Claimed Beauty (The Cubi Book 2) Read online

  The purple-eyed man looked impressed as he got the second whip from the wall. Caledon stepped back, glancing Daniel’s way.

  Daniel and Rosadin squeezed each other’s hands as the first lashes hit, and Daniel tried to be strong for Seldon since the man apparently was strong enough to just stand there and take it and not even scream. The third lash opened up a wound, yet Seldon said nothing. Daniel tried the trick about looking only in the vicinity of Seldon, but when two people came in and lowered Jonah to the floor, shackling him to the foot of the pole instead, Daniel felt like he got a few minutes to look at that since it also happened on the arena floor.

  A good portion in, Daniel wished he had counted the strikes so he knew when it would end. Seldon’s back was ripped open from neck to waistline and blood soaked through the hem of his green pants. The muscles in his arms and back tensed under every strike and his legs gave way at one point, but he caught himself by still holding onto the chain and staggered to keep himself upright.

  The next hit tore a scream from Seldon, and Daniel bit down hard, fighting nausea and a constant stream of thin saliva.

  Stay strong for Seldon, stay strong for Seldon, he repeated to himself as he tried to not hear the pained cries. Nausea grew stronger, and Daniel’s mantra changed to Don’t throw up, don’t throw up.

  The purple-eyed man finally stopped and walked off, and Seldon collapsed onto his knees and just sat there, shaking. Daniel glanced at Caledon to see if he was allowed to go to him, but Caledon discreetly shook his head. Daniel stayed in his seat and watched as Seldon pulled himself together and got to his feet on the second attempt.

  Jonah lay limp on his stomach, his face turned toward Seldon, and he had long since stopped complaining. Daniel guessed that seeing Seldon take his punishment so willingly and not scream like some wuss had made Jonah realize he was one.

  Seldon finally let go of the pole and turned around. He looked even more horrible than after he had spent the night in jail, which was no surprise to Daniel.

  Daniel kept glancing toward Caledon, but he looked like he was getting ready to speak.

  “This concludes the corporal punishments in regards to Sire Seldon’s early dosing of the Changeling, Daniel,” Caledon said loudly.

  All eyes went to Daniel who once again repeated the mantra to stay strong for Seldon.

  “Jonah. Your three days of being denied sexual feeding started when Sire Seldon concluded your corporal punishment—”

  “But it’s been hours since I fed, why aren’t they counted?”

  “Are you sure you want to continue questioning how I or the Grand Houses run things? Since you apparently didn’t learn from your corporal punishment being raised by twenty lashes, we’re going to raise it again, and you will be delivered fifty more as soon as the starvation period and dosing is over.”

  “No, please,” Jonah begged, barely managing to scramble to his knees. His back was far from as destroyed as Seldon’s, and even halfway through, Seldon had looked far worse with more open wounds than Jonah had.

  “Don’t!” Caledon bellowed, and an eerie silence fell over the arena. “Sire Seldon, your skills with the whip will be needed in about a week.”

  “Yes, My Lord,” Seldon answered in a thick voice.

  Jonah collapsed in defeat.

  Caledon finally looked directly at Daniel and gave a sharp nod. Both Daniel and Rosadin got up and walked to Seldon who managed another it’s gonna be okay smile.

  “Grab the shirt, will you?”

  “Yes, Seldon.” Daniel hurried and picked it up. “You coming with us?” Daniel asked Rosadin, hopefully. She nodded, and they left the arena at a slow tempo while people yelled at both Seldon and Jonah. Daniel was furious, but he knew there was nothing he could or should do other than following Seldon back to the apartment. It was the Cubi way. And if he ever thought it would be a good idea to listen to Seldon when he schooled him and disciplined him, not ending up getting whipped was a damn good reason.

  Upon returning to the apartment, Daniel actually bristled at seeing the door smeared in what looked like ketchup and mustard and a few eggs.

  “Let’s get you inside, Seldon, and I’ll take care of that,” Daniel said.

