She laughed and turned to the shelves to find a deodorant, smelling them until she found one. “Here. Light touch, though.”
Daniel used it and brushed his teeth, remembering halfway through that he’d already done that before the shower. Once done, Rosadin had already left the bathroom and sat by the vanity table, looking through the makeup.
“I’ll just dress.”
“Okay, I’ll get my makeup so we have a bit more to work some magic with. I’d like to try another look.”
“I trust you with it,” he said as he made his way to the walk-in where he found the last set of nice clothes he had. One set was in the hamper, and he didn’t know if leather was in the Grand Lady’s taste.
Well, he had this set, and it was good, so he put it on and sat by the vanity table. Rosadin came in and handed him a lotion which he rubbed into his skin while she found what she wanted to use. He sat back, grateful for her help. The whole process of having makeup applied relaxed him. The scents, the sensations of brushes and sponges, and fingers working his hair into place. He didn’t open his eyes before she was completely done because he wanted the overall impression of the complete piece of work.
“Thank you so much for doing this, Rosadin, you have no idea how relaxing this is.”
“You’re very welcome. I keep hoping Dad or my mom will give me a sister, but apparently, I’m to be the only girl. Now I have you who lets me give makeovers, and I friggin love it.” She giggled, and Daniel couldn’t suppress one, either. “And you’re welcome to just call me Rosa if you want. The others do.”
“Rosa,” Daniel mumbled, tasting the word.
“There. All beautiful.” She gave his locks a last few nips and tucks as he opened his eyes and looked in the mirror. Yup, she definitely knew what she was doing.
“Wow. Very subtle yet…”
“Accentuating?”
He nodded, smiling at her in the mirror. They talked shop a few minutes—Rosadin taking him through a few tips and tricks. The doorbell interrupted, and Daniel’s nervousness crashed in full force. So much for that breather.
“You’re ready. Oh, and a woman’s advice. Take your time to make yourself familiar with her body. This isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. Make her feel special. Be a gentleman.”
“Thank you, Rosa,” Daniel said and hugged her tightly. She made a content noise and hugged him back. Daniel pulled away, took a deep breath, and a final look in the mirror before nodding to himself, determined. Rosadin waited for him and let him leave first.
Upon making it to the den, Grand Lady Geodin stood with Seldon and Caledon, looking absolutely stunning. Daniel had only seen her wear a long judge’s robe kind of garment that hid her figure. Now she wore an evening dress with strategic holes in it, giving view to her bronze skin.
“Gentleman,” Rosadin whispered and gently pushed passed him to bow her head and find her place next to Seldon.
“Good evening, Grand Lady Geodin,” Daniel said, thinking he knew absolutely nothing about being a gentleman other than what he had seen in old movies.
“Good evening, Daniel,” she said, coming closer. “How are you?”
“I’m…nervous…”
“Oh, don’t think of it, dear boy.” Her smile and eyes showed a lot more friendliness than they had the days in the courtroom. She looked so relaxed, and the darkening eyes took his breath away.
“You look beautiful, Grand Lady,” Daniel said, barely recognizing his own voice.
“Why, thank you, Daniel.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “Most Changelings could learn a lot from you. A man who takes such care of himself.”
Daniel actually blushed, and Geodin giggled. The sound and feel of her made him even harder and he glanced at Seldon who, accompanied by Caledon and Rosadin motioned for him to take her with him. Was he supposed to say something? And what? Let’s go shag? Hell no. He was so out of his depth.
“May I classify you?” she asked, taking the lead to his relief.
“I’d be honored.”
She held out her hand, and he took it, leading her down the hall. For some reason, he definitely wouldn’t take her to the bed he shared with Seldon, and he knew from earlier that day that Rosadin had changed her bed linens, so he took her there. It was his room after all.
“I don’t have a lot of stuff yet,” he said when he noticed her eyes roaming the sparsely decorated room.
“You will make it yours in time, I’m sure.” She stepped so close that he could feel the heat from her body through their clothes. Daniel gave himself over, remembering what Rosadin had said about this being a marathon. His skin tingled, and upon moving in to press his lips gently against hers, the prickly sensation moved slowly toward his spine.
