Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 19

I had been here once before—this very royal palace—back when I was still just a child, and my father’s pride in me was as clear as the sunlight streaming through these grand windows. Back then, he still called me his daughter, with warmth in his voice and hope in his eyes. But now, as I crossed the threshold once more, I was no longer that innocent girl. I entered as something utterly different—marked, fractured, and utterly unwanted.

The palace itself was a marvel of grandeur, every stone etched with the weight of history and tradition. Four vast wings stretched out from the central fortress: one designated for the royal beta, another for the gamma, a third for the warriors, and the final, tallest wing looming above all the rest—the king’s own domain. The sheer scale of it was both awe-inspiring and deeply intimidating.

Flynn moved ahead of me without a word, his heavy boots striking the polished marble floor with a steady rhythm. I followed silently, my footsteps echoing faintly behind him, counting each one as a way to keep my mind from spiraling into the emptiness gnawing at my chest.

Eventually, we halted before a massive door, its surface dark and imposing.

“You’ll stay here,” Flynn said bluntly, gesturing toward a room opposite the grand entrance to the king’s chambers. I blinked, caught off guard. “Here? But this is—”

“The queen’s quarters,” he cut me off sharply, his voice cold enough to slice through the tension. “Don’t read too much into it.”

The word “queen” landed heavily on my ears, almost mocking me. I stood frozen, the word feeling like a cruel joke.

Flynn exhaled sharply through his nose. “Don’t question it. The king marked you in front of half the continent. You’re his mate now. That makes you the future queen—at least, for as long as he allows.”

His eyes darkened, a warning laced in his tone. “If you stay alive.”

A chill ran down my spine, involuntarily. He gave a faint, cruel smile—a knowing curve of his lips that sent a shudder through me. “Good. You should be afraid. Fear will keep you alive longer.”

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