Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "Mother! Father! Look!"

  Turning to look at their pups, both Kiyoshi and Yokiyo went wide eyed when she let go of her brother's hand and started backing up. Katana taking unsteady steps following her. He was just barely six months old and was already walking. Just as he got to his sister and hugged her legs, Yokiyo squealed as she ran to them and lifted him as she spun around in a circle. "My boy is walking already! Oh I am so glad that I didn't miss it!"

  Watching with a smile, Kiyoshi crossed his arms as his mate spun around with Katana, while Kiara looked at her with wide eyes. If only Imae were there it would have been a perfect family moment. Though he was pleased that the mating that she chose, gives her a position of power, and perfect for one of his pups. For a while at the very least, she will be Lady of the East, and have just as much power as her mother does. 'Now if only she can bond like her mother, that would be ideal.'

  X

  Nestled in her mate's arms, Sorae couldn't help but smile as she looked over at Yukani, Kamui and Koto. She was elated that Yukani had decided to come back to the Southern Shores for a few years with a new pup. And even more elated that she was finally a mother. It really did her heart good to see that both of her pups were mated, had families and happy.

  Smiling as he looked down at his mate, Kurosai sighed. "You are thinking again."

  Looking up at him as she laughed with a smile, Sorae sighed. "I was thinking about how happy I am that both of our pups are happy and both finally have pups now. I was really starting to wonder if Yukani would ever have one. I was so worried that she was more like Mama than I was and wouldn't even get to have one."

  Kissing the top of her head, Kurosai laughed as he also looked over at his little girl with her own. "I doubt with your mother on the other side, she would have let her first granddaughter go without at least one pup. She wasn't like that and you know it. If there was anything she could do from that side, she would have done it."

  "I know." Closing her eyes as she took a deep breath, Sorae smiled as she thought of her mother. "Mama would have loved to have been here to see Imae, Kiara, Katana and Koto."

  Smiling as his own eyes half closed, Kurosai sighed himself. "I know what you mean. My parents would have loved to see these next two generations come and grow up. I do believe that my mother would have spoiled all the girls even more rotten then you do."

  Laughing as she looked up at him with a smile, Sorae shook her head. "Are you sure about that?" When all she got was a nod, Sorae laughed as she turned her head back straight. "I am just grateful that our pups found who they were meant to be with and had pups of their own. No matter how it started at first either."

  "I still want to know how Yokiyo was able to give birth to not one but two half demons." With a laugh Kurosai winked at Sorae. "Don't even give me that look, yes she is like one of our own, just like Kamui now. But I didn't warm up to her as fast as you and Yukani did."

  Laughing, Sorae turned fully in his arms and laid her hands on his chest as she smiled up at him. "True. But with Kiara and Katana being demon or half demon, the end result would have been the same. Just like Imae wiggled her way into your heart, so would Yokiyo."

  "I never said that." Kissing her to stop any further words, Kurosai smiled as he pulled his lips back. "I wouldn't change the way that my pack has turned out either Sorae, so don't worry about it. Right now I am looking forward to going home and relaxing, quality time with you, and spoiling that little girl over there as much as we can."

  Giggling as she leaned her head in on his chest, Sorae sighed. "I think that sounds perfect to me."

  A New Heir Chapter 111

  Falling to the ground and then catching his mate as she slipped from her dragon into his arms. Turning he was not at all shocked to find a very annoyed Ayame walking toward him. Sitting her down as her dragon flew to her shoulders, Sanzo sighed. "What is it Ayame."

  Holding her head high, Ayame took a deep breath as she reached them. "Your court is awaiting you Sanzo. Every single one of them. Now."

  Turning a glare on her as he crossed his arms, Sanzo hissed. "And let me guess. You told them of my 'weak human mate' and that is why they want to see me. Sound about right?"

  "Exactly." Holding her head high, Ayame refused to budge. "Seeing as to you I am just the annoying little sister and I have no real say in anything in the East. The court does. They deal with things across the Land for you. Perhaps if you hear it from…."

  "Oh just stuff it will you?" Imae rolled her eyes as she walked on past her and toward what would obviously be the main entrance to the palace. She could almost laugh at the look of shock on the bird's face. "Because I bet you didn't tell them that I put you in your place. Or that I stood on my own side by side with your brother in the war. You just left that out of everything I am sure."

  With a hiss, Ayame glared. "What do you think?" Her eyes narrowing as the miko didn't even look back at her.

  Stopping next to his sister, Sanzo hissed at her and then glared as she turned her own glaring eyes to him. "After this Ayame, get the hell over it. She isn't going anywhere for a long time to come and you need to come to terms with it however you want too. But stop trying to push her out, or you will be out." He then turned and caught up with his mate as they entered the palace. Both of them were livid right now. Everything with his sister reaching it's breaking point. And he would make sure she knew that what he said was not just an empty threat once everything with his court.

  Reaching the room where the court meetings happened, he stormed in and glared at all twelve of them as they stood with glaring eyes. "Alright first and foremost…."

