Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "To distract me from his daughter. When I stopped him from taking her two weeks ago, she was told she is going to live here with her mother until he is dead or she has a proper mate to protect her from him. Sanosuke, I do have one favor to ask of you upon your return to the East."

  Standing full now, Sanosuke nodded. "Yes, anything at all My Lord."

  His eyes narrowing as he glared harder at the floor before he looked up into the bird's eyes. "Tell Torakus, and the rest of the Eastern Court that if Horani is seen by any of them to kill him on sight. He has tried to force his daughter to mate a dragon and turned traitor on me. I will personally send messages to Chirio and Koraen myself."

  "Of course My Lord." Dropping his eyes to the floor, Sanosuke let out a long sigh. "Had I known this sooner I would not have come and imposed you as I have. For this My Lord you have my sincerest apologies."

  A sigh of his own now, Kurosai shook his head. "Nothing to be sorry about since you did not know. However, thank you Sanosuke. I will take my leave now. I will also have you and your flock shown to rooms for you to rest before your journey home."

  Another bow with his mate, Sanosuke smiled with a sigh. "Thank you very much My Lord."

  Watching as a maid came to show them, Kurosai scanned the females as they all nowed to him as they walked past, he sighed. Most of them looked disappointed, some actually looked relieved about not mating with him. But none of them were acting up because of it. 'Which is exactly how I would expect a noble of Torakus to raise his children. Now I need to go and send a messenger to Chirio and Koraen.'

  Just before he reached his study however, he nearly ran into Chiyo. Stopping them from colliding, he smiled at her. "I am sorry about that Lady Chiyo. You are alright?"

  With a smile and a bow Chiyo laughed. "It is quite alright My Lord. It is I who should say that I am sorry."

  "Nonsense. I was the one who nearly ran into you not the other way around." Then Kurosai sighed. He had to let them know what he was doing. Even though it wasn't about them directly, he knew that it was a ploy to get him to let his attention land somewhere other than Sorae. "While I have you here without your daughter. I do have something that I need to tell you."

  Her smile vanished as she cast her eyes down Chiyo let out a sigh. "What is it that my mate has done this time?"

  A look of sympathy for her, Kurosai let out a small sigh. "The falcons and hawks you smell are from Torakus's court. He was there a few days ago telling them that I am looking for a mate now. I don't know what he is playing at or what the game is. I would guess it is to distract me and make me let down my guard where Sorae is concerned. I just thought that I would let you know."

  Nodding as she took a deep breath, Chiyo then looked up at him with worried eyes. "I see. Have you told Sorae yet?"

  Shaking his head Kurosai let out another sighe. "I have not. Do you think it would be better if it came from you or me?"

  Smiling now Chiyo couldn't help but be happy at the level of protectiveness that was in his voice when he talked about Sorae. She knew it wouldn't be long before they were hosting an event that would show her off as the new Lady of the South. "I think that you should tell her My Lord. That way she would not feel like you are trying to keep things from her."

  Nodding Kurosai looked away from her. Though he wouldn't deny that he was relieved and dreading the fact that he had to tell her. Relieved that Chiyo did want her to know everything, dreading being the one to tell her in a way. The way she always reacted when it came to him. "I will inform her later tonight after the evening meal. For now I have business to attend to My Lady." He then gave her a small bow and walked on into his study with Umarus going in right behind him.

  X

  Walking into the Northern Palace, Horani smiled as he kept his nose in the air with all the confidence in the world. Chirio being his next target. He wouldn't bother going to the West, Koraen would rather kill him and ask questions later when it came to Kurosai. No the North and East would be just fine for him.

  Looking up as more guards were there he gave a bow. "I am here to see Lord Chirio and Lady Yori on behalf of My Lord Kurosai. I have been sent to convey a message to them personally."

  "Wait here. We will see if Lord Chirio will take your council or not."

  After a few moments, Horani had another smug smile when the guards came and got him, taking him through the palace to Chirio's private study. Walking in he gave a low bow before he dropped to his knees. "My Lord Chirio. Lord Kurosai has sent me here personally to convey a message to you and Lady Yori."

  Not hiding the glare on his face, Chirio growled at him as he sat behind his desk. This was not at all like Kurosai to do something like this. It was either blunt or in code. He has never sent nobles to do this such of thing. "What is so important about this message that he has not sent his messengers like normal? Why would he send a low ranking noble like yourself to do this job for him?"

  Smiling as he fisted his hands inside his sleeve, Horani looked into Chirio's eyes with a nod. "That would be the nature of the message that I was sent here. It is not a normal matter and Lord Kurosai did not wish to risk anyone else knowing about it. He sends a request that all members of your court and palace that have unmated females, to bring them. He has finally decided to start actively looking for a mate."

  Arching an eyebrow Chirio blinked. "Oh really? And why would he decide to do this all of the sudden? It wasn't but a couple years ago when Torakus welcomed his son he said he wasn't going to mate anytime soon and no one was going to force him into it?"

  Giving another bow Horani half smiled as he laughed. "I do remember this My Lord. However since then, a newly mated maid in the palace has given birth to a son. With a small pup around the palace with her, it appears that he has taken a change of heart."

  Snapping his fingers Chirio closed his eyes with a growl. "I don't believe you. I will not waste his time or the time of my nobles by sending them there for such a reason as that. Not one female in my court that is unmated would match the type of female that he would want anyway. Be gone with you."

  Trying to jerk away from the guards that now had him by the arms he glared at him. "I do not lie about this Lord Chirio! This is why he sent me and not a messenger!"

  "Get him out of this palace and off the palace grounds. And Horani, I will be informing Kurosai about this as well. I am sure that he will deal with you forth right."

