Twelve Lords Read online

  With a growl low in his chest, Kurosai kept his eyes closed as he listened to the nobles of his court squabble over every little thing they could think of to fight about. And just like every other court meeting, this one was going to go on forever it seemed. Though surprised, he was finally glad to at least see that the members of his court were not bringing their daughter's, sisters, nieces or whomever else they could to offer to him as a mate. Since the death of his parents that was all he has heard was that he needed to mate and produce an heir. He was only a hundred and fifty years old, and by demon standards still very young. He was in no rush to get mated and have pups right now. The way he figured it, it would happen when fate wanted it to happen and not a moment before that.

  Scanning the nobles through one cracked eye he let out a sigh. While all the women that were offered to him were beautiful, they just were not the one. He has been offered dogs, wolves, cats, horses, birds of all kinds. They have been both full demon and half at that. But then his eye stopped on Horani. He was the only one of his court that was not hounding him to mate and produce an heir. And he knew from talk around the palace and from the other nobles he had a daughter that would be old enough now. 'I wonder why it is he hasn't offered her to me then? Though I really shouldn't be wondering that or my luck he will and I will have to tell her no.'

  Letting his eye close again he took a deep breath through his nose. That was when he noticed that there was another there that had the same scent as Horani. Not his mate, so it had to be his daughter. But it was the smell of tears coming from her that made him wonder. 'Perhaps he did bring her to offer after the meeting is over then? But then what is with the tears I smell from her? Every other woman has been thrilled to be offered to me as a mate. No something is different. Something isn't right about this at all.'

  Standing Kurosai cleared his throat and drew all eyes to him as they stopped talking. "Horani. Why is it there is another here with your scent?"

  Standing and bowing low, Horani held his hands before him. "That would be my daughter Sorae My Lord."

  Closing his eyes as he sighed, Kurosai didn't move. "She is here for what reason?"

  "My cousin lives in the North. He informed me of a noble there that is looking for a mate. I am taking her there after the court meeting to offer her to him." Keeping his head down Horani moved his hands to a praying position. "I did not bring her here to offer her to you My Lord if that is what you are thinking."

  Crossing his arms Kurosai thought for a moment. He and Chirio were on good terms. And as far as he knew all the members of his court were already mated. "Tell me the name of this court member if you would please?"

  "His name is Kosuke My Lord. He is a dra…" But then Horani stopped and his eyes went wide at the instant growl coming from Kurosai. 'Damnit! I said too much! That will be enough he will know that I am taking her to a dragon! This is not going to bode well for me unless I think of something fast!'

  Growling darkly, Kurosai mulled over what he was about to do. Dragon. That was what he stopped short of saying. He was going to offer his daughter who is a full dog demon to a damned dragon! 'None of the dragons save three are really loyal to the one that I trust. So it has to be one that works under Kenji no doubt. I am sure that it was a dragon loyal to him that helped the leopards ambush my parents the night they were murdered.' "Tell me Horani. Your daughter is a dog demon. Her mother is one as well?"

  Nodding, hoping that it will be enough, Horani smiles and tries to sound like he is talking fondly of his daughter and his mate. "Yes My Lord. In fact if not for my black hair she would be the spitting image of her mother."

  "Everyone stay." Turning and going to the door, Kurosai found Umarus standing just outside of the door. With a dark glare he spoke low enough only he could hear him. "In the court yard is a female that is Horani's daughter. Find her and stay with her. Don't let her out of your sight is that understood?"

  Giving him and odd look, Umarus blinked. "My Lord?"

  His eyes narrowing, Kurosai growled. "I will explain later."

  Nodding Umarus then turned and headed for the court yard. But the glare in his Lord's eyes was concerning for him. 'He is angry about something. If I have to stay with his daughter, I would say that Horani pissed him off.'

  Slamming the door shut, Kurosai turned a dark growl and glare on Horani. "You have been a member of this court since my father was alive right?"

  Now truly scared, Horani was forcing himself not to shake. "That is right My Lord. I was made a member of court shortly before you were named Lord."

  His eyes narrowed, Kurosai did not try to hide the anger that laced his voice. "That being said, you know that it was dragons and leopards that managed to kill my parents right?"

  Nodding, Horani dropped his head. "I do. That was a sad day when we heard the news."

  Going to the table and slamming his hand on the table, breaking it and sending the other nobles to line the wall on the farthest side of the room, Kurosai bared his fangs. "Then why in the hell do you want to take your daughter to offer her to a dragon! Did you really think that I would be alright with that you idiot!?"

  Giving Kurosai another low bow, Horani began to wring his hands before him. He was nervous and had to think of something to say that would make sense to get himself out of this situation. "With all the respect in the world My Lord, she is my daughter. And this is a family matter."

  Moving before the noble knew what was going on, Kurosai grabbed him by the neck and then flung him backwards into the wall. Like a flash of white he was there seconds later, his hand on his throat as he held him up off the ground. "Don't tell me that it is something that doesn't concern me. All matters in the South concern me! I won't let this happen. I don't care who doesn't like it. Get out. And you leave here without your daughter.