  Seldon didn’t argue, he just stepped in and toed off his shoes, leaving them in a heap by the wall. Daniel straightened them and placed them in the rack before taking off his own and placing them neatly next to them. It occurred to him he’d never done that at home.

  “Thanks, cub,” Seldon said and moved slowly down the hall. Daniel caught a look at Rosadin, and her façade had crumbled. She looked devastated.

  “I’ll get him to bed,” Daniel said, putting a hand on her arm. “Would you make us a cup of coffee or something so we can talk?”

  “I’ll make you coffee, but I need something stronger. You can find me in the pool room.”

  “Okay.”

  They followed Seldon and split up on the stairs. Seldon stopped by the bed and undid his pants.

  “Don’t try to wash those out, just toss them, okay,” Seldon said and let the pants fall to the ground to pool around his ankles. Daniel knelt to help him out of them, and Seldon held onto his shoulders for balance. “Would you get the thick, black blanket from the walk-in? Spread it out on the bed, so I don’t bleed on it.”

  “Yeah.” Daniel hurried but couldn’t find it.

  “Top shelf to the left,” Seldon hollered. And there it was. Daniel jumped to grab a corner and was surprised at the heaviness of the bundle as it landed on his head. Yeah, the thing was thick enough to absorb anything. He hurried back and spread it out on the bed, making sure there were no wrinkles under it or in it that would dig into Seldon’s skin as he was probably going to be lying flat on it for a long time.

  “Do you need help cleaning the wounds?” Daniel asked, hoping he didn’t because even looking at them had his stomach churn.

  “It’s hopefully stopped bleeding.”

  Daniel moved around Seldon to have a look despite his distaste at the gory sight. Blood still trickled down his legs. “Almost. Not that I know how much something like this would bleed.”

  “More on Jonah than on me, that’s for sure. We heal faster the stronger we get. Getting on the bed is the worst part now.”

  “Can I help?”

  “No. If you’d wring a towel in very cold water, I’d appreciate it on my back to help ease the pain a bit.”

  Daniel ran off to the bathroom and rummaged through the closet, finding a black towel that seemed big enough to cover Seldon’s back. He wet it under the shower head, not stopping until the water was cold enough to make his hands sting. He then wrung the towel and brought it back to Seldon who was still in the process of climbing onto the bed and lowering himself with pained whimpers. Once he was finally laying on his stomach, panting and covered in cold sweat, Daniel gently spread the towel and placed it on his back, wincing as Seldon hissed.

  “How could you not scream?”

  “I did.”

  “I meant from the beginning. From the first lash that ripped your skin open.”

  “Because I’m a stubborn fucker who wouldn’t let them hear it, but I couldn’t keep it in.”

  “I think you’re very brave,” Daniel said and went back to the bathroom to wring up a washcloth, too. He brought it back and perched on the edge of the bed, running the cold, damp cloth gently across Seldon’s face.

  “Thanks,” Seldon huffed. “Where’s Rosadin?”

  “In the bar making me coffee and finding something stronger for herself.”

  “How are you? Shook up?”

  “Safe to say.”

  “Then have one drink with her. Help calm your nerves. I’ll just relax for a bit, but if you’d change this towel about every twenty minutes, I’d be grateful.”

  “I will,” Daniel said soothingly and ran his fingers through the black tousle of hair. Seldon could use a haircut, he thought. “You want me to leave this cloth on your forehead?”

 
“Yeah, thanks, boy.”

  “I prefer when you call me cub,” Daniel said, smiling, hoping the conversation would lighten Seldon’s mood. He chuckled, so it worked.

  “Okay, cub. Now, go talk to Rosadin and let me sleep a bit.”

  “Okay.” Daniel stroked Seldon’s hair one more time and left, leaving the door open so he could hear him if he called out.

  Rosadin sat on a barstool with a glass filled with some kind of amber liquor. The pool room also smelled of coffee, so Daniel started with a cup of that, wondering what kind of drink he wanted.

  “Seldon said you were angry with him because of this,” Daniel finally said in an attempt to ease into the difficult topic.

  “I was. I really couldn’t believe he’d do that, but then Lord Caledon read the verdict and…can’t believe I thought so little of him.”

