Claimed Beauty (The Cubi Book 2) Read online

  “And what happened to them?”

  “If we fed on them, they’d either…holy shit, Daniel.” Seldon pulled out his phone and called Caledon.

  “Don’t tell me you can’t keep up because I’m in an important meeting.”

  “The breeder in quarantine. Is he a descendant of a washed? Is it a mutation?”

  Silence had followed before Caledon spoke. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Caledon hung up, and Seldon sat back.

  “Daniel, you should go to the kitchen and see if you can get ideas for your dinner. Caledon and I need to talk alone when he gets here, and I need a minute to think this through.”

  “Yes, Sire. Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, cub, you didn’t.” Seldon smiled at the boy and reached up to caress his cheek, getting a brilliant smile in return.

  “Okay then.” Daniel got up and left the pool room, leaving Seldon with his thoughts.

  Caledon stormed in a few minutes later with a briefcase in one hand. He plopped down on the couch, looking eager. “Continue that thought and recap how the hell you came up with that.”

  “I was telling Daniel about why and how the pureblood policy was removed. Why we started breeding outside the Nil-bloodlines. The Changelings would regress. Some would be impossible to feed on and immune to the doses.”

  “Holy hell, why didn’t I think of that?”

  “Because it’s just a small bit of unimportant history from a time where we didn’t even put things like that down as more than a nuisance to us. Before science. Before we knew of the dose and the glands and…could it be?”

  Caledon pulled out his tablet and looked through it. “I have his blood work here.” He scrolled through the information with a troubled frown on his handsome face.

  “Want a drink with that?”

  “Yes, please.” Caledon didn’t even look up from his search.

  Seldon gritted his teeth and stood with his own glass, pouring them both a two-finger Irish whiskey.

  “I’m going to have them do new tests on both the breeder and the red-eye before he dies.”

  “Dies?” Seldon exclaimed, almost stopping short on his way around the bar.

  “Yeah. He’s lost almost forty pounds, and he can’t feed. We’ve tried a few things with the poison, and it has…you’re never to repeat this, but since you came up with this idea you should know. See if it sparks any more brilliance. The poison works almost like an antidote to the dose. We mixed some with a dose from me, and it only made the poison stronger.”

  “Holy shit,” Seldon muttered and handed Caledon his drink before setting his own on the table so he could gingerly lower himself onto the couch.

  “If this is the case, Seldon, we need to keep it absolutely under wraps and destroy all evidence. What do you think the human military would do if they knew there was a poison out there that could kill us? We’re almost impervious to every disease.”

  “Oh, I see the problem, alright.”

  Caledon’s tablet pinged, and he nodded. “They’re doing the new blood work now, finding the protein.”

  “How do we know of the protein? I have to admit I don’t know a lot about biology and stuff. Not this level, anyway.”

  “We collect blood from every breeder that comes in and follow the process of Changelings very closely. Changelings have a gene code in their DNA that allows for complex amino acids to form. Don’t ask me how, I’m not a biology geek, either, but this DNA is a gene that allows them to change. We found that they can create the protein that carries the dose and breaks it down to both feed them and cause the euphoria. In breeders, it’s not a protein that helps with the euphoria. This protein is only found in Cubi, but the predisposition definitely isn’t from the Washed since there have been Changelings since the times of Nil-Kardin.”

  “Okay. And the poisonous breeder?”

  “We’re a mutation. No reason to think he couldn’t be carrying a mutation of that gene. It could be from the Washed who were let go to fend for themselves in the early days. We simply don’t know, but your theory helps us narrow down a search. Finally.”

  “Glad I can help.”

  “You did good, Seldon. So, I’ll keep you in the loop with more info than that the red-eye probably isn’t going to make it. Maybe with identifying the protein,” Caledon mused and sipped his whiskey. “So, you were schooling the cub?”

  “Yeah, it finally hit him that he was going to live for a thousand years or so. He asked about my life, and we got around to how we ended up over here without a monarch.”

