Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79: The Price of the Poison

Phoebe’s Perspective

The news about Helen struck me like a sudden blow to the stomach. I had visited the healer several times to tend to my wounds, and over time, she had become someone I trusted, someone I cared about. So hearing that she was gone—taken by poison—felt utterly surreal. How could it be mere chance? There was no way this was just an accident or coincidence.

A wave of relief washed over me when Perry announced we were heading back to the palace. I needed to find Mason, to uncover the truth behind Helen’s death. This couldn’t just be happenstance. It simply couldn’t.

“Are you holding up okay?” Perry asked as we settled into the car, the palace looming closer with every mile.

I nodded, though my eyes drifted toward the empty passenger seat beside me. “Yeah… but where’s Timothy?”

“Taking care of something. He’ll meet us at the palace,” Perry replied without elaborating.

I accepted his answer and let the silence stretch between us. The quiet weighed heavily on me, but Perry didn’t press further—he probably sensed I was exhausted, both from the grim news and the chaos of last night.

Most of the drive passed in a fog of sleep that claimed me. I didn’t have the energy to stay awake, and when brief moments of awareness flickered, I pretended to be deeply unconscious. My mind kept racing, turning over every possible scenario involving Helen’s poisoning. Had the Movement finally put their plan into motion? But Perry seemed untouched—there were no signs that poison had affected him.

As the palace appeared in the distance, the sun was setting, casting a blood-red hue over the sky. The ominous colors twisted my stomach into knots. It felt like a bad omen, a warning etched across the horizon.

“Go straight to your room. Stay there,” Perry instructed, brushing his lips lightly against mine before turning away. Flynn, who had been waiting nearby, joined him. The royal beta mentioned something about the elders expecting him.

I made my way to my bedroom, hoping Mason would come by. Eventually, she did, and I wasted no time in bombarding her with questions.

“What’s going on? What happened with Helen? She was poisoned… Were you involved in this?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

The last question hit Mason like a blow. Her hands shook so violently that the tray she carried nearly slipped, and then she collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. My heart clenched at the sight of her breaking down.

Quickly, I caught the tray before it could fall, realizing this conversation was going to be long and painful.

“Tell me everything. I thought you only wanted the king dead?” I said softly, setting the tray aside. My voice was barely above a whisper—there was a warrior stationed outside my door, and if he overheard us, it could spell disaster.

“I… I never wanted that… I told him not to hurt her… I’m so sorry…” Mason’s words were shattered by her sobs, but I knew better than to rush her. I had been in her place before—when the right words just wouldn’t come. Patience was all I could offer.

“It’s okay. Just tell me what happened. I’m here, listening.”

We sank down onto the cold stone floor, ignoring its chill as the weight of everything pressed down on us. Through her tears, Mason revealed the full story—how Helen had nearly uncovered the poison, how panic had driven her to seek Reginald’s help when the healer got too close to the truth.

“I begged him not to hurt her. I begged him, but he said not to worry…”

I didn’t need to hear more. Helen’s death told the entire story.

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