Chapter Eighteen
Seldon smiled even though he felt weird about seeing Daniel go off with the Grand Lady. The cub had greeted her well, and Seldon felt proud of being his guardian and having him belong to his household.
“Did he seriously just take her into my room?” Rosadin asked.
“To my knowledge, he hasn’t changed our bedding today,” Seldon said. “I’m still lying on the black blanket because the scabs haven’t come all the way off.”
“Good reason,” Rosadin said and hooked her arm through his. She looked up, smiling. “I’m so happy he’s here.”
“Yeah, me too, baby girl.” Seldon planted a kiss on her forehead, enjoying that she stayed with him for so long.
“He’ll do fine,” Caledon said, sounding like he believed it.
Seldon could definitely understand why the boy was nervous. Caledon took a seat on the couch, and Seldon and Rosadin joined him.
“Is this versatile thing an only Lords and Ladies need to know kind of thing?” Seldon asked and held his cup out for Rosadin to top off, too, since she was pouring herself a cup.
“Yes,” Caledon said and pushed his cup closer. “As you progressed through the levels of energy you have been let in on more and more. There are even things only the Grand House knows that I don’t. It’s always been like that, and I don’t think it’s going to change. It’s a security thing.”
Seldon just nodded, remembering getting a book to read over a week before it was collected again. That had happened every time he his eyes had changed and he had moved up a floor. But none of that was secret stuff—it was more like levels of an educational system. He even had his notes, and he figured it was because they didn’t have enough books to hand them out. Digital printing had changed that, but they didn’t want to send things like that out of the Great House, and he hadn’t heard of any House buying a printer of that size. The topic about the versatile certainly sounded like a secret. Another sixty years to go and he’d learn something new.
“How rare are they, Caledon,” Rosadin asked.
“If he’s just verse amongst Incubus then he is one in about ten thousand. If he’s verse amongst Cubi he’s one in…I don’t even remember that number. But let’s see what he is and I’ll look up the number for you.”
“You mean I can know, too?” she asked, surprised.
“If he is, you’d have to know because he has a legal bond to Seldon. But you’d be sworn to silence, and failing to keep it a secret means you die. No ghosting or anything, just…” Caledon ran a finger over his throat and made a cutting sound.
“Damn. That’s one helluva secret,” she said, snuggling up close to Seldon’s arm. He lifted it to put it around her shoulder.
“Once you know why, you’ll understand,” Caledon said and sat back with his cup. He looked relaxed, but Seldon had been close enough to his Lord the past many years to see when the cogs turned vigorously in his head.
“You’re making me nervous,” Seldon said.
“Don’t be, my friend. Don’t be.” Caledon smiled in a way Seldon had never seen before.
“And since they aren’t done yet, I’m guessing that’s a good thing?” Seldon asked.
“Yeah. Oh, there’s a show on tonight I wanted to watch
. You mind?”
“No, go ahead,” Seldon said and nodded toward the table. “Remotes are in the second drawer from your left.”
An hour and a half later, Daniel and Grand Lady Geodin turned up, both looking a bit more tousled and with what looked like a decent attempt to save smeared makeup. Daniel showed her to the toilet by the hallway, smiling a bit awkwardly.
Caledon turned off the TV and turned on the couch, looking eager. “Well? Could you feed?”
“Yeah.”
“How many ways?”
“She said I’m a verse.”
Caledon collapsed over the backrest and Seldon had trouble figuring out whether he was crying or laughing. Or both.
“You okay?” Seldon asked. Caledon looked up with such vulnerability in his expression.
“A hundred percent verse from my House, Seldon. Do you have any champagne?”
“Grand Lady Geodin asked for that, too,” Daniel said and leaned against the backrest of the couch.
“Behind the bar,” Seldon said, nodding toward the stairs.
“I know dick about champagne,” Daniel whispered loudly. Seldon chuckled and was about to get up when Rosadin put a hand on his arm.
“I’ll help him, Dad.”