  “Well, when the six other cases were deliberate, there isn’t a lot of reason not to at least think it,” Daniel said.

  “Six?”

  “Yeah, Caledon said six Cubi had done it intentionally. Still, can’t believe he’s punished like this when he was trying to protect me. I kind of get the consequence thing but…I don’t know. Still hate seeing him like this when he was just trying to protect me.”

  “You sound like you’ve warmed up to him.”

  “I have. I’m grateful I get to stay with him. Jesus, feeding is gonna be hell the next few days.”

  “What’s your classification?”

  “Verse amongst Incubi.”

  “Really?” she exclaimed, gaping at him.

  “What?”

  “That’s…rare. I’ve heard of one who turned out versatile with Succubi and he became fucking strong even early in his transformation to a red-eye.”

  “Strong how?”

  “He could dose a human while only a red-eye.”

  “Wow,” Daniel muttered, turning his cup in his hands and staring at the shimmers of light on the black surface of the coffee. His brain was shutting down from all that had happened, and no thoughts seemed to stick.

  “I called my brothers and told them what had really happened. They were furious at first, too, but not now. Thank God they were out of the House.”

  “Are they hunters, too?”

  “No, they both work in House Three, both red-eyes, but Talidon is a craftsman and Marcadon works Housing and they had different assignments out of House. They’re on their way back…tried to make it for today. We kind of have to be there if we can for stuff like this. They’ll be here tomorrow.”

  Daniel wasn’t looking forward to meeting them. Not under these circumstances because he still felt it was somehow his fault because he had worn the makeup and leather.

  “Hey,” Rosadin said and reached over the bar to put her hand on his shoulder. “What is it?”

  “I just remembered something you said. When you guys were talking, and I was eavesdropping.”

  Rosadin chuckled. “Yeah, that was an eventful day. Still angry with him for spanking you?”

  “No,” Daniel said, smirking. “But you said that you sometimes view humans differently because you’re closer to them and live in their world to hunt.”

  “And?”

  “And would that mean you look at the fault versus consequences more like they do in the human world, too?”

  “I agree that Dad shouldn’t have been punished if that’s what you mean.”

  “No, not that. I’m…Caledon says it wasn’t my fault but I keep thinking if I hadn’t worn makeup around someone so horny and out of control then maybe he wouldn’t have groped me and Seldon wouldn’t have landed in this situation.”

  “Victim blaming. Get that stuff out of your head because even though we live amongst humans and see this shit daily, we don’t agree on that. We were raised Cubi, and some things never change our opinions. Like this stupid thing.”

  “So, your brothers won’t think it’s my fault?”

  “If they do, I’ll kick their asses,” she said, looking like she was ready to. “But no, I don’t think they will. Plus, you’re kind of family to us now with the position the Grand House gave you.”

  “Don’t call me that!” Daniel said, the words Daddy play ringing in his head.

  Rosadin laughed. “What just went through your head?”

  “I am so not into Daddy games.”

  That sent Rosadin into fits of laughter. “Okay, let me tell you a bit of Cubi history that will make you understand the irony of what you just said. Before the Grand Lady Dahlidin changed our social structures to what you see around you today, Cubi lived in Houses, too, but with a matriarch or patriarch known as the Mother or the Father. Today, the Grand Lords. Cubi children were sent to serve one of those upon their maturing into the Rite of Empowerment, which is the same age as we’re allowed to attempt to change humans by the way. It was this new Father’s or Mother’s job to get us classified and dosed in a huge orgy, and they were primary dosers of their families. Not blood-related kin which is called kin, not family.”

  “Shit, so me being here is Seldon being that Father?”

  “Actually, that would be Grand Lord Ildon, but the changes to our social structures means Seldon can claim a Changeling to be responsible for. So yeah, he’s your Daddy.” She winked at him, looking smug.

  Daniel groaned and looked around the bar. “I definitely need that drink now.”

