Natural Beauty

by Meraki P. Lyhne

  “Beaudon, what do you mean you want him?” Geodin asked.

  Daniel looked around the table, his eyes stopping with the Royals. Daniel stood and went to whisper something to Elakdon.

  The King’s smile grew. “Oh, I like that idea very much.” Elakdon stood. “If the Council will have us excused for a moment, we will speak alone.” All Royals stood and followed Daniel to a corner where they spoke too quietly for Seldon to hear.

  Daniel was smiling when he sat back down.

  “What?” Caledon asked.

  “They like my idea, and they’ll help.”

  “And your idea is what?” Seldon asked.

  Daniel sat back, grinning and looking at the both of them. “Collect all the natural beauties we can find. No botox, no plastic, no nip and tuck, just…perfect and beautiful humans.”

  Caledon gaped, and Seldon was sure he’d heard wrong.

  “Hoarding is not within the parameters of our treaty,” Neardon said.

  “Neither is the taking of any of the Cubi Grand Lords or Ladies and especially a Royal,” Daniel countered. “Any death, caused by a deliberate attack, sanctioned by anyone in government or military, is a breach of treaty, and they even killed children. Torture is also a breach on their behalf, and rape is torture, especially to one of us.” Daniel took Seldon’s hand. “The treaty was broken and may only be re-established by the sitting president and eight members of the House of Congress, four from each house, along with the crowned Royal of the Cubi Nation along with all eight of his Council. We have no treaty to honor because they broke it.”

  Geodin smiled, looking proud. “And when we’ve hoarded all the beauty humans have to offer?”

  “Then we take over,” Elakdon said, winking at his niece.

  “Aha.” Geodin smiled and looked around the table.

  “Next topic,” Neardon said, leaving the foregoing one as if it was none of his business. “The new clubs have uncovered seventeen Changelings, and we’ve been talking about the necessity of maybe getting more places to school them while their hormones level out. We need breeders for that, too, and we had to let go of half the ones at the old House.”

  “Grand Lady Aidin reported back that the Canadian government has been forthcoming in meeting some of our needs,” Grand Lady Geodin said. “They will send human workers here to help us finish the Great House of Beaudon, but we have agreed to not dose any of them unless they’ve cleared it with their chosen representative within the Cubi relation department.” Geodin didn’t look pleased by that, and Seldon figured it was because it made the Cubi look like uncontrolled sex monsters that would feed on anyone and anything.

  “Do they have a place we can buy to use as housing for the Changelings for a while?” Caledon asked.

  “Would they know what we’re using that place for?” Daniel asked.

  “Yes,” Geodin said. “It’s in our treaty that we may take humans as long as we don’t hoard. And they do have a place. Just outside your Kingdom.”

  “Not acceptable,” Seldon said.

  “Would you like to know the terms?” Geodin asked.

  “Any terms that reduce the sovereignty of a Kingdom are not acceptable.”

  Daniel put his hand on Seldon’s arm and smiled. He looked almost patient.

  Seldon snorted. “I concede, please, Grand Lady.”

  “It will be a neutral territory where we are allowed to conduct our training and education of Changelings as we always have. It will also be a place where the officials can be educated in our ways. From this meeting between our cultures, which the Prime Minister feels can also enrich their society, we will work together on living in harmony.”

  “I fail to recognize terms.”

  “We are not allowed to feed on anyone dosed from the area. In other words, we have to bring our own breeders.”

  “Aha.” Seldon remained quiet and glanced at the thoughtful young Prince.

  “I like that they’re open to learning,” Daniel said. “I wish we could find someone in the biggest nation we share land with, too.”

  “We can,” Neardon said. “We’ve always had allies among the humans. But being attacked, of course, makes us draw back. Being secluded the way we have been was by choice, mainly. It offered the possibility to not have to look at the broader picture. We’re now thrust into new situations, meaning we no longer have that luxury. I have to admit that I feel…reduced, somehow.”

  “How?” Daniel asked.

  “In this new world, I don’t have the big overview, and even I begin to see humans contrasted a bit too extremely. With us or against us. Nothing good will come of that. But we do have allies, and this Council listens to them.”