  "I will deal with this." Imae walked around Sanzo and kept her eyes closed as she took a deep breath and crossed her arms. "After all this is because I am here anyway."

  Stepping up, Itsu slammed his hand down on the table with a glare as he pointed with his other hand. "Who exactly do you think you are human that you think you can just take charge like that!? We will talk to our Lord only. Without his pet with him."

  Flinching as he scrunched up his face, Sanzo just kept his mouth shut. Imae did not like being called anything but Imae. And he knew that Itsu was in for it. But they needed to see exactly what she is made of, and sooner rather than later would be nice."

  Opening eyes to reveal a glare and a resolve to do what she had to right now, Imae tensed. "I am his mate you feather brain. If you would use your damned nose you would know that by now. You think that I am so weak that you can push me around? That I am a hindrance to my mate? Then by all means see if you can take me out. Whomever thinks they are big enough, leap. Or come at me all together I don't care. The end will be the same. I will be standing, not winded at all and you will all be in one unconscious heap on the floor. So just do us all a favor and just shut the hell up and accept it. Or have your asses handed to you."

  Waving his hand in the air, Itsu ignored the human and stormed toward his lord. "Do you see My Lord! This is one reason why a human should have never become your mate in the first place! She thinks she can take charge and do whatever…." But then he gasped as his eyes squinted shut when he went flying through the air to the wall. Looking down there was a perfect burn mark on hi stomach. "What in the hell?"

  Pulling one of her still sheathed swords from her hip, Imae stood there with closed eyes as she glowed blue just like her mother. "The next time I will slice you in half. You want to talk about manners? Not one noble in my father's court dared to speak against it when he adopted me. Or when he took my mother as his mate. Not a single one of them said a damn word. Because they all knew that he would have killed them and been done with it. For each one of you, there are ten more nobles out there that want to take your place. It would seem that My Lord has let his court get away with too much. That will end now."

  "You bitch!" Itsu glared as he hissed at her. How dare she speak to him like that! She would learn the hard way. But his eyes flicked for a moment to Sanzo. With everything going on with his 'mate' it did
bother him that he seemed to be just enjoying the show. But he was going to show him how weak she was and how wrong he was! He then charged her.

  Imae watched as he charged her and then focused her purification into her speed. Just before he got to her she moved as fast as any demon and was behind him, slamming her blade through his chest pulling a gurgle from him before she flared her purification and turned him to dust.

  Opening her glaring eyes to the rest of the nobles that were plastered on the other side of the wall, Imae took a deep breath as she put her sword back in place. "What Lady Ayame did not tell you was that I have already stood tall with My Lord and fought in the war against Motoichi and have earned the respect and acceptance of his army. I have also put her in her place as well. I am not some weak ninny that needs to run to him for protection, nor would I ever. We work well together already, and will do so in running the East. Do anymore of you have a problem with me?" With a sigh, Imae relaxed as all eleven heads shook back and forth with vigor. "That is good. I am Imae. I am sure that I will learn your names in due time."

  With a laugh as he gave his court a salute, then scooped up his mate and threw her over his shoulder as he left the room with her. "That was great. But we have a few other places for you to see right now my love."

  Pushing on his back so that her head was up, Imae glared at him. "You didn't have to throw me over your shoulder like that. Couldn't you have just grabbed my hand?"

  Closing his eyes as he laughed, Sanzo just kept walking. "I know that but this is so much more fun."

  Rolling her eyes, Imae dropped her head as she sighed. "Oh thanks a lot."

  Turning a corner, Sanzo stopped and sat her feet on the floor then smiled brightly at her as he took her hand and pulled her down just a little ways, stopping at the door. "This love is going to be the room that you share with me. Now that it isn't just me, you can decorate it however you want." He then reached out and opened the door. Both walking in just as the setting sun filled the room through the large windows.

  With wide eyes, Imae slowly walked on in the room. There was a huge bed that she could swear was bigger than her parents bed. Lots of room to move around in. Moving on she walked out the doors to the balcony and gasped when she saw the view. She could see mountains in the distance and the sun was casting shades of blue, pink and orange as it set. "I think this view is more beautiful than the view from the Southern Shores Palace in the South. And I never thought I would see anything more beautiful than that."

  Walking up behind her, Sanzo smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and sighed. "And this is the view that is yours for the rest of your life to enjoy."

  With a giggle, Imae turned in his arms and smiled up at him as she let her hands run up his chest and twine around his neck as she stood up on his toes. "And I will cherish every sunset I see. Whether it is for the next fifty years, or the next fifty thousand years. Because I will be able to see it with you."

  "That's good." Sanzo then pulled a gasp then a moan as seared her mouth with his as he lifted her into his arms. Headed back in the palace and for the bed he felt a contentment he hadn't for a long time. He was mated. To a beautiful, deadly, sweet, stern, and absolute perfect woman. What her species was didn't matter to him. All he knew was that she was perfect for him in every way, and she loved him.

  X

  With her arms crossed, Ayame sat in the garden as she glared down at the koi pond. She couldn't believe that her plan hadn't worked. She had hoped with as riled up as she had all twelve of them that one of them would have had a chance to take her out. But no. Only Itsu had the balls to try and do something, and he was the weakest one of all of them!