  Gasping for air, Horani's eyes were wide and wild as he held onto his Lord's hand. "But My Lord….."

  Tightening his hold on the writhing nobles neck Kurosai growled as his eyes focused and centered on Horani's for a second. Then turned them to his other terrified nobles. "I want this to be a lesson for you all as well. And let it spread throughout the land. If I hear of anyone and I mean anyone mating with a dragon, or arranging one in any respect they will answer to me!"

  Turning back to Horani, Kurosai released him and let him fall to a heap on the floor coughing and gasping for air. "Now get out. And your daughter is with Umarus. I wouldn't even try to take her with you. After you are gone I will explain to her why you are gone and she is still here."

  Moving so that he was touching the ground with his nose, just in front of Kurosai's feet, Horani had one last desperate plea to try. He hoped this worked or he was as good as dead either way he looked at it. "I had not known that it would have caused this My Lord. I will not take her to the North but instead back home to her mother. I beg of you to let me do that. Her mother will be heartbroken."

  Growling as he kicked him in the head, Kurosai was fighting the urge to just kill him and get it over with. "Do not lie to me! I can smell the deceit thick in your voice." Turning to a guard that had come in, he pointed down to Horani as he turned his back on him. "Escort him out of the palace and off the palace grounds at once."

  Jumping to his feet, Horani tried one last thing to get him to do this. He had to get her out of there, then he would do what he wanted with her. "Please I beg of you My Lord! At least allow me to take her home to visit with her mother a while so I can tell them what is going. Please it would…" But then he was once again silenced by a sharp and hard punch to his gut. 'Damnit! Why did I have to open my big damn mouth!?'

  Watching as Horani fell to the ground again in a heap as he held his stomach, Kurosai growled loudly. "Take your leave and this time, you leave for good. You are no longer
a noble of the South or a member of this court. You talk like keeping her in the palace where she will be safe and protected will break your mate's heart? If that is true then I have to wonder what sort of a part she played in this plan of yours. Get out!"

  Jerking away from the guard as he was pulled off the ground he growled as he glared at Kurosai. 'I swear someday you will get yours. And I will be the one to give it to you.' He then fled out the palace and over the wall. But not before giving his daughter a glare as he did so. Already planning how to get her back.

  Standing just in the palace until Horani's scent was gone, Kurosai kept his eye on the palace wall. Once he was gone he shook his head and headed toward his daughter. "Bastard." Opening his eyes to see the girl standing with a terrified look on her face he was taken back to say the least. To think that someone so beautiful was sired by Horani was unfathomable. 'I guess he was right about that. She must really look like her mother. The only thing that looks like him is her black hair.'

  As he reached her Kurosai smiled. "You are Sorae I take it?"

  Lost in her own thoughts, Sorae sat and starred into the koi pond of the court yard. She hadn't even realized that she was crying until she heard the commotion at the palace. All she could think about was a way to get away from her father! The one male in her life right now that she should be able to depend on for love, and protection was the source of all the pain in her life. And her mother's life as well. Even now she awaited him to force her into a mating with a damned dragon of the North! Of all the different kinds of demons in the world he had to pick a dragon!

  When the commotion at the palace started she looked up with an odd look as she whipped her tears from her face. 'I wonder what is going on?' But when she saw her father storm out, she froze. Her very soul froze when she saw the look in his eyes as he went over the palace wall. Something happened in the meeting to make him angrier than she had ever seen him. Then a thought hit her. 'Wait. Why didn't he come and get me? He has been so focused on making me mate that dragon and then he leaves me?'

  The sound of her name being said, she turned with a start to find Kurosai standing there. So close she could reach out and touch him. The most handsome demon in all of the Southern Lands. She herself having been infatuated with him for the last fifty years. So close now to see the shine in his eyes she was nearly lost. Then she registered what his question was.

  Shaking her head and folding her hands before her, Sorae bowed to him. "I am sorry My Lord for the late response. Yes I am Sorae."

  With a smile as he relaxed, Kurosai couldn't deny that there was an attraction to her. But it was different. And he knew it wasn't his inner demon. His father had told him on many occasions as he came to maturity that when he reared his ugly head that there would be no doubt about it. The question in her eyes pulled him from his thoughts as he sighed and crossed his arms. "Your father told me of the purpose for having you here with him today. I will not have it. You are to remain here living at the palace until one of two things happen. You find a suitable mate that can and will protect you against your father and what he may or may not do. Or he is killed. Whichever comes first."

  Dizzy now, Sorae could only look up at him like he had ten heads. Tears streamed down her face as her body started to shake. She didn't care if she never mated anyone. All she cared about is that he just said that she never again had to leave and deal with her father! "You mean it? My Lord I will never have to deal with him or fear what he may do again?"

  Giving her a small smile, Kurosai nodded. "That's right."

  Dropping her face down into her hands, Sorae fell to her knees then sat back on her feet as she let a sob lodge in her throat. After a moment she moved her hands to her chest. "Thank you My Lord. You don't know what that means to me. Thank you."

