Natural Beauty

by Meraki P. Lyhne

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Alex leaned his head back and looked at the men watching, the red-eye gaping and with his dick in his hand. He wasn’t stroking it anymore so he’d apparently finished his business.

  Kaydon didn’t move. He looked completely spaced out with a goofy smile on his face as he lay next to Alex, halfway reclined against a throw pillow. Alex chuckled at the expression.

  The sofa bed dipped, and Alex turned his head to find Jeff perching on the edge with an inquisitive expression.

  “I’m fine,” Alex declared.

  “I can see that. We’ll leave you to finish up in your own time.” Jeff smiled and left the room, and Alex stared at the ceiling for a while. He then glanced at Kaydon who still looked spaced out. “What is it?”

  “That was, by far, the most intense feeding I’ve ever had. Fuck, my Royal Empowerments are up there, but this was…Wow.”

  Alex chuckled. “Glad I could deliver.”

  “Deliver? I’m going to be teased for a month now. If they knew it was a double, it’d be twice that.”

  “Double?” Alex shuffled around to lie on his side and look at the lax Incubus. He then looked down himself and found his right flank and face feeling sticky as if a dose had splattered all over him, and he finally understood what he meant by a double. That’s what had leaked out his ass and not just semen.

  Kaydon managed the strength to grin at him. “I only came once.”

  Alex gaped. A red-eye had caused enough pleasure in Alex to counter the dosed lust of a Sire in one fuck.

  “Oh, and I’ve found something more numbing than the regular ointment. Spray on local anesthesia.”

  Alex chuckled. “I think ointment will be fine.”

  That cocky smile. No dose to cloud his mind, but that cocky smile was sexy.

  “I hope you’re right. I hope you aren’t so sore you can’t come with me and a few of the guys bowling tonight.”

  “Guess we’ll have to see.”

  Kaydon moved closer, and Alex fought the urge to pull away so he was not touched right after sex. Kaydon planted a chaste kiss on Alex’s cheek, climbed over him, and went to look for his clothes. Alex rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling at bit longer, smiling.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Seldon was present when the Grand Council sent out the orders for hunting parties to collect natural beauties. He could barely fathom how loyal the Royals were to one another, but he was forever grateful. Soon, beautiful humans, collected without the same care for age, would be led in to be dosed by the Royals. Seldon had been quite surprised to learn that Royals could force a change in a human who didn’t have the gene to change. He was even more surprised to learn that Daniel had brought Aaron to do just that if he wasn’t a Changeling. Next up was compiling a list of those worthy of all the Untouchables being collected because Daniel and the Council didn’t care about making waves this time around. They took every natural beauty they could find from high school and up to show the humans exactly what the Cubi thought about their ideas of a halt in the Cubi population growth. They’d killed Cubi so the Cubi would replenish its ranks.

  Elakdon came over to stand next to Seldon. “How are you with the changes happening in your society?”

  “I don’t know. I’m excited about some of them. Others leave me feeling on shaky ground.”

  “And this one?”

  “Definitely shaky ground. So much new blood, so many to be taught our ways, so many to bring changes of their own.”

  Elakdon nodded. “Evolving becomes more and more difficult as we age. It’s even truer for Royals than for the rest of you. Daniel pushing for us to work closer with the human population scares us more than you can imagine, but he is the new blood of our people, and he has a point. I hate the idea as much as I feel my people need it in order to survive in a world so internationally connected as it is now.”

  “How will the humans take it, you think?”

  “Depends on the Kingdom. The East Kingdom, in particular, will face trouble because of the human religions, and that’s why the Royals work together so closely when one Kingdom has been forced into change. Nil-Sundin has ordered a population growth equal to the one here. We all have, but we’ll be equalizing our populations and filling up this one.”

  Seldon wondered how the humans sharing the nation with his Kingdom would take it. Considering how some in the military had taken it, he feared the rest, but he also knew that the nation they shared the biggest part of land with was the most divided. Half the population would probably not shit a brick while the other would go on a crusade with torches and their sacred book. Seldon had seen that before, and he’d fought to keep the House he grew up under safe from just that. That had been when the armor saved his arm.

