History of Beauty

by Meraki P. Lyhne

  Being the Nol certainly earned him some attention and goodwill. He’d have to remember not to take advantage of that.

  “Both Foldon and Halfe said I needed to gather warriors. But I don’t know how.”

  Mother walked closer to Elakdon, and he put an arm around her to walk with her back to the hall. Once she’d told Yri to go pluck the chicken and have Sigarr fix what the fox broke, they took a seat by a table, and Mother took his hands.

  “I’m not qualified to advise a Royal on how to run his Kingdom.”

  “Then how about a High Mother teaching a newborn Prince how to communicate with the other High Fathers and Mothers? I don’t know any of them, yet I’m sure you’re the ones to ask about what goes on in your areas.”

  “Now that, I can do. When you and Foldon leave for Ladby, four other riders will be dispatched at the same time to break the news of your Empowerment. We could ask them to ask every High Father and High Mother to allow their best and bravest to travel to Ladby.”

  “That sounds like a good start.”

  “Each High Father and High Mother will then send out riders until your entire Kingdom has been informed.”

  “Won’t we just end up with Houses being visited over and over again with the same news?”

  “No, we’ll use the same information grid we use when giving or taking in new Cubs to be empowered. Like Yggdrasil’s crown and roots combine the nine realms, so does our network branch out to connect your Kingdom. But you must choose riders to go to your allied Kings and Queens. You must do this quickly.”

  Elakdon could only think of one man for that task, and he was in Ladby. And human. Not that that would matter, he guessed. “Do you know any good long-distance riders?”

  She smiled and squeezed his hand.

  “Don’t you? From Ladby, maybe? Look at everyone around you and weigh their skills. The ones who can cover you and your Kingdom’s needs the best should be the ones you choose to have aid you. It’s how I run this House, and it works.” She looked around, seemingly proud of what she’d accomplished. And Elakdon had to hand it to her—she ran a tight House. “I lived with a Queen for many years, did you know that?”

  Elakdon perked up. “Then you are at this moment the most qualified to advise me, Mother.”

  “I shall write her and inform her of your Empowerment in my House. I will dispatch the rider, too, and inform her that you are busy securing your place and finding the area to build your House.”

  Elakdon hadn’t thought that far.

  “What are your thoughts so far?” Mother asked, and as before, nothing escaped her attention.

  “Hump every Cubus with a dose that can make my toes curl and hump them all day long.”

  Mother leaned back and laughed loudly. She laughed for minutes, slapping the table, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Elakdon couldn’t help but join in.

  She finally wiped her eyes, still hitching from laughter. Elakdon did the same, and to his irritation, he discovered the fits of laughter had caused a hiccup. Mother left her seat, chuckling, and returned with a pitcher of water for Elakdon to drink from.

  “The Queen I grew up under was like that, too. I think it’s normal for your kind, and I think that’s why the hunger kept burning you. You weren’t feeding widely enough. You can feed on anyone, and you can feed anyone, too, no matter their classification. You are the blood of your people. You hold the dose that all need, and…this is secret.” She leaned closer and took his hands, locking gazes with him. “What you said when you claimed Foldon is natural for you, too, but I’m not the one to tell you about all this. I shall write Nil-Savadin and ask her to come to you. That is normal for a Royal, too, and she is an old and wise Queen.”

  “Thank you, Mother.”

  “Once she has empowered you, your eyes will definitely be red. Your dose will be much stronger, though. Wait with empowering Foldon until you’ve been empowered by Nil-Savadin. Wait so you can make him strong.”

  “I promise.”

  “Until she arrives, surround yourself with the smartest people you know, the most loyal, and the most eager to feed you.”

  And the bravest, Elakdon added mentally, thinking about his House Brother. The smartest person he knew was a green-eye back in Ladby where he was from. He seemed to know everything that went on around him, yet he never gossiped. There was also a blue-eyed, and she liked seducing travelers, so she always knew what went on in the world. She was more prone to gossip but in a fun way, and she never relayed the information as if she was certain of it.

  “May I enclose a letter along with your own? For Nil-Savadin?”