  “So we have allies among humans.” Daniel sounded almost relieved.

  “We do, yes. Our Minglers work with many organizations, and there are humans out there who know about us, feed us, and some help us.”

  “I thought we were way more hidden than that,” Daniel said almost to himself.

  “Where do you think the novels come from?” Caledon asked, grinning.

  Daniel smiled at Caledon. “Okay, I haven’t read as many as you have.”

  “Just know that at least four erotic authors get their inspiration from being hands on.”

  “And you know this, how?” Daniel asked, grinning.

  “Because even Seldon has entertained one of them.” Caledon leaned forward, looking at Seldon, who gaped at the knowing expression.

  “I did?”

  “Oh, yeah. Do you remember that…wasn’t exactly a dinner party, it was a rendezvous on red level, and we fucked a stack of breeders halfway unconscious. One was pure.”

  “You mean that celebration dinner invite you sent out a few years back?”

  “Eight years ago, yes. That was an author found by a Mingler. She’s still writing, and she’s still an ally.”

  “I didn’t fuck a woman.”

  “No, she writes MM, and she interviewed the breeders after that. She just watched you fuck three breeders to within an inch of their sanity. Oh, yeah, and then I fucked you to within an inch of your sanity.” Caledon looked particularly pleased with himself.

  “You double dosed me, I remember.” And Seldon really did remember. That had been an extraordinary dosing. The stupid grin he tried to stop was probably a testament.

  “Oh, I’m getting ideas.” Daniel looked at Seldon, and hunger stirred. But so did self-doubt. Seldon pushed at it, knowing it was just a remnant from getting raped. It would go away with time. It always did.

  “Would working with authors be as effective as Heimli or would it in some way assist him?” Daniel asked.

  “Yes, and this market is ripe,” Caledon said. “Especially with Cubi fantasies being used as themes at the clubs.”

  “Pursue it, then.”

  “And the authors who want inspiration?”

  Daniel smiled, sending Seldon stolen glances. “Give it.”

  “Oh, man,” Seldon said, reaching under the table to grope Daniel’s upper thigh. “You do know that an Incubus King will be one helluva bargaining chip?”

  “I will not bed a human unless it’s a Changeling. I have a people to focus on empowering.” Daniel looked contemplative. “I haven’t even seen the Changeling brought in with you. I should. He has to have been weak.”

  “A bit,” Seldon said, fighting to sound normal.

  “Did anyone feed him there?”

  “I did,” Seldon said. Daniel looked at him, a world of pain in his beautiful golden eyes, and Seldon fought to keep the secret. Apparently, Daniel mistook the pain for Seldon reliving captivity and not the pain at the Changeling’s hands. How would Daniel take the news?

  Seldon glanced at Elakdon whose eyes had hardened, yet a glint of curiosity remained.

  Daniel looked up, apparently sensing the sudden tension in the room. He finally turned his gaze to Seldon who thought he saw fear there. “What am I not being told, Seldon?”

  “He’s the one that raped m
e.”

  The golden color stepped forward in Daniel’s eyes, and they glowed brightly as he began to shiver from pent-up anger. Seldon felt queasy.

  “And me,” Elakdon added. “Yet I was able to dose him anally, prompting the change.”

  “My father?” Daniel asked, his voice shaking.

  “No. Other soldiers continued on us,” Geodin said.

  Daniel stood so suddenly that his chair skidded back and tipped over, and he was halfway out the door before the chair even fell. Seldon almost ran into Caledon as both shot to their feet and ran to keep up with Daniel, but he sped up and darted through the halls. Seldon finally realized where the boy was heading and called out for Daniel to wait, but the young Prince apparently had other things on his mind, and Seldon prayed it wasn’t revenge.

  Reaching his goal, Daniel burst through the door and stalked to the Cubus with the highest level—a Sire looking stumped. The Sire fell to his knee and bowed his head.

  “The Changeling who came in with Nol-Elakdon, Lord Seldon, Grand Lady Geodin, and my father, where is he?” Daniel demanded, not stopping as he spoke.

