at me, his anger palpable. I couldn’t help but giggle at his reaction, still sprawled on the ground, heat flooding my cheeks as I processed what had just happened. “Are you out of your mind?!”

His indignation only made my laughter bubble up more fiercely.

Darius narrowed his eyes, frustration etched across his face. He hadn’t detected any alcohol on my breath, yet my erratic behavior could only lead him to one conclusion…

I was using drugs.

“Damn it.” He clenched his jaw, questions swirling in his mind. Where had I obtained them? Did Reginald know? Why hadn’t he intervened?

Darius had watched me grow up, always viewing me as family. The idea of me kissing him, of all people, disgusted him.

“You think I didn’t try to stop her?! I didn’t tell you because I knew it would devastate her if anyone saw her like this. People would judge her, and you know how much she cares about her reputation!”

Darius was taken aback by Reginald’s sudden anger. He frowned, and when silence fell between them, Reginald continued, trying to regain control of the conversation.

“I’ve done everything I can to help her, but she keeps slipping back into this darkness. I didn’t mean to keep this from you, but I had to protect her dignity! Do you think I want to see her like this?”

Reginald paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. When he sensed that Darius was too stunned to respond, he continued, his voice thick with pain.

“I’m her mate. On top of the vengeance I carry for her late father, I have to keep her grounded enough to face her fears and heartbreak. You know how close she was to Alpha Theodore, right? She was everything to him.”

Darius nodded slowly, understanding the depth of her loss. He realized that he hadn’t fully grasped how deeply her father’s death had affected her.

“I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions about you,” Darius finally admitted, his voice laced with defeat. “But where did she even get the drugs?”

“Royal Beta Allen,” Reginald replied, his tone heavy with resignation.

“I’m going to kill him!” Darius’s rage flared, his fists clenching at the thought.

“And then you’ll put all of us in danger without his support against the royals. For now, we need to stay quiet,” Reginald warned, his eyes dark with concern.