  “My Lord.” A red-eye bowed his head.

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “The human workers are arriving.”

  Ah, yes, the latest hasty assignment of the new House of Beaudon to make room for the natural beauties. “Thank you.”

  The red-eye left. Seldon excused himself from his conversation with Elakdon and headed for the Royal Quarters to look out the window. From there, he had the best view of the front, and in the distance, he could see the machinery make its way toward them. An itch to hunt stirred in him, but that was a no-no. But maybe there were hotties among them who were willing.

  Estimating their speed and distance, Seldon waited another five minutes before he left for the wing the workers were to meet up in. The huge cave was one of two of about equal size, located on each side of the main structure. It was silent when he arrived. At least as silent as it could be with fifty or so Cubi walking around, preparing things, but the level of noise the machines brought with them made the fifty working Cubi seem quiet. Seldon held his ears as he watched from a platform high above them.

  It was a natural cave, and the plan for it so far was to become Sanitation and Recycling.

  The machinery powered down, and Seldon descended the stairs to greet the foremen.

  An aging man who, despite his balding and graying head, looked strong and…thoroughly nourished. He looked around like he was looking for someone. Seldon recognized a man of great charisma, so he had to be a leader.

  “Excuse me,” Seldon said, getting the man’s attention. A big smile and surprised eyes met him.

  “Oh, wow!” The man laughed so his belly bobbed, and Seldon laughed too. Just because. “Those are freakish eyes. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude!” The guy grabbed Seldon’s hand and pumped it up and down, smiling with twinkly eyes and everything. “I’ve only just learned about you. It’s very new to me. I’m Jerry Marvil.”

  “Lord Seldon.” Seldon liked the guy. He didn’t know why, but the guy was so straightforward, and when he laughed again, so did Seldon.

  “It’s a beautiful place you got yourselves here, I must say.” Jerry looked around, tipping his hardhat to scratch his scalp. “Oh wow, so much potential.”

  “Thank you, Jerry,” someone behind Seldon said. Well, that guy sounded and looked both dry and boring.

  “Yes, yes, I’ll unpack. It was good to meet you.” Jerry walked away, hollered some orders at the other people who sprang into action, and got back into his truck.

  That left Seldon with nothing to do but turn his attention onto the dry man in everyday clothes and slick black hair.

  “I am Mr. Bale, project manager here.”

  “Lord Lokil-Nol Seldon. Lord Seldon will suffice, Mr. Bale.” Seldon extended his hand and shook an almost limp hand. Dammit, the guy had no character while a charismatic man like Jerry wasn’t the boss. Mr. Project Manager Bale either had to have some seriously well-hidden talents, or he’d be in for a rude awakening if he thought that lip attitude was going to fly when working with people who earned their stations.

  “How many foremen are there on this crew?” Seldon asked, looking around. There had to be more than one hundred humans milling about.

 
“Sixteen foremen, but I speak for all of them.”

  “Then you get to speak to them as well, unless you gather them so I can talk to all of them to relay information to their crew.”

  A thin-lipped smile. “Okay.”

  Don’t train him, don’t correct him, they are guests. Maybe he should leave this assignment to Caledon. No, Seldon had to step up. He then noticed that Mr. Bale hadn’t moved to fetch his foremen. “Okay?” Seldon fought not to sound snappy.

  “I was hoping you would show me to the office I can use before that.”

  Why would an office be important before his crew had been informed of what to do other than stand around and wait? Seldon looked at the briefcase in Mr. Bale’s hand. He could haul that around for ten minutes.

  Nope. Seldon wasn’t patient enough for a human like that, so he pulled out his phone and punched in Caledon’s number, but it went to voicemail. “Shit. Excuse me.” Seldon jogged away, looking for Jerry’s truck. He found it about half a mile into the cave, and Jerry was chatting and laughing with a few other men his own age plus a young one who looked almost innocent. And scared once he noticed Seldon.

  “Jerry!”

  “Seldon. Fellows, this is Seldon.”