  Kicking a small rock into the pond making the koi scatter, Ayame took a deep breath. "And now if he doesn't have a son with her, it will be up to me to produce the heir for the East. Damn him."

  "My Lady…"

  Not even looking up at him, Ayame didn't stop glaring at the water with hard gold eyes. "Atsana, if my brother sent you out here to get me for any reason, I want nothing to do with him right now. He has no clue what he has done by bringing her into this palace as his mate."

  Standing next to the bench she sat on, Atsana smiled at her. "I do believe that your brother knows very well what he has done My Lady. Though he was somewhat nervous, knowing what his demon was doing, and not sure what hers was going to do.

  Shaking, Ayame hissed then let out a sigh as she let her body go limp with a single tear falling from both of her eyes. "No he doesn't have a clue. Even if I say 'Oh well nothing I can do now.' And try and be best friends with her. Everything is going to end horrible. The chances of her mating like her mother don't exist like they hope. I am not even sure exactly how Yokiyo did it, but there is no way it would happen again. She is going to die at some point, and I will be the one left behind to pick up the pieces of at least one, maybe more if they can have chicks, broken heart because of it."

  "My Lady….."

  "Really Atsana?" Turning her glare on him as she sighed and then closed her eyes as she dropped her head. "Please don't try to tell me another time that he knows what he is doing. I know he does in a way, but he is thinking about the here and now. Not what is going to happen in fifty or sixty years when she is gone. Or even in ten or twenty years if she doesn't get pregnant. Or if he only ever has one daughter. If she gets pregnant at all."

  Moving around to stand before her, Atsana smiled as he reached down and took her hand, and walked toward the palace. Pulling her along with him as he did. He had to fix things with her brother, and get her in a much better mood before he told her what he really wanted with her.

  Trying to pull her hand free of his, Ayame glared up at him. "Atsana what are you doing? Would you just let go of me already!"

  "Not just yet." Atsana then turned into the library and stopped just inside causing her to run into his back. Turning he turned her and pointed up and watched as her eyes filled with more tears when she saw the portrait of herself and her mother, done days before she was murdered. "Tell me one thing My Lady. Would your mother agree with what you are doing when it comes to your brother and his mate? Do you really think that she would be trying to make her send him away and doom him to spend eternity without a mate just because she is a miko?"

  Her eyes on her mother's soft gold eyes, Ayame let more tears stream down her eyes as she took a ragged deep breath. "No she wouldn't. But I promised her that when he was Lord I would help him with the East. Keep it strong."

  With his hands on her upper arms, Atsana sighed as he smiled down at her and rubbed his hands up and down from her shoulders to her elbows and back. "What do you think is going to make your brother stronger? The East is strong when he is strong and full of conviction and confidence. Now tell me what would make him stronger My Lady. A mate that will stand with him for the East. Or so preoccupied pinning for and constantly thinking of the only mate he would ever have that he sent away. Tell me which do you think would get him killed faster?"

  Her eyes wide, Ayame dropped her head as she sighed. "I hadn't thought about it that way honestly. It is just that…." She then closed her eyes tightly as she covered her mouth for a moment. "I know that she and her mother are not the one that did it. But to me it feels like Sanzo threw the fact that it was a miko that killed papa to the wind just because she has a pretty face."

  "That is not the case My Lady. When a male sees a woman with a pretty face, even ones that mate for life like us. That face could spur them into sleeping with them if they are not mated or bonded. But when he sees the face of the woman that he wants to mate, her status, age, or species has no play in it. All that matters is that woman completes him in every shape of the word. Whether it is the adopted miko daughter of Lord Kiyoshi and Lady Yokiyo, or some random demon that has the lowest station in the world. He wouldn't have fought it and went after her." Turning her to face him, he reached up and touched under her chin, pulling her shocked eyes up to his. "And you know as well as I do that your brother would no
t have brought a miko he thought could have been responsible for the death of your father into this palace unless her head was on a steak."

  "I know but…."

  Laughing, Atsana smiled sweetly at her. "I am much older than both you and your brother My Lady. Your brother has been like your father from the day he was born. Impulsive, loud, always joking around. However when it comes to serious matters, he does a total flip and is serious when dealing with it.

  Dropping her head again, Ayame sighed. "I know that. I really do. I guess part of it is I have looked at mikos as the enemy, all of them since Papa. I don't know how to look at them any other way."

  Seeing this as a good a chance as any, Atsana smiled at her. "Perhaps if you were not focusing on what your brother is doing, it might help you to be able to see her for what she is, and who she is. The adopted daughter of Lord Kiyoshi, and your brother's mate, and that's it."

  Giving him a hard look, Ayame was breathing hard. "And just what am I supposed to focus on then? It is not like I can do anything but have it slap me in the face no matter where I go. It isn't like I have an eventful life you know." She then turned away from him and took a few steps away from him as she crossed her arms. "I will just have to see about going to our vacation palace I think. It is the only way that I would be able to do anything but lament it."