"Wh… What intention?" Riven stammered.
Azerin's breath was cold against his skin, and the pheromones leaking off him were overwhelming. It wasn't the first time Riven had felt something like this, but this time, his knees felt weak and his head spun. If it lasted any longer, he might actually faint.
But he still forced himself to act strong.
He couldn't afford to expose his identity as an Omegaega.
If Azerin found out he was an omega… he'd end up in another slave contract before he could blink.
"I… I just want to survive," Riven said, steadying his voice. "People do all sorts of things to stay alive. So did I."
Azerin's lips curved into a smirk. "So…"
He began to speak when the sound of heavy boots against the marble floor drew their attention.
"Alpha," Soren called out, entering the hall in a hurry. He bowed quickly, then stopped mid-motion, eyes locking on the familiar figure standing beside Azerin.
Azerin sensed the urgency in his beta's voice and let go of Revin, who was literally on the verge of losing his senses but was still acting tough.
"What's the matter?" He asked coldly.
Soren didn't know if he should talk about such matters in front of Riven, but seeing that his master had no problem, he decided to talk. However, it seemed Riven was a clever guy; he slipped away before he could even say anything.
"That guy…" Azerin shook his head, gazing at Riven, who was running away sneakily, thinking no one had seen him. But Azerin's eyes had not left him.
"We have some clues about who might have attacked you!" Soren informed him, to which Azerin raised his brow and went to sit on the sofa.
"I have a little idea, but do tell, what have you got?" Azerin asked, resting his left leg on the right.
"It's… It's the Queen…" Soren said hesitantly. "They were the ones who attacked you, but… But since no one had seen Azerin Noctaire, the alpha, they thought you were just a subordinate of Alpha Azerin."
"Is that so?" An evil smirk appeared on Azerin's face as if he were not shocked at all. "So, they have finally started showing their real color!" He said and rose to his feet, walking to the window, where his eyes fell on Riven.
"It seems she had planned everything pretty well!"
Soren glanced at Azerin with a confused look and then walked to the window, his eyes landed in the direction where Azerin was looking.
"Don't tell me you are suspecting this dork?" Soren narrowed his brows. "He looks dumb to me!"
"Dumb!?" Azerin was amused at Soren's view of Riven. "He might look like one, but he's very cunning!"
"Are you saying that… He might also be involved in the assassination?" Soren asked with curiosity laced in his tone.
"Why not?" Azerin said. "He even forced me to take him here…"
"But isn't this what he thinks…" Soren opened his mouth but stopped, realizing something, he added. "Don't tell me, you bought that guy because you were suspicious of him?"
Azerin turned his gaze to Soren. "You only know how to spill blood! Try using your brain sometimes…" he said and continued.
"Riven appeared at the place where I was being attacked, and even killed those alphas."
"But I've looked into him, he is dirt poor, and the last money he had was given to the taxi driver to bring you to the hotel, I don't know where he got such poison." Soren expressed his views and waited for Azerin to explain further. "He even had been a slave for fourteen years!"
"If Queen wants, she would have arranged that for him, and seeing how persistent and cunning he is… He might have caught her eye!" Azerin pronounced.
He then turned and left. Azerin had nothing to do for the day, and his assistant was gone as well… So, he wanted to see for himself what he had been doing.
____
"Damn that fucking, Alpha!" Riven muttered and cursed under his breath. "If it weren't for Soren, I might have exposed myself."
Looking around, he saw he had entered the corridor, which was unknown to him. Riven turned around, only to find an endless walkway behind him.
"Why is there so much silence here?" Riven murmured, walking back from where he had come. However, seeing the four cross-sections ahead, he got confused. "From which route did I come here?"
Scanning his eyes from one to the other, he frustratingly turned back to the same route, thinking he might reach outside from the other side. But instead, he ended up reaching outside a giant door.
Seeing the door was half-opened, Riven pushed it in slightly and walked inside.
On a large mahogany table, he spotted documents and files scattered around. "Is it Azerin's study?" he mumbled, halting near the desk. He picked one of the documents randomly and frowned.
"What's this art?" Riven moved the document upside down, trying to understand the sketch, when a hand snatched it from him.
Snapping his head back, Riven saw Azerin right behind him.
"What are you doing here? Gathering intel regarding my work?" Azerin cocked his eyebrow in scrutiny.
"No. I lost my way," Riven said, making a respectful distance between them. Lowering his head, he continued, "I saw the door open and out of curiosity, walked in."
Azerin sneered to hear his words. He grabbed his face fiercely, causing him to whimper in pain. "You think I will believe you. You sneaked in this room for a purpose, didn't you? Just tell the truth before I use my way to make you speak," he threatened.
Riven was bewildered now. "You're hurting me…" he managed to speak.
Only then did Azerin let go of his mouth.
Riven caressed his jaw, knitting his brows together. 'What's his problem?'
'Just say that the Queen sent you here to find out about my secret plans. I need to observe you closely for a while before ripping out your soul,' Azerin thought.