  “Of course, you may. Come.” They went to her high seat at the head of the hearth, and she looked in a box under the seat. “How good is your Cubi?”

  “High Father insisted on us learning it, so I speak it well. I write it, too.”

  “I, too, insist on it, but I don’t school Changelings and Younglings until after their hunger settles. I expect Cubi born to be taught from when they’re Cubs.” She placed materials on the floor between them. “Have you written with these materials before?”

  “No, we usually carved the Cubi symbols in wood.”

  “You may, if you prefer, of course. I was taught other ways.”

  “Or we can write a letter together.”

  “Together.” She caressed his cheek, and his hunger started. He’d wait until after the letter.

  The hen tasted wonderful, and Elakdon didn’t hate the fox for having secured him a tasty meal. Foldon seemed to agree. He definitely sounded like he enjoyed the meat. The fact that the fox’s pelt was strung up on a frame told of the two Cubs’ success at retribution.

  Styrk Styrr came to stand by their table with a bowl and a horn of mean. “My Prince, may I speak with you?”

  “Yes, of course. Please, join us.”

  “Thank you, My Prince.” Styrk Styrr took a seat next to Foldon and placed the bowl on the table then drank from the mead. For courage, it seemed. “May I offer to be your escort when you leave for Ladby with Cub Foldon?”

  “Only to Ladby?” Foldon asked.

  “No, of course not. It’s customary for us to feel a sense of responsibility to the Cubs we empower, and I did give you your second Empowerment. The one that awoke your feeding from Incubi.” Styrk looked proud, and Elakdon figured he would be, too, had the roles been reversed. “I will travel with Nol wherever and whenever he needs me. I will be of service in any way My Prince needs me.”

  “I think he wants you to ride him again, right here.” Foldon patted the table, grinning. The green-eye raised a brow and glanced at Foldon.

  Elakdon laughed. “I hope so.”

  The raised brow was joined by the other and a little smile.

  “I enjoy feeding from you, Styrk. I would very much like for you to join us as we set out to find a place suitable to build a House for a King.”

  Styrk settled in on his seat. “I am very handy with an axe, My Prince. The details on the rail up there are my handy work. Among others that adorn the House of Bodin Borghild.”

  Elakdon didn’t have to look—he’d sat and stared at it for days, and he loved it. “I would love to set you and your axe loose on my new House, then. Once we’ve built it, that is.”

  “Thank you, My Prince. I have ideas, too.”

  “I look forward to hearing them. It could make for wonderful conversation on our long trip.”

  Styrk Styrr grunted happily. Elakdon reached across and took his hand. The green-eye looked up, and upon their eye-contact, his eyes darkened.

  “By Loke, I was kidding about the humping on the table,” Foldon said.

  Elakdon smiled, his dick filling at the prospect. “We’ll save that for dessert, then.”

  “Yes, My Prince.”

  But Elakdon was hungry, and he hurried through his food. “I’ll be right back!” He stormed off to get himself ready. By the time he returned, the table had been cleared, Foldon sat with Mother, and St
yrk had washed his face and combed his beard. He looked very sexy the way he sat, looking relaxed, but his dark pine-green eyes and cock tenting his pants gave away the calm.

  Elakdon didn’t hesitate to dive in for a deep kiss, and Styrk responded immediately, pulling him close.

  “In my bed on the loft,” Styrk mumbled between kisses.

  “Or my bed in the corner.”

  “If you want me many times from now on and until Nótt has passed the sky, then come to my bed. If you wish me to leave yours after this feeding, we go to yours.”

  Elakdon drew back to look at the hopeful man. “All night?”

  “If you wish. Mother said you wish to be dosed a lot. Since you chose me that evening, I hope to have pleased you enough to let me dose you as much as you’d like, My Prince.”

  “Oh, you definitely pleased me that evening, and I have wanted you again.”

  Styrk howled in victory and picked Elakdon up, tossed him over his shoulder, and climbed the ladder. Elakdon grinned, holding on for dear life. Styrk stopped and placed Elakdon on his feet again, and Elakdon grabbed the green-eye’s shirt and pulled him in for another greedy kiss.

