Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 184

**His Mercy Tastes Like Hunger**
**Chapter 184: Plans Buried In Dust**

The four of them were on the brink of reaching the gates, anticipation thrumming in the air, when the distant sounds of battle began to resonate ominously around them. It was the perfect opportunity for Reginald and Darius to take decisive action against Allen; his demise would be far more beneficial to their cause than his continued existence.

Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of dread enveloped them without warning. The ground beneath their feet quaked violently, a deafening explosion echoing through the air, leaving them in a state of shock and confusion.

*What’s happening?* Fiona’s voice, laced with panic, cut through the mental link to Darius, her urgency palpable.

*I have no clue,* he responded, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty.

Then, without any forewarning, chaos struck like a bolt of lightning. No amount of preparation could have shielded them from this disaster—they were too close, and the prospect of escaping death felt increasingly remote.

*The ground’s moving!* Reginald’s frantic shout echoed in their minds. *Fall back!*

—

**Perry’s POV**

The explosive wave surged through the earth, sending tremors rippling beneath my feet. I quickly surveyed the surroundings, attempting to pinpoint the origin of that catastrophic sound.

Suspicion gnawed at me, but I struggled to accept the implications of what was unfolding. Who could have possibly orchestrated such a devastating strike?

The thought of someone using explosives against the mountain was unfathomable. This was a strategy I had never disclosed to anyone, save for one person… Phoebe.

Could she have been behind this?

The notion felt absurd. She would never dare to engage in something so perilous. But how could she have gained access to the vital battle intelligence necessary to execute such a plan?

She was never meant to know the details of the combat—no one would have taken her suggestions seriously anyway.

Yet, desperation could drive a person to make reckless choices.

Where was she now? I silently prayed that she was safe within the palace walls. If she were anywhere near this chaos, I would lose all semblance of control.

I remained in my beast form, as did Turner, who was panting heavily after our relentless flight. Relief washed over him as we finally halted, allowing him a moment to catch his breath.

We had been running for what felt like an eternity, and I couldn’t help but wonder just how much stamina I had left to give.

Turner, too, had sensed the earth’s violent tremors. He followed my gaze toward the ominous black smoke rising from the site of the explosion.

*What is that, my king? Was that… an explosion?* he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“Yes,” I replied, pressing my claws against the shifting ground. “We need to retreat.”

*Retreat?* Turner’s confusion was evident; he clearly wanted to question why we would pull back when the explosion was so distant and we were so close to safety.

But the ground shook again, this time with a ferocity that left no room for discussion. It wasn’t merely shaking anymore—it was sliding.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Turner mirrored my urgency, struggling to keep pace as I leaped from stone to stone, the earth shifting violently beneath us.

Fiona’s sobs intensified at his question, her breathing becoming erratic as she pressed her forehead against his.

“He died protecting me from a boulder that would have crushed me.” The words tore from her throat like a wound reopening. Her stomach churned with the weight of a reality she could scarcely bear. He had been like a second father to her—she couldn’t fathom how to exist without him.

The thought of losing Reginald too had nearly driven her to madness. Thank the heavens she could still feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“He’s… dead?” Reginald felt a hollow ache at the news, though grief for Darius’s death eluded him. This loss would significantly alter their plans. His brow furrowed in concern. “What about Allen?”

If Darius was truly gone, Allen had to survive. Whatever he had done to Fiona was inconsequential now—Reginald needed his support and the strength of the Valerium forces.

“He’s… I think he’s alive…” Fiona replied reluctantly. “I’m not certain. I didn’t check. He’s over there.”

She pointed to her right, wishing fervently that he had perished instead. The mere thought of seeing him again was repugnant.

He embodied her humiliation in human form.

If she had the strength, she would have relished the opportunity to end his life herself. The desire to flay him alive, to torture him, to humiliate him as he had done to her surged within her.

But Reginald’s next command caught her completely off guard.

“Go check his condition. He cannot die. Make sure he’s breathing.”

“You can’t be serious.”