  “Lord Seldon. So few names to go around, titles are part of it. Jerry, I need you to grab the sixteen foremen and lead them through the first door to the right down there.”

  “Yes, sir.” Jerry saluted, but his character meant Seldon could barely get annoyed at the missing titles. He’d read that the crew would be informed about titles before arriving. Since they were guests, he didn’t really care, but he had to insist on the Royals, the Grand Council, Caledon, and himself to be referred to by title or the Cubi working with the humans wouldn’t know where the order came from. So Seldon mentally made the note to add that to the briefing.

  Jerry was already off, sending men here and there, and Seldon recognized respect earned. Mr. Bale caught up with Seldon, looking confused. Seldon turned and went to the conference room Jerry was leading the foremen to. Seldon hoped he was one of them because then he at least had a good relationship to one of the humans. Mr. Bale still followed behind Seldon, calling his name. Seldon didn’t stop until they were in the conference room.

  “Mr. Seldon, I really must insist that you appoint me an office so I can get settled.”

  “May I ask, what is your crew going to do while you get settled?”

  “Get settled, too, of course.”

  “And how are they going to get settled when they haven’t been given the information about where to settle?”

  “Well, they need to unpack equipment.”

  “To pack up again and move once they’ve learned where they’re to begin? Or did you not notice that everybody was talking and relaxing as we walked through the cave?” Seldon exited the conference room and opened the door to the small office on the other side of the hallway. “Here’s your office.”

  The man walked in, and Seldon closed the door behind him, leaving him alone in there to find the light switch. Seldon didn’t like him, and he knew he needed more diplomatic skills than that. He needed the skills of a House Lord, so he called Caledon again. A grunt met him as the Lord picked up. “I might go trainer on this project manager’s ass. I don’t have your skills.”

  “Of course you do, Allon, but I’ll be right there. Where are you?”

  “Conference room for the human workers on the other side of the cave.”

  “Be right there.”

  Seldon hung up, smiling at Caledon still calling him the Cubi pet name for a lover, and went into the conference room. It had the tables and chairs but no coffee and stuff. Seldon picked up his phone again and looked through the contacts. He had the number for a blue-eye leading a crew of red-eyes and Minglers to oversee accommodation of the human workers. He punched in the number, and the phone was answered immediately.

  “Master Seldon.”

  Seldon snorted. Good reason to use titles then. “Good day, Master Seldon, this is Lord Seldon. The human foremen are meeting in conference room four in ten minutes time. Will you see to beverages and snacks?”

  “Absolutely, My Lord, we are on our way.”

  “Thank you.” Seldon hung up and looked through the papers on the desk. The conference room almost looked like a classroom except the tables had been gathered to be one long and wide table that could hold about twenty-something people.

  Schematics of the floor the workers were to be housed in, off-limit areas, public areas where they should expect Cubi to feed in public, and house rules about littering and stuff. Wow, the Cubi-Human relation department had made sure nothing was left out. Seldon found a pen and scribbled the point about reasons why titles were necessary, one being the limited number of Cubi names compared to the amount of people there were.

  Seldon fired up the computer and found the three PowerPoint presentations he’d worked through the past few days along with a short introduction movie. They had to learn about hunger and what to stay clear of. Bright eyes being one of them. He wondered if Mr. Bale would recognize those from Seldon once they got to that point.

  Mr. Bale came in, still hauling his briefcase around. Seldon ignored him and tested the projector. The sound didn’t work, and he wasn’t well versed enough in that particular kind of technology to do anything about it.

  A blue-eye came in with a red-eye and a Mingler.

  “Master Seldon?”

  “Yes, Lord Seldon.” They shook hands, and Master Seldon joined his crew.

  “Do one of you know anything about computers and hooking this stuff up?” Seldon asked.

  “I do,” the Mingler said, looking to Master Seldon.

  “Go help the Lord.”

  “Yes, Master.” She joined Seldon.

  “There’s no sound coming out of this thing.”