  Styrk groaned into Elakdon’s mouth and pawed at Elakdon’s belt. He managed to tangle it, and Elakdon stepped back, grinning as he took over the attempt to undress himself.

  “Yeah, good plan.”

  They quickly undressed, and Styrk claimed Elakdon’s lips again and pushed him back on the bed, climbing up to kneel between his legs. Elakdon’s body was on fire from hunger and need, and he fisted his hair impatiently until he felt fingers push into him. Then warmth closed around his cock, and he released a pent-up groan.

  A different lust took over, and the heat of a dose made Elakdon’s cock more sensitive, his balls aching for release, and finally spread to make his asshole tingle from eagerness to be stretched and filled by more than fingers.

  He reached down to run his fingers through Styrk’s hair, loving the coarse feel of his beard as it tickled his thighs. He had a beautiful beard, and Elakdon was still young enough not to have his filled in. Plus, for Cubi, he’d only been empowered, so it wasn’t until now he was allowed to let it grow. He could choose not to, but he wanted one.

  Until then, he floated away in the sensations of all Styrk did, and he loved how the hunger had changed from the constant burn to traveling prickles that seemed to intensify every sexual touch to a point where his entire body sang in praise.

  Styrk climbed up to claim Elakdon’s mouth, kissing him greedily while penetrating him. The dose kept Elakdon’s mind clouded by lust, and he used both arms and legs to pull the green-eye into him, moaning into his mouth as he felt him bottom out. To his delight, Styrk set a pace of long and deep thrusts, all while still ravishing his mouth.

  Yet, the sight of Styrk on the table, sailing away in pleasure, kept mingling, and Elakdon flipped them over and sat up to once again have the view of the Incubus as he gained pleasure from being buried in Elakdon’s ass.

  It was almost meditative to listen to the steady but deep breathing, and Elakdon timed his rise and fall on Styrk’s cock to match it. He roamed the bare skin revealed to him, enjoying the feel of chest hair between his fingers. From where their skin touched, prickles to his skin rose and traveled up his limbs to caress around his torso and gather at the spine.

  It felt wonderful.

  The heavy breathing was only interrupted by blissful moans, and Elakdon found it the sexiest sound in the world.

  But soon, the flow to his spine lessened, and he tried everything to get it back. He chased that sensation, noticing it heightened whenever Styrk’s moans and gasps grew more intense.

  Elakdon’s pleasure intensified, too, the sensation of Styrk’s cock sliding in and out of his ass caused for a steady rise in intensity. He stared at the Incubus he was pleasuring, and the sight of his expression caused a shudder to race through Elakdon.

  Styrk gasped and jerked, his breathing growing even more labored. He then grabbed Elakdon’s thighs, looked up at him, and spat a dose into the air. Elakdon’s ass warmed at a dose, and an orgasm barreled through him.

  Lust for more clouded Elakdon’s brain as the second dose spread, and he cried out and laid down to clutch Styrk close, grinding his hips to feel the stiff cock massage his sensitive insides more.

  “Yes, yes!” Styrk gasped, holding onto Elakdon, grinding his hips to meet Elakdon’s.

  They locked lips in a greedy kiss, both bodies shivering. More prickles traveled Elakdon’s body and reached the spine faster. Then it all crashed to the base of his spine, his groin feeling aflame, and then a second orgasm claimed him while Styrk shouted out his own.

  “I keep losing doses around you,” Styrk gasped.

  Elakdon sat up, grinning. “Good. Because I want them all.”

  “Then you shall have them, My Prince.” Styrk pushed Elakdon over and dove in for another kiss, the sweet taste of a dose filling Elakdon’s mouth, setting his body afire with lust again.

  Chapter Eight

  Elakdon stood by his horse and stroked its muzzle. He’d arrived at Bodin Borghild’s House almost a month ago. A week ago, they’d learned he was the Prince of the Cubi people to the North. The Incubus who had awoken that part of him was named Styrk Styrr, which was very fitting. Strong turmoil. That’s about what Elakdon had felt until the peace where everybody knelt. But not anymore. Styrk always seemed to have an eye on him. Sometimes, his eyes would turn dark green, and Elakdon would get hard and horny just because there was a possibility of feeding around. He was actually horny all the time just like any other newly empowered Youngling, but he was never out of control the way they were. He had been at the very beginning, but not since Styrk had empowered him fully. It had to be a thing for the Kings and Queens.