  Caledon smiled sitting back. Seldon had known him for too long to not know that the smile hid something. And he didn’t think it was satisfaction that Seldon took his role as caretaker for the Changeling seriously.

  “Hi, Dad!” Rosadin yelled.

  “Hi, baby girl!” Seldon went back to studying his Lord. “Are you going to tell me why you’re smiling like that?”

  Caledon snorted and winked at him. “I’d better. When you told me that Daniel was a verse in giving and receiving blowjobs it made me think of how rare that is so early on. Therefore, I looked into it. When you told me he was a verse with Incubi in general, then his classification actually isn’t done.”

  “What did I miss?”

  “The Succubi. We’re going to test him to see if he can feed from or feed a Succubus, too.”

  “Is that possible?”

  “Very rarely, but yes, it’s possible. Lady Geodin will do it. Tonight. She’ll come here around eight so make sure the cub has bathed and stuff.”

  “Yes, My Lord,” Seldon said, thinking of what he’d heard of the versatile. Rumors went rampant once in a while saying their energy was exquisite. Daniel’s certainly was, but Seldon questioned whether it was that or because he had developed protective feelings for the beautiful boy. That and that the beauty alone was enough to make Seldon hungry. Speaking of which, he’d be starving until the morning when Daniel could be hungry again.

  “I need to move around a bit,” Caledon said. “I’ve been trapped by my desk all day. Do you want to go for a round of pool and brainstorm? Or did you stop the game because of your back?”

  “No, we can play. I suck because I can’t aim right, but we can play.”

  “So, I get to win for once?” Caledon laughed when Seldon smiled sardonically. “I’ll rack them,” Caledon said, emptied his glass, and got up.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Daniel and Rosadin had tried a new recipe in Seldon’s collection and it smelled heavenly. He just hoped it tasted better than it looked because it was chicken and cheese in a pan which had stood in the oven and looked mushy.

  Seldon and Caledon were still in the pool room, and Daniel wondered what he’d said that had sparked whatever thought that was important enough to get Caledon to hasten over.

  “Oh, by the way, I’m leaving the day after tomorrow with my team. Dad asked me to bring Heimli by to take some photos of you before that. You okay with that?”

  “Yeah. I’ve come to terms with what I’m becoming.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” she said, smiling sincerely. “And Heimli and Chas are truly great guys. So a photo shoot?”

  “You gonna do my makeup?” Daniel asked, hopefully.

  “Of course, I am!” Rosadin hugged him, and Daniel felt great. “Let’s set the table.”

  Seldon and Caledon came into the kitchen just as Daniel was about to place the plates.

  “You get your wish tomorrow, Seldon. Rosadin says she and Heimli will come by to take the photos.”

  “If your schedule is free. I’ll get back to you on that,” Caledon said, looking at Rosadin.

  “Yes, My Lord.”

  Daniel looked at Caledon, trying to guess what the Lord had planned for him. But he just smiled at Daniel and took a seat. So did Seldon, still turning the chair to sit backward on. Daniel got the juice from the fridge, and when he returned, Rosadin had placed the food on the table.

  Seld
on smiled and glanced at Daniel. “That looks like one of my recipes.”

  “It is.”

  “Enjoy.”

  “Thanks,” Daniel and Rosadin said. She poured, and Daniel wondered why a stomach would stop growling while preparing food. He almost didn’t feel hungry anymore. For food that was. The tingle had settled around his neck.

  A thought occurred to Daniel. “Oh, Caledon.”

  “Uh-huh?” The Lord perked up.

  “Seldon and I thought about reading the book out loud to each other.”

  Caledon knitted his brows in confusion. “My book?”

  “No, the one from the smut aisle.”

  “Oh, that aisle.” Mischief danced in the Lord’s eyes.

  “Yeah, that aisle. Where I managed to promise you, I’d read it.”

  “Sounds fun. And the inspiration wasn’t for nothing. I’ll have a short story for you soon. You can read that to him, too.”

  “And try it out, maybe?” Seldon asked.