  “I’ll fix it, My Lord.” She took over and climbed onto a table to fiddle with cables. Seldon looked for something to do so he wouldn’t be left with no other alternative than to talk to Mr. Bale.

  Caledon stepped through the door, saving him, and Seldon thought he could guess why he hadn’t picked up the first time calling.

  “Your hair’s a mess.”

  Caledon grinned and ran his fingers through it. “Had a hungry cub to take care of.” Caledon turned to look at Mr. Bale.

  Mr. Bale extended his hand. “Mr. Bale, project manager.”

  Caledon took his hand. “Lord Caledon, left-hand to Nol-Beaudon, the ruler of this Kingdom.”

  Seldon bit down hard because that was an impressive title to rattle off, and Seldon got a boner watching the House Lord side of Caledon step forward and demand respect. Seldon didn’t have that. Well. As a trainer, there was no question, but he was trying to dial that side of his persona way down. Seldon loved watching how Caledon’s persona definitely had an impact on Mr. Bale.

  “You are the man to speak to, then,” Mr. Bale said. “May I point out that Mr. Seldon has been quite rude since I arrived?”

  “Has he now?” Caledon asked, grinning. “Lord Seldon, right-hand to the monarch, and thus my superior, is usually only rude to people who are rude to him, first. Now, may I suggest we get your foremen up to speed before we focus on petty details so we can all continue our work?” Mr. Bale paled visibly. “When will your foremen be here?” Caledon continued. Noise in the hallway answered that, and Caledon came to stand next to Seldon.

  “Thanks,” Seldon whispered, trying to suppress the grin at the flabbergasted expression once Mr. Bale found out he’d complained to a subordinate about his boss. But Seldon didn’t think Caledon his subordinate because he was clearly the one with the skills to do the job.

  “Didn’t you introduce yourself?”

  “Yeah, as Lord Seldon. And I’ve been called Mister and Sir since.”

  The men milled in, nodding their heads at them in greeting as they passed. Seldon overheard a few comments about the hottie on the table as the men circled it to stand behind the chairs in small gro
ups where they continued talking.

  “You can do this, Seldon, I don’t doubt you can,” Caledon said. “Why do you?”

  “Because you’re so much better at diplomacy.”

  “Diplomacy? Did you find that diplomatic?” Caledon grinned, nodding discreetly toward the still awkward-looking Mr. Bale.

  “No, it sounded very much like what I said.”

  “Then continue.”

  “Actually, I was hoping to learn from you. This is your strength, not mine, because even though I might have said the same, then you say it way better and not like a trainer.”

  Caledon turned to face Seldon fully, smiling softly. “Okay.”

  The Mingler jumped down and tapped something on the keyboard. Speakers said ding, and she smiled brilliantly at Seldon.

  Seldon squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you, you’re a lifesaver.”

  She joined Master Seldon, and Seldon pointed to his scribbled addition to the teaching plan and whispered the fact that there were two Seldons in the room, one of which was the head of accommodating the human workers. Caledon nodded and stepped up to the desk.

  “Gentlemen, please take a seat and help yourselves.”

  The men sat. All but Mr. Bale who stayed somewhere beside Caledon.

  Caledon glanced out the corner of his eye. “Mr. Bale, please have a seat.”

  Seldon loved watching Caledon, and he was almost envious of how he could direct a room. Seldon’s strength was more in the lines of barging into a room and intimidating.

  An hour and a half went by, and Seldon had taken notes on what he needed to improve in his own skill set to talk to regular people not being trained as breeders. He’d never actually studied Caledon the way he had during the presentation, and for the past ten minutes, all Seldon had been able to think about was fucking Caledon on that desk.

  The workers took to the material in different ways, Mr. Bale sulking through most of it. Jerry seemed open and interested, and he asked a lot of questions. Seldon even noticed that he asked for some of the others. In other words, he was a man they looked to for answers. In the meantime, Mr. Bale excluded himself from the workers. Seldon recognized the mentality from before the House of Dahlidin, and he promised himself he’d keep a good eye on Mr. Bale so he didn’t impose that toxic side of a hierarchy to the House of Beaudon.