Chapter 30 The Intruder
Ryedir carried his dead-to-the-world omega into the main entertaining room and carefully laid him on the cushioned bay window.
The lacy curtains kept out the harsh light of the sun and he leaned over to open the window so the omega could take advantage of the cool breeze. He had only given the omega a cursory wash down before stuffing him full of his favourite fruits. The omega promptly passed out in boneless exhaustion and would most likely sleep for some time. He smelt of sweat and sex and Ryedir.
Kari smelt and looked thoroughly used and Ryedir couldn’t help the fierce grin of satisfaction.
He hadn’t wanted to do that so soon. He had wanted to wait until Kari came to him and was rewarded with the satisfaction of the omega willingly asking for it from his own free will. But having Kari trust him enough to agree was still a win.
As much as he preferred to wait, he wasn’t about to risk his little mate getting stolen out from under his nose by the trickster who had showed up unannounced.
No one looked twice at a used pleasure slave. Kari would at most receive a cursory glance and then no doubt be dismissed out of hand. Even better if the sated omega slept through the entire visit. He planned to leave the omega on the bed but the whimpering the moment he laid Kari on the bed grated with his alpha protective instinct.
He needed to keep Kari close to him.
Ryedir looked up as a discreet knock rapped on the door and he walked over as it opened. He was greeted by a cocky smile and glanced to a tense looking Trois standing behind the intruding alpha.
“Hanzen.” Ryedir stepped forward, clasping the other man’s forearm. “What brings you to Mishal?”
*****
“Prince Lezzker! I hope you don’t mind the sudden visit. I just happened to be visiting for business and thought I must drop in to see my old friend.”
Ryedir moved back and gestured the other alpha inside. The man swaggered in as if he owned the place, looking about with keen interest and Ryedir shot a look to his steward. The beta gave a slight nod at the unspoken command and left. He turned back to Hanzen and gestured for the man to take a seat on one of the comfortable recliners in the centre of the room.
“I trust you have had a pleasurable visit to my province?”
“Always. Mishal is such a pleasure to visit- good climate, good alcohol, and good brothels. Excellent for business. Which unfortunately is what brought me to your idyllic side of the world. Although I can see that I have interrupted your pleasure time.” He waved a hand over at Kari’s sleeping form. Hanzen didn’t look at the omega but instead observed him with a cocked eyebrow. “So someone finally succeeded in offering flesh to the liking of the great Prince of War. How intriguing.”
Nevis entered as Ryedir was taking his own seat and set about pouring them each a glass of Salantra. The beta bowed and kept his eyes downcast, acting the perfect attendant. The other alpha waited until he took a sip of the alcohol, clearly taking a moment to savour the taste.
“Ah, this is what I am here for. You have the supply of this excellent vintage so tightly controlled that it’s impossible to find even on the black market. But of course, I can always trust my old friend to serve some when I come visiting. Truly, I would have joined my uncle in his tours of the brothels but I want a taste of this fine delicacy first.”
“I can assure you that this year’s brew is a particularly perfect blend. Although I doubt you came just to sit and listen to me extol the virtues of my alcohol endeavors.”
“Don’t be so uptight, Ryedir. I’m here for pleasure not business. As hard as that may be to believe. Truly, you are all work and no play. Or at least so I thought until I spied the fine little specimen you have displayed in the window. He is a pretty little thing and how rare that you have a playmate.”
He gave a small, dismissive shrug. “Oran presented him to me as a gift after I did him a favour. I was not allowed to decline so I may as well make use of him.”
“Oh? How rare for the trader to give away one of his prized jewels. He must have enjoyed training such an exotic beauty. He has such unusual hair and coloring.”
The continuous attention to his little omega by another alpha had him fighting off a growl. Hanzen’s lazy grin widened as an aborted growl left his throat.
“He is from up north somewhere. Oran brought him to me untrained. He seemed to think I would enjoy training him myself.”
“Well now, that is a rare treasure indeed! Pretty and completely untouched. He must have owed you a great deal.”
Ryedir shrugged again and held out his glass for a refill. He would need the extra alcohol to get through this conversation with the slippery alpha. His questions were all innocent enough, but the very fact that he was focusing any attention at all on the omega was not a good sign. You were a fool if you let the easy atmosphere Hanzen projected deceive you. The man was cunning and sharp as a knife. He wasn’t one of the top generals in the Niamrean army for naught.
“More likely that he wanted to encourage me to purchase more from him in the future. He stands to make a great deal more than this one is worth if so.”
Never had a bigger lie been told, but he kept his expression schooled into one of boredom and mild annoyance in hopes to dismiss the subject out of hand. Thankfully, the conversation shifted onto safer subjects.
It was all going well until Kari stirred and sat up rubbing his eyes.