  He looked around, finding Styrk and Foldon by Styrk’s horse. Elakdon had two warriors now—his House Brother and the green-eye who’d humped him at least once a day since he’d taken him to his bed after dinner. Styrk said Elakdon’s eyes clouded over gold whenever he dosed him.

  It was strange that he’d almost just arrived there, and now he was leaving again. He was going back to his hometown of Ladby, which he hadn’t expected to see for a century or two. What was his mom going to say? He missed her and couldn’t wait to hug her again.

  Mother and Foldon broke his thoughts as they came to him. She was carrying something small in her hand. “I made you this.” She held up the necklace and put it around Elakdon’s neck. He looked at it and smiled at the rune magic she had crafted.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one before.”

  “You will travel in wolf territory. This rune will let the wolves know that you are not there as a threat or a competition, so they will let you all pass in peace.”

  “Does it also keep hungry wolves at bay?” Foldon asked his mother, amusement dancing in his beautiful blue eyes.

  Mother grabbed his ear, but not hard, yet he grunted and scrunched up his face. “Respect the magic.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  She kissed his cheek and walked off to give the others of their traveling party a necklace, too. Elakdon noticed Foldon already had one.

  “She also embroidered the vegvisir on my cloak. Did that a while back.” Foldon turned to show Elakdon the beautiful wheel of rune magic that would allow them safe passage in rough weather and make sure Foldon didn’t get lost.

  “I’ll just stick with you, then.”

  “You better. Me and Bót Fastfrid will make sure you get there safely.” Foldon padded his sword.

  Elakdon smiled, happy he’d get to stay with his friend. But what had made him claim him? What was that feeling? He’d never felt anything like it. It was almost…possessive, yet he couldn’t think it was jealousy—that feeling was too human. Mother said it was natural for a King, and that gave him some comfort, but he found it disturbing. He didn’t know how to explain it, so he didn’t know how to ask Styrk to protect Foldon, too. Or why he felt the need
to.

  Elakdon and Mother had sent the letter to the Queen, but he had no idea how long it would take to reach her or how long it would be before she reacted on it. Mother had said the Queen would act immediately because of his Empowerment, and that she and the others were obligated to see him through a rising of sorts. The rest of Elakdon’s questions had been met by only a sad expression as Mother didn’t know most of the answers—she’d just glimpsed and learned a few things while living with the Queen for a decade.

  Around them, the ones staying behind were gathering to bid them farewell. The two Cubs made it through the legs of some of them and ran toward Elakdon and his travel companions. They steered directly to him and stopped, so Elakdon let go of the horse and knelt to be more their height.

  “What’s up, Cubs?”

  “My Prince, can I be your warrior like Foldon when I grow up?”

  “I would be very honored to have such brave Cubs defend my Kingdom.”

  “But then I should come with you, right? I should be with you at all times.”

  Oh, how to let him down easy. Elakdon smiled as an idea came to him. “But I need warriors everywhere in my Kingdom. I’m bringing Foldon and Styrk, leaving you two to help keep this place safe.”

  “But it’s already safe.”

  “Yes. It gives you time to grow and train. Nothing ever stays the same, remember that. The gods will always test us, always give us the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy of their respect. And Loke…well, we all know what he can do, right?”

  The oldest Cub held his head high. “I will meet all their challenges, and I will keep this part of your Kingdom safe!”

  Elakdon placed his hands on the Cub’s shoulders. Thank you!”

  “Me, too!”

  “It is a two-man job, and a brother to watch our back makes us rich.”

  The boys smiled, turned, and ran off with their swords. Elakdon looked up, finding Mother within ear’s reach, smiling.

  “He’s going to hold you to that, you know,” she said.

  “I will need him, I’m sure, but I hope it’s not anytime soon.”