  “This way, My Prince.” The Sire stumbled to his feet and hurried down the hall ahead of Daniel. Seldon realized that Elakdon had followed them, and they all hurried after Daniel and the Sire.

  “Daniel?” Seldon said, but he was scared, and it laced his tone.

  The Sire opened a door, and Daniel stalked into the room. Seldon, Caledon, and Elakdon followed so closely behind that they almost tried to get through the opening at the same time, but both Caledon and Elakdon let Seldon through first.

  The Changeling sat naked on a bed in a fairly barren room, and he looked up fearfully, looking at Seldon.

  “You raped my lover?” Daniel sneered.

  “Your what? Who’re you?”

  “I am Nol-Beaudon, the Prince of the Kingdom you were handed over to live in.”

  “I didn’t ask to be changed into this,” the Changeling shouted and stood.

  The Sire grabbed the Changeling by the arm and forced him to his knees. “You will kneel when your Prince enters a room!”

  “Fuck off.” The Changeling pulled his arm free, sneering but staying kneeling.

  “No, you didn’t ask for it, but you were Changed and given to this Kingdom, so now what?” Daniel asked.

  “How the hell would I know?”

  “But why?” Daniel asked so quietly that Seldon barely heard him. Daniel turned and stared at Seldon, puzzlement evident on his face. “Why did you feed him after he raped you?”

  “Because…” How to explain that?

  “Were you ordered to feed the Changeling of Nol-Elakdon?”

  “No,” Elakdon said. “I told him that the Changeling’s life and health depended on his mercy alone.”

  “So why did you, Seldon? What compelled you to feed the man who put you through such agonizing pain?”

  “My honor,” Seldon said. “I reminded myself that I am not petty, and that I am an honorable Incubus who will honor my responsibilities to the lower level Cubi of the House of My Prince, Nol-Beaudon.” Seldon hated that his voice shook as he said that. He had to be strong for Daniel. Caledon was there for Seldon though—he felt that when the Lord took his hand, squeezing it and grounding him.

  Daniel turned his attention back on the Changeling. “Mercy. You raped a man who after that could find it within himself to not harm you and take care of you.”

  The Changeling turned his head, defiantly.

  Daniel crouched and stared at the man, and Seldon felt the air grow electric like he had the day Daniel’s people felt his presence. But it wasn’t a beautiful and peaceful sensation, it was a rising sense of unease and pain and sorrow, and it made Seldon physically ill to be near him. By the look on the Sire’s face, it hit him the same, too. And the Changeling.

  “I bet you think us barbaric, don’t you?” Daniel asked in a calm voice.

  “What I did was no different from what you do,” the Changeling spat, but he didn’t meet Daniel’s eyes.

  Seldon’s nausea built.

  “Did he hurt you when he fed you?” Daniel asked in a whisper.

  The Changeling shook his head, his body quivering.

  “Did. He. Hurt you?” Daniel asked, loudly.

  “No!”

  Daniel stood, even he was shaking. “Only one person has the power to cast a death sentence in a Kingdom.”

  Seldon’s heart dropped. Where was his place in that situation other than as the lover being defended? Daniel had once asked him to keep guiding him to becoming a good King, and Seldon’s heart ached when watching Daniel so angry. It didn’t suit him.

  The Changeling looked up, rightfully afraid, because that one person was Daniel. Or it would be as soon as he’d been crowned. They’d agreed to give him that power so early on, and now that both Caledon and Seldon had to vote if they disagreed, Seldon wondered what he’d think in this case. He feared he’d be unable to be objective. He feared he’d side with Daniel.

  “It seems Seldon’s capacity for mercy saves you again.”

  Seldon snapped his head up, not sure he’d heard Daniel correctly.

  Daniel took a resolute step back. “Have him presented before me tomorrow at noon.”

  “Yes, My Prince,” the Sire said, glancing up.

  The nauseating sensation in the room lowered, and it was almost like a weight was lifted from Seldon’s chest, allowing him to breathe easier.