  “Yeah, once your house arrest is over.”

  “Ah.” Seldon pouted. “Well, good to have something to look forward to.”

  “I heard about an incident in the library when I was in the common area today,” Rosadin said, grinning.

  “Jeez,” Caledon muttered, rolling his eyes. “What’s the gossip this time?”

  “That Lord Caledon has a favorite Changeling.” Rosadin glanced at Daniel.

  “We’re allowed, you know. Hell, Seldon is a favorite of mine, too. Why do you think he got a life sentence instead of a ghosting?”

  Seldon smiled secretively and focused on fingering a mark on the table. Daniel, on the other hand, felt thoroughly grateful for Caledon and flashed the entire Colgate-smile.

  “You wouldn’t have given others that sentence in those circumstances?” Rosadin asked surprised.

  “I probably would, but I might have folded easier when the Grand House disagreed. I fought harder for Seldon. My favorite bossy bottom.”

  Seldon snorted.

  “Which reminds me,” Caledon said, turning his attention to Daniel. “Did you know that it is every Lord’s and Grand Lord’s duty to dose everyone in their House?”

  “Yeah, Seldon said so when he told me of the Lord he was empowered by.”

  “The cub listens,” Caledon said, looking happy. “I’ll still be your doser even now that Seldon can keep up again. But since you’re classified a versatile to Incubus we actually want to test you with a Succubus, too.”

  Daniel noticed they had Rosadin’s full attention. “Why? Is that possible?”

  “Yes, it is. And Geodin…you remember her from the trial?”

  “Yeah, the Grand Lady who was asked to pass judgment at Seldon’s trial.”

  “Exactly. She’d like to be the one. And before you say anything, that’s a huge honor shown you.”

  “I liked her.”

  “You attracted to her?”

  “Well, like everyone else in this place, she’s gorgeous!” Daniel exclaimed.

  “Why, thank you,” Rosadin said, grinning at him.

  “No problem then. She’ll be here by eight.”

  Eight? That had to mean they had already planned it, and he was just being told politely to fuck her. The fact that he’d be with a woman again struck him. He had that very morning, minutes before being bent over the sink in the bathroom and fucked silly by Seldon, thought about never being with a woman again. It hadn’t bothered him, but he still thought he’d miss the softness under his touch. He liked the rougher feel of male body hair under his hands, too, the ripples and hardness of solid muscles twitching. But the soft curves of a woman were different and held an equal appeal in the sheer contrast.

  “Meaning that you should probably go make yourself presentable after dinner,” Seldon said. “More than that, show her you’re worth her attention. You remember who I told you she is?”

  Daniel thought for a second, and finally, he put the name to the face. He hadn’t when Seldon had first told him of Dahlidin. “The Great Lady’s daughter.”

  “Exactly,” Caledon said.

  “Want me to do your makeup?” Rosadin asked.

  “Please,” Daniel said, smiling at having her as a friend. He thought of how the meeting would go, and with that came the realization that the woman who came to classify him was a Succubus. Oh great, now he was nervous. A nineteen-year-old with almost no experience with women other than a few girls, and the woman was a Succubus who probably knew every trick in the book. Hell, she could have written the book on female pleasure for all he knew.

  “Calm down, Daniel,” Caledon said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

  “What if I can’t get it up?”

  Well, apparently that question wasn’t one to ask at a table full of Cubi because all he got for it was a roaring of laughter and the clatter of cutlery as Rosadin dropped hers.

  Caledon wiped a tear from his cheek, still chuckling as he put his arm around Daniel’s shoulder. “Trust me, my little cub, you’ll never have that problem.”

  “Well, that’s nice to know.”

  “At least not when hungry. You already know of the hunger-boner,” Seldon added.

  “How does that work in women?” Daniel asked Rosadin who was scrambling under the table for her knife.

  “We get all tingly and wet, of course,” she said and got up to get herself a clean knife, leaving the dirty one in the sink. “It’s like the fucking Niagara Falls decided to run down your legs.”