  With a sigh, Kurosai stood his ground as he looked down at her. Part of him wanted to keep his distance. Yet part of him also wanted to console and protect her. "I have to ask you this. Your mother. What role did she play in this plan of your father's if any?"

  Smiling as she pictured the smile on her mother's face when she would find out what happened, Sorae took a deep breath. "My mother had no role in it. In fact will be relieved to know that you have kept me here and did not let him take me to the North My Lord. She tried to stop him. But all it got her in the end was both of us beat by him." Jerking her head up with pleading eyes she took a few deep breaths. "Might she be allowed to come and visit me here at the palace My Lord? She and I are very close."

  Holding his hand out for her, Kurosai smiled as he helped her to stand up. "Of course. I will have Umarus leave at once to inform your mother of what has happened and to check on her. For now, allow me to show you around the palace that is now your home as well."

  Smiling as she took his hand and let him to help her stand, Sorae's heart was singing. "Of course My Lord. Again thank you so very much."

  Smiling at her, Kurosai turned and lead her toward the palace, giving Umarus a glance. If what she said was true, and just because she objected to the mating she was beat, he did have to worry what he would do to his mate when he got home after what he has done.

  X

  Sitting on a bench by a small pond in their inner court yard, Chiyo whipped tears that rolled down her face with the back of her hand. Cursing herself for being too weak to protect her daughter from the monster she called father. And because she was too weak to protect her, he was taking her North as soon as his court meeting was done. To force her to mate with a dragon. Seeing a flash of her daughter's bright smile in the water, Chiyo covered her mouth with her hands as she choked back a sob. "I just know I will never get to see my little girl again."

  "That isn't going to happen now you bitch. Thanks to that stupid idiot. He just has no clue what he has done and he isn't going to get away with it!"

  Looking up to find her mate now pacing on the porch with an angry and worried look in his eye, Chiyo stood up as she put a hand on her stomach, the other on her throat. "What are you talking about Horani? What happened to Sorae?"

  Stopping and storming up to her with wild and crazy eyes, Horani growled. "That damned dog kept her! But don't you worry. I will show him what happens when I am crossed. If I can't do what I want with her, I will be damned if he will! I will kill them both!"

  Her heart pounding as she started to breath hard, Chiyo pushed him as even more tears streamed from her already red and swollen eyes. "What happened to her!? What happened to Sorae!? Who kept her!?"

  His eyes hardening at her as he growled, Horani didn't move. "That damned Kurosai kept her at the palace with him. Ruining my plans! Now I am as good as dead since I don't have a female to give him. And do you care? No! All you are worried about is that little rebellious bitch you call a daughter! Damn you!" He then raised his hand to strike her.

  Seeing his hand fly up, Chiyo closed hers and braced for the impact of it. Whenever his hand flew up like that, either she or her daughter were going to be the one that he took his anger out on. But after a second when the impact never happened, she registered that there was another scent! Opening her eyes to see Horani glaring with a palace guard she stumbled backwards and fell down to her behind. "What is going on here?"

  His eyes locked in battle with Horani's, Umarus knew he had to hurry to get here. Just in case something like this happened. And he was glad that he did. This fool was actually going to strike his mate!

  No longer having to show him respect, Horani glared at Umarus and did not hide any of the venom in his voice. "Get off of me Umarus."

  His eyes narrowing into Horani's, Umarus growled. "I think I won't. It is clear that what your daughter said to My Lord is truth."

  Jerking his hand away from him, Horani turned with crossed arms and growled. "This is between myself and my mate. Just be gone with you already. I mean is it not enough that he takes my daughter from me, now you want to interfere in my business with my mate. Just get lost."

  Crossing his own arms and refusing to back down, Umar
us only growled. He wasn't going to back down from Kurosai. He most certainly wasn't going to back down from this bastard. "If what you were about to do to your own mate is any indication of what you have put not only your mate but your daughter through, you are low. Pack should always come first. Not you." With a soft smile and a bow, Umarus turned to Chiyo. "Lady Chiyo. Would you please gather some of yours and your daughters belongings? You are to go and stay at the palace as well."

  Growling as he turned to reach for his mate, Horani was beside himself with anger. First Sorae and now Chiyo! He wasn't having it! "You took my pup you are not taking my…" But just inches before he reached her he gasped when he felt himself slamming down onto the ground twenty feet from where she still sat with Umarus between them. His eyes pools of pure rage he fisted his hands. "Fine! Take that bitch with you. I don't care! But mark my words Umarus. And you can tell Kurosai the same thing. The South has not heard the alst of me. Not in the least!" He then turned and jumped on top of the home, and off the other side, transforming into his dog form and racing for the North.

  He wanted to go after him and take his head back to Kurosai. But right now Umarus knew his priority was getting Lady Chiyo to the palace where she could remain safe as well. Turning to her, he stepped back as his eyes went wide to find her standing there in his face. "My Lady….."