Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 67

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Mason still didn’t trust me completely. I could feel it in her pauses, the way she measured each word before answering. She was hiding something, but I didn’t press.

“So it’s happening soon, isn’t it?” I asked quietly, turning toward the window. The glass was fogged from the cool air outside; clouds were gathering heavy and dark, promising rain.

“Yes.” The tension in her face flickered for an instant before she forced a calm smile.

“I’m relieved it’ll be over soon,” I said.

That small lie seemed to comfort her. A faint, shaky breath escaped her chest before she excused herself, just as Perry entered the room.

He didn’t say anything right away. His eyes found mine, sharp and unreadable.
“You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” I murmured, though I could feel how weak my body had become. He didn’t need to know that.

Perry studied me for a long moment. His face softened slightly. “Change your dress. We’re going out.”

“Out? Where?”

He didn’t answer, only took my hand and guided me toward the closet. He pulled out a gown of deep violet threaded with gold. “Wear this.”

I frowned. “Isn’t that a bit much?”

“It’s perfect.” He leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and watched me with a look that made the room feel smaller.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I hesitated, turning toward the door, but his hand caught my arm.

“Change here,” he said quietly. “I’ve seen you before. What are you hiding from now?”

“I don’t want you to watch me,” I said softly. My voice didn’t shake this time. That felt like progress.

He stepped closer until I could feel the heat from his body. His thumb brushed my lower lip, a gesture that made my heart stumble.

The words were so soft that they almost broke me. For a second, I let him hold me. For a second, I forgot who we were.

Then his voice changed, low and rough. “Don’t ever hide from me again.”

He tilted my chin up and kissed me. There was nothing gentle about it. He took everything — every breath, every bit of anger, every fragment of fear — and left nothing in its place but himself.

When the kiss broke, my knees nearly gave out. I stood there staring at him, realizing with a terrible clarity that he didn’t just want my body. He wanted all of me — my hate, my pain, my love, my soul.

And he was getting it.