  Daniel chuckled, not really able to imagine what the Niagara Falls would feel like.

  “Don’t be nervous. She’ll guide you,” Caledon said.

  “And skip all the human male ideas of having to be a stud in bed,” Rosadin added, sitting back down.

  “How do you know? You feed from women,” Seldon said.

  “Doesn’t mean I can’t find a guy attractive.”

  “Guess not.”

  “But I do enjoy the softness of a woman’s touch more.”

  Daniel finished his plateful and sat back, contemplating the versatile Cubi and Changelings. “Caledon, why aren’t there books on the versatile in the library?”

  “You might be told that later.”

  “You mean if I’m one, you’ll tell me?”

  Caledon nodded. Daniel saw that they had all of Seldon’s and Rosadin’s attention, too.

  “Are there rumors about them?” Daniel continued, looking to Seldon and Rosadin.

  “Of course, there are. They’re said to be exquisite energy,” Seldon said.

  “I’ve heard there’s different levels of verse,” Rosadin said.

  “You’re well informed then, my dear,” Caledon said. “And Seldon isn’t far off, either.”

  “So, we do know something.”

  “A bit, yeah,” Caledon said, grinning.

  Rosadin sucked in air but must have decided not to say whatever was on her mind. Instead, she stood with her plate, and Daniel followed her with his own and the empty pan.

  “Do you guys want coffee while I shower and stuff?” Daniel asked.

  “Yes, please,” Seldon said. Daniel made a pot and put mugs on the table on his way to the bathroom. His thoughts were far away on what was going to happen that night, and he felt nervous even though Caledon had said not to be. But Geodin was such a strong and authoritarian woman, how could he not be nervous?

  Should he trim the bush? Shave? Not that he had a lot. He rubbed his cheeks. At least it was soft. Would it be against the even softer female skin?

  He turned on the shower, thinking that decision could wait until he’d showered. If he decided to shave afterward, his skin would be softened for a close shave. Smelling the different shampoos, he wondered what kind of aftershaves, deodorants, or perfume Seldon had and he was over-thinking everything again.

  Using the soap he liked the best, he washed thoroughly because they had said to show himself worthy of a Grand Lady. Once he was done and had dried off, his nerves couldn’t take it anymore
, so he wrapped the towel around his waist and ran for the kitchen. The three Cubi had moved to the crescent couch.

  “Rosadin, I need your help.”

  Rosadin chuckled and got up. “Come on, cub. We’ve got another half hour.” She followed Daniel back to the bathroom where he let his frustration show.

  “Should I shave or not? Or trim?” He pointed to his groin. At least she still had that friendly smile on her face.

  “Drop the towel and let me see.”

  “Let you what?”

  “Come on, get over your human shyness and drop the towel.” She planted a fist on her hip and scowled at him but the smile kind of ruined it.

  Daniel took a deep breath of courage and peeled it off. She bent and looked closer, and he yelped and sucked in a breath when she closed her soft fingers around his balls.

  “Keep it natural,” she finally said and stood. Daniel exhaled. She felt his cheeks before leaning in and rubbing her cheek against his. “Keep it, too.”

  And that was just all kinds of embarrassing because the hunger-boner rose. “Please ignore that, I’m just hungry. Haven’t fed since this morning.”

  “Hope you can still feed my dad tonight if you turn out verse and feed from Grand Lady Geodin’s dose. He needs it.”

  “I will, no matter what.” Daniel ruffled his hair with the towel again to see if he could get it dry enough to put something in it to tame the locks.

  “Wait, you only fed once today?” she asked, incredulously.

  “Three times, actually. But at the same time.”

  “Still, no matter how many orgasms I get from one roll in the hay, I still need it spread out three times a day.”

  “Would that mean you’re a…” He didn’t really know how to label that one.

  “A receiver, yes.”

  “Oh. Well, hunger set in again around five, but not a lot. Do you think it’s because Seldon doses me every time?”

  She smiled. “He does?”

  “Yeah, he’s a sadist, I swear.”