“Thanks, baby girl.”
“Oh, and seven champagne flutes,” Caledon said.
“Yes, My Lord.” She stood and left with Daniel, giving Seldon a few minutes alone with Caledon who sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees and wrung his hands. He then fished out his phone and sent a text.
“So, I’m guessing a hundred percent verse is a rarity and pretty cool to have in your House?” Seldon still wondered who the last two glasses were for.
Caledon just nodded with an awestruck smile on his face. Geodin chose that moment to emerge from the toilet and Caledon jumped to his feet immediately. Seldon fought his way up, but what surprised him and made him stay seated was that the two hugged. He’d never seen them that close.
They hugged for a while, murmuring incoherently.
Daniel and Rosadin returned with the champagne and flutes. Seldon got up, feeling underdressed in his loose pants and no shirt while both Daniel and Geodin looked freshened up and his daughter looked classy as always.
Caledon reached for the champagne, looking at it for a few seconds. Then he handed it to Seldon. “Do the honors, please. But wait for your sons.”
“Oh,” Seldon said, glancing at Rosadin. She looked as confused as he felt. Caledon’s phone burped, and he looked at it, nodding. The phone burped again, and Daniel snickered.
“They’re on their way,” he said and took a seat along with Geodin.
The front door opened, and Marcadon stormed in, almost slamming the door behind him.
“Marcadon, the door has a handle!” Seldon said, getting up.
“Sorry, but Lord Caledon asked me to get here pronto. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We’re…about to have a glass of champagne.”
“Champagne?” Marcadon exclaimed and looked around. “My Lord.” Then he saw Grand Lady Geodin and bowed a bit deeper. “Grand Lady. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise…” She glanced at Seldon who for a second completely lost his bearings.
“Marcadon. I’m sorry. Marcadon, Grand Lady Geodin.”
The front door opened and slammed again, and Seldon squeezed his eyes shut. But if Talidon had understood whatever Caledon had texted them the same way as Marcadon then he was happy his son hurried through the door.
“Dad, you okay?”
“Yes, Talidon, come in. We have guests. Lord Caledon and Grand Lady Geodin.” Seldon looked at Caledon.
“I’m sorry for the cryptic hurry up message. But now we’re all here. Please, cubs, have a seat. Seldon, would you do the honor of popping the cork? It is your boy after all.”
Talidon followed Marcadon around the couch, stopping short when he noticed Geodin. He introduced himself gallantly and sat next to her.
Seldon smiled and took the bottle, wondering when he was going to be let in on why this was such a big deal. And he certainly hoped it was cause to pop a two hundred dollar bottle of champagne. The cork popped, and he poured into the glasses.
“Cheers.” Caledon held up his flute, the rest following suit before drinking the very expensive bubbly. Apparently, it was for a time like this, judging by the looks on the Lord’s and Lady’s faces.
“Tomorrow at ten, the five of this house will be picked up. Look your best. You’ll be wearing the shirt until you get to the Grand House, and then you can take it off,” Caledon said, looking at Seldon whose stomach dropped at his entire house and children being invited. What that hell did this mean?
“I’m guessing this isn’t a bad thing since we’re drinking champagne, but…” Daniel looked troubled by all of it and Seldon knew by then how bad he was with sudden changes.
“It’s just because your kind is very rare,” Rosadin said, moving to stand on the other side of Daniel, so he was flanked by her and Seldon. “Makes you kind of a status symbol, I guess.”
“Do we get to know why we’re drinking champagne?” Marcadon asked Seldon.
“Yes,” Caledon said, looking to Geodin. She just nodded formally. Caledon went around the table to stand by the far side of the crescent couch to be able to see everybody.
“Okay. I called you here for this because you are Daniel’s legal family with Seldon. So, you’re going to be told what a versatile is.”
Marcadon sucked in air, then seemed to think better of it.
“Yes, Marcadon?” Caledon asked.
“Just…they can feed from both genders, right?”
“They can. Which is why Grand Lady Geodin is here. She has just classified Daniel. So, he’s a one hundred percent versatile feeder. And not even a week old.”