  Daniel finally turned, his jaw set as if he couldn’t stop biting down on all he’d wanted to say to the Changeling. Yet something held him back. Seldon’s capacity for mercy saved the Changeling. That’s what Daniel had said, but what did it mean?

  He sought out Daniel’s gaze, but the young man was visibly struggling. He refused to look at anyone. Finally, he just left, saying nothing, and Seldon felt like a failure. He knew he wasn’t, though, he knew that none of it was his fault, yet he couldn’t stop that feeling. He’d promised to always be there for Daniel, yet he didn’t have the strength for it at that moment.

  Seldon, Caledon, and Elakdon followed Daniel back to the Royal Quarters.

  “Daniel, please talk to me,” Seldon said. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Marcadon stood, looking uneasy, and Seldon expected him to feel the nauseating tension that he did. Caledon waved Aaron to his feet and led both Aaron and Marcadon from the room while Daniel stalked to the big window.

  Daniel stopped there and stared out. “I…I don’t know.”

  “Let me be there for you, let me help you.” Let me try. But Seldon didn’t say that part out loud.

  “Not this time, Seldon.”

  The rejection felt like a punch to the gut. “Is it me?”

  “No!” Daniel turned and looked at Seldon. He looked horrified at the very thought that Seldon could think that, and it offered some relief. “No, Seldon. I admire your strength. I just…I need to think. I need to learn from your strength. Before tomorrow at noon.”

  “Let me help you, you know I’ll always help you.”

  Daniel stepped closer, his eyes finally showing something other than rage about what had happened in captivity. “I’m supposed to help you this time.” He reached up to cup Seldon’s face. “I love you, Seldon. I need to see this through without you. You’ll see. You’ll see why.”

  Daniel gave Seldon a lingering kiss on the lips before he hesitantly stepped back and turned his back on Seldon. It hurt. But Daniel had also just confessed his love for Seldon, and Seldon felt divided.

  Chapter Seven

  As he got closer and closer to the address he’d found, Alex’s heart rate sped up. He didn’t know if there was even a chance in hell that the Cubi race had opened a club or if it was just themed swinger clubs sprouting up in the wake of the rumors and multiple new erotic books about Incubi. Alex hadn’t read any of them—he’d only seen them on the internet while searching, and he didn’t have an e-book reader. He didn’t even have his own laptop yet
. But with what he’d read about the theme, it could be a Cubi club.

  He still thought himself insane for wanting to go back to them, but the fact of the matter was that his body craved it, and his mind needed some form of stability that he couldn’t find in the human society.

  He found himself silly for missing it. Missing the complete lack of control and craving for a kind of sex he had no interest in if not dosed. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Alex struggled against his feelings because he didn’t know if it was just some Stockholm-syndrome thing, or if he missed the race. Or was it even that everything was taken care of, and all he had to do was sleep with a whole bunch of men? Food, shelter…clothes wasn’t a huge problem, but everything was taken care of.

  Now his days consisted of unpacking groceries and trying to be civilized living at home and ducking his dad’s monologues about what a real man his age should be doing with his life. In short, Alex hated his life. He didn’t know exactly what he missed or why he hated being back in the human society, but he felt so unfulfilled. Examining his life pre-kidnapping, he’d felt unfulfilled then, too. That was how he’d ended up with the Cubi in the first place, after all, yet he’d never thought about that part once collected. He’d had so many other important things to contemplate.

  So, there he was, standing on the other side of the street from what looked like an exclusive club with quite the line of people wanting to get past the doormen.

  Alex had made up his mind about one thing, though. He belonged to the Prince, and he was going back to him, so help him God.

  All the stress of getting back to the human society and getting a job had probably aged Alex to a point where he’d soon end up a labor slave. He was nearing thirty. But he didn’t care. He wasn’t coping with the kind of freedom he’d finally been released to pursue. He felt absolutely worthless. Was that why he wanted to go back? Because serving a Prince made him feel less worthless? Because Daniel thanked him when he brought him coffee or commended him for a good job when cleaning the house? His boss didn’t even look at him or say hi when he passed him in the aisles at work. But the Prince saw him, appreciated him.