Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 211

**His Mercy Tastes Like Hunger**
**Chapter 211: Something Stirs Within**

**Phoebe’s POV**

The silence stretched on interminably, wrapping around me like a heavy fog, until at last, the din of chaos behind the door began to dissipate. My heart raced, each thud echoing in my ears, when I heard the familiar sound of knocking. It was Justin’s voice, slicing through my fear like a beacon of hope.

“My queen, are you inside? Everything’s safe now. You can come out.” His voice held an urgency that made my stomach twist. He knocked again, this time more insistently. “Should I break down the door? Are you okay?”

I rapped back against the door, a small gesture to let him know I was still here, still breathing. My hands trembled as I took a moment to gather my scattered thoughts, forcing myself to stand upright.

As I opened the door, a wave of metallic scent assaulted my senses, the stench of blood hitting me like a physical blow.

“Everything’s handled now. I’ll take you back to your room so you can rest,” Justin said, his tone calm but laced with an underlying urgency. The unspoken message was clear—I couldn’t linger here any longer.

Frantically, I scanned the area, searching for Samuel, but Justin’s hand gently covered my eyes.

“Keep them closed, my queen.”

Where is Samuel? I mouthed the words, my anxiety bubbling to the surface despite my attempts to remain calm.

“He’ll be fine,” Justin replied, his voice clipped, sending a jolt of fear through me. His terse tone indicated that something dreadful had transpired. “Marcela’s taking care of him.”

The mention of Marcela sent my heart plummeting. If she was involved, it meant Samuel’s injuries were likely serious.

Once we stepped out of the room, Justin lowered his hand and guided me toward my bedroom. “Want me to stay, my queen?” His offer was genuine; he sensed the turmoil within me, the frantic energy that made me feel like I might shatter at any moment.

He would remain until Perry arrived. I knew someone had already been dispatched to summon the king; he would be here soon.

I nodded, my heart heavy. The thought of being alone right now was unbearable. I avoided the bed, opting instead to curl up on the sofa, while Justin settled across from me. The air was thick with unspoken words, neither of us daring to break the silence.

Moments later, the door burst open, and Perry strode in, his presence like a balm to my frayed nerves. I rushed to him, wrapping my arms around his neck as tears streamed down my cheeks. The terror of what had just transpired clawed at me. “It’s okay, you’re safe…” he murmured, his voice soothing as Justin nodded politely and stepped outside to give us privacy. “You’re fine.”

Eventually, we learned it had been another attack by the Valerium Warriors, who had infiltrated our kingdom, blending seamlessly with the locals. They were nearly undetectable, using the bustling streets of the capital to their advantage. Strangers were commonplace here, making it easy for them to slip through our defenses.

The beast that had invaded Perry’s bedroom and attacked me had almost succeeded in killing Samuel during its escape.

The following day, Perry led ten thousand warriors to join the earlier battalion for the decisive assault against Valerium.

He should have acted sooner, but the elders had opposed his plans, arguing that a king shouldn’t be on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, I found myself unable to sleep, the weight of the previous day’s events pressing heavily on my mind. When the time came for Perry to leave, I couldn’t accompany him to the gates, knowing other warriors would whisk me away to a secret location. “I’ll come back as soon as possible,” Perry whispered against my lips, and I clung to him desperately. I hated this separation. I wanted to stay by his side, but no amount of pleading would persuade him to change his mind.

In a way, he was right. I realized it was my impulsiveness that drove me. Insisting wouldn’t help anyone.

“Everything’s ready. We need to go.” I could sense Justin waiting just outside the door, poised to escort me to safety once Perry departed.

But as Perry attempted to pull away, I grasped his collar, rising on my toes to kiss him fiercely.

“I’ll never be able to leave if you keep doing this, Phoebe,” Perry groaned, his voice a mixture of frustration and longing. He kissed me back, but then forced himself to stop, pressing his lips gently to my forehead instead. “We really have to go now.”

He embraced me one last time, then stepped away, leaving me feeling strangely hollow.

Yet, something churned in my stomach, a sense of unease that I couldn’t shake…