  “Top me off, little brother.” She held out her glass, grinning as Daniel wrinkled his nose at her, but he saw the irony in her smile. Daniel found a bottle standing lonely on the bar and figured it was the one she was drinking from so he poured himself one, too, and topped hers off.

  “Well, here’s to…one incestuous new family.”

  “Incestuous?” she asked, laughing, but she still held up the drink. They clinked the glasses and took a sip. Daniel wheezed from the burn. He usually cut his shit with soda.

  “Yeah, you know. My new brothers can feed from me too, not that I’m fond of that idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you keep calling me your brother.”

  “Ah. Don’t put too much into it. If you really want to turn this around, then look at it this way. You’ve been elevated to the status of a Halfling—”

  “—born to Seldon.”

  “No, no, no, hear me out. A Halfling. And you will inherit from Seldon like we will. But you’re more like…married.”

  Daniel choked on the coffee he had just sipped to ease the burn from the liquor. “How do you figure?” he croaked and thumped him chest.

  “You have to stay together for the rest of Dad’s life, right? Or almost.”

  Well, that made sense then, but Daniel still didn’t see that as them being married. Seldon disciplined him and married people were supposed to be equal.

  “Did that help?” Rosadin asked.

  “Not sure I agree,” Daniel said, but smiled at her attempt.

  “But we might be compatible to feed from each other, too, since you’re a verse. They’re so rare you might be able to feed on women, too.”

  “Really?” Daniel looked up, surprised.

  “Really, ask Dad. But be careful how you phrase it because he seems pretty possessive of you.”

  “He does?”

  “Yeah! Do you think Lord Caledon would have tried to pull this off if he hadn’t seen it in Seldon, too?”

  “Don’t know. But they did say something about whether Seldon viewed getting me as being a gift. He asked if they knew of anyone who’d been in a relationship for four hundred fifty years.” And finally, he got the married idea.

  Rosadin snorted. “I suspected Dad liked you when he didn’t treat you like a slave. I mean the hours I was there, I saw how different he was with you. This might be Lord Caledon’s reason for making you the same status as us.”

  “How well do you know Caledon?”

  “Very well. Him and Dad have been friends since I was a child. Not as close as they are now, but still, they’ve always had a healthy ba
nter. I think he recognizes the honor and respect my dad has…usually has.” Rosadin looked sad a moment. “I’m really proud of being his daughter, so this surprised me. The details out in the open, not so much, and I really hope others will see it that way too.”

  Which reminded Daniel that he had a door to clean. He’d be damned if Seldon was humiliated more after the verdict had been read publicly. And during the dinner party, Daniel did get the idea that rumors traveled fast in the compound.

  “I’ll just go clean the door before I forget. And then I’ll change the towel on Seldon’s back.”

  “I’ll help you with the door.”

  “No. This I’ll do for him,” Daniel said and drained the rest of his coffee.

  Chapter Ten

  Sleeping wasn’t easy when Daniel came in and changed the towel so often, but the coolness allowed Seldon to rest a bit. Other than that, Daniel left him alone, and Seldon heard him and Rosadin laugh sometimes. It put him at ease to know that his daughter and charge were finally on good terms considering the beginning of their acquaintance.

  When night fell, Daniel tiptoed in and brushed his teeth before undressing and sitting on the edge of his old bed.

  “Are you going to sleep there?” Seldon asked.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s okay, I don’t really sleep.”

  “Just thought it would be best, so I don’t accidently hit your back during the night. I put Rosadin in the other room.”

  “She’s staying the night?”

  “Yeah, she dug into that bottle of scotch pretty well.”

  Seldon snorted, happy she stayed. “How many shots did you get?”

  “One. I need to take care of you. And I washed the door.”

  “Thanks,” Seldon mumbled, grateful for how the boy stepped up when he was needed to. “Are you hungry?”

  “You in any state to take care of it if I was?”

  “You being a verse, sure. Just be careful.”

  Daniel chuckled. “Your oops keeps me full, I guess. I barely tingle.”

  “Okay.” Seldon couldn’t help but smile at that. “Would you take the towel off? The moisture isn’t good for much more since I’ll probably start to scab over during the night.”