“What does it mean?” Daniel asked.
“It means you’re very special.” Caledon found a piece of paper in his back pocket. “But what I have to tell you next…you should sit down.”
They all sat, and Seldon took Daniel’s hand to show support for whatever came next. It couldn’t be bad since they were drinking champagne but he really didn’t like being kept in the dark when it regarded Daniel.
“I had you give a blood sample a few days ago,” Caledon said. “Standard procedure where we check for a protein only found in Cubi born. And you’re Cubi born.”
“What?” Daniel exclaimed, looking to Seldon, but he was as surprised as Daniel. But it would explain his quick adaptation. But not the part about being versatile. Well, he didn’t know if it did because he still hadn’t figured out what that meant.
“Daniel, to understand what I’m about to tell you, this means I’m going to have to let you all in on a secret. The Grand House has approved this, and you are all sworn to keep it a secret. Understood?”
A collective “Yes, My Lord,” sounded from Seldon and his children before they looked to Geodin who nodded, still smiling.
“Okay,” Daniel said, but he didn’t sound okay. Seldon put an arm around him, happy when the boy leaned into him for comfort and strength.
“Seldon informed you of some of our history earlier. That we came here to multiply. All purple-eyes still hunt amongst humanity under camouflage. Incubus once a year, Succubus when they’re able and ready. We then find the most beautiful and strongest person we can. And we impregnate or let ourselves be impregnated by this human.”
“Why haven’t I ever heard of this?” Seldon asked.
“Because this is information that isn’t given until you become a purple-eye.” Caledon looked at Daniel again.
“But what if it’s a Changeling? Your dose could kill them?” Daniel asked, and Caledon smiled proudly at Geodin.
“We don’t dose them. We drink the blend like I told you about and we seduce. We breed because the Halfling offspring of a purple-eye is strongest. But the point here is. Your dad in the real world isn’t your biological dad. Your dad is an Incubus. We’r
e trying to track him down right now.”
“Someone hunted my mom?” Daniel gaped.
“Bet she’s beautiful.”
“Fuck, yeah!” Seldon said, getting Daniel’s attention. “I googled you when you got here.” Seldon shrugged.
“What does all this mean?” Rosadin asked, taking Daniel’s hand.
“It means, Daniel will get purple eyes. It also means that Seldon will probably be leaving his station as head of training.”
Seldon’s stomach dropped. “Yes, My Lord. May I ask why? And…what I’ll be doing then?”
“You will be Daniel’s right hand, doser, teacher, friend, confidant, cook…whatever his Majesty might need.”
“Come again?” Daniel burst.
“You’re a royal, Daniel. Only the Royals are one hundred percent verse so when you, Seldon, said he was verse with you during classification, I had to move on it and get the boy classified by a Succubus, too.” Caledon held out his hand toward Geodin who looked proud.
“My boy’s a king?” Seldon asked, feeling a strong sense of both pride and panic rise.
“What does it mean?” Daniel asked in a tiny voice.
“It means your life will change…again,” Caledon said, handing Daniel the paper. “Learn, evolve, but you will be dosed daily by yours truly, too, because the more potent the doses the faster you will rise. You’ll be dosed daily, too, Seldon. You will be with Daniel and support him in becoming King of this monarchy. A monarchy that has been without a monarch since its establishment under Grand Lady Geodin’s mother, the Great Lady Dahlidin.”
Daniel slumped against Seldon, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging agape. Not exactly an expression worthy of a royal, but he was just a boy. And the thought hit Seldon like a sledgehammer.
“The consequences of an early dose? How much more did I hurt him?” The thought made him nauseous, and his heart hammered away in his chest. He even began to shake, and that got Daniel’s attention.
“Have you ever met a royal, Seldon?” Caledon asked. Seldon shook his head and glanced at Daniel. “They are very powerful…their doses are three times stronger than non-royal Cubi at any level. Which reminds me, Daniel, would you mind if I gave you a physical?”
Claimed Beauty (The Cubi Book 2) Page 21