  Finally jerking free of the guards Horani growled as his eyes met Chirio's with a glare. "You will regret treating me like this Chirio. Mark my words." Then he turned and stormed out. Once he was through the gate he took off. The mountains near the heart of the country where the four lands meet was his destination. 'I will show them all! I will show them what happens when I am crossed! Starting with that bastard Kurosai!'

  Making of a Lord Chapter 7

  With worried eyes, Kurosai stood just outside a door of the palace as he watched Sorae walking around the court yard. Looking down at the flowerbeds that she made with a smile. His heart was lost to her nearly the instant that he saw her for the first time. Now if only his demon would show up and do something about it. He wasn't going to lead her on and hurt her any more than she would be otherwise. When she looked up and smiled at him, his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't help himself as he smiled and walked out to meet her.

  Smiling up into his heavenly iced blue eyes as he reached her, Sorae gave him a nod. "It seems that I have caught you starring more than once the last two weeks."

  Laughing as his eyes held hers Kurosai smiled. "Well what can I say? I like what I see."

  Dropping her eyes down, Sorae knew she was blushing. "Thank you. Though I still do not see anything special about me."

  Reaching out and making her look up at him, Kurosai gave her a half glare as he smiled. "Never put yourself down like that Sorae. Ever. You are beautiful."

  Mesmerized by his eyes, Sorae couldn't turn away from him. They bore down into hers with an intensity she could only imagine ex
isted. "I know that is what you say Kurosai. However it is hard for me to believe that when I know what I see."

  Giving her a worried look. He hated hearing her talk like this, and now he honestly wanted to know why. "And what is it that you see Sorae?"

  Turning her eyes away from him as she turned her back to him she let out a long sigh. "I see the females that they bring to offer to you. I can't help but see that I am no comparison to them in anyway."

  Stepping up behind her with a annoyed sigh he turned her to face him again, and held her shoulder with one hand, using another to make her look up into his eyes once more. "You have something they don't have Sorae. You have charm. You have an appeal to you that is so much more than a decoration or someone who does what someone says without question."

  Feeling her eyes start to fill with tears Sorae couldn't turn away from him again. The look on his face. The sound in his voice. What it was that he was saying. 'Am I reading him wrong? Am I looking too far into this or is he just playing with me to try to make me feel better? I so wish I knew what was going on here.'

  Finally she was able to turn her head to look down as she sighed. "I guess I just have a long way to go with building my self-confidence as mother says. I was put down verbally and told how worthless and ugly I was by him from nearly the day I was born. He told me more than once he was ashamed of me because I was his daughter and not his son. After a while you start to believe it I guess."

  Keeping his eyes on her, Kurosai let out a small growl. "He was nothing but a stupid fool."

  Turning fully to look down at the koi pond, Sorae couldn't stop the tears that fell from her eyes. She hadn't really talked about what her father did or didn't do to her or her mother since she was told that she was living there in the palace. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. There were things he did and said to her that she never even told her mother. "I am sorry Kurosai. I truly didn't mean to unload that on you like I did."

  Though he wanted to wrap her in his arms and kiss away her tears, he forced himself to stay back. Just stare at her. Though she was a pillar of strength in her own right. Considering everything that she has been through. Anyone in their right minds would fall in love with her. "There is no need to say you are sorry to me Sorae. Have you ever talked to anyone about what he has done? It might help you realize he was wrong about it."

  Shaking her head, Sorae worked on trying to dry her eyes. "I have not. No offense but what he has done to me is my burden to bear. Mama doesn't even know all of what I went through at his hands."

  Smiling Kurosai moved to stand next to her. "Perhaps then it would help you to relax if you talked to someone about it. And realize that….."

  Letting out a sarcastic laugh Sorae once again moved away from him and sat on a bench that was next to the pond. "And with whom should I tell all the disgraceful things he has said to me Kurosai? My mother? No way is that going to happen. She already blames herself for everything that she does know about. I can't tell her everything that he did and said. It would crush her spirits down further than what they are."

  Looking at her with a serious look, Kurosai started to walk toward her. Sitting next to her he kept his eyes on her. "So then tell me about it."

  Shaking her head she closed her eyes as she took a shaky breath. "You have done so much for me already. I can't just unload my life's trouble and problems to you."

  Reaching out to try and have her look at him, he sighed when she wouldn't let him this time. "I want you to Sorae. Open up to me about something. You don't call me Lord anything anymore. But you are so distant and formal still. I want to get to know you more."

  Keeping her eyes away from his she took a few more deep breaths. If she looked into them for too long she knew she would be lost forever and would tell him anything if he just asked. But she couldn't. She just couldn't. "I understand that. But whether you want me to call you by your name only or not you are still My Lord none the less. I will not unload problems on you that are mine alone to bear. If you have nothing else you want of me tonight. I would like to go to my room now."

  With an annoyed sigh, Kurosai bowed his head as he closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "I do have news about your father. It seems that he has been to the East telling them that I am looking for a mate. That is why the birds were here today. I would say he is trying to avert my attention to other things and less on keeping you safe from him. He is playing at something where you and your mother are concerned I am sure." Standing he looked down at her as he kept his serious face. "It won't work and I will keep you safe."

  Standing on her own Sorae crossed her arms as she growled herself, fresh tears springing from her eyes. "It would figure that I would finally have some level of happieness and he would try to find a way to screw it up. For me and Mama. Excuse my language. Is that all?"

  Nodding as he looked at the back of her head, Kurosai had to fight with himself not to reach out to her. "That's it. Goodnight Sorae."

  "Goodnight Kurosai." Sorae than slowly walked from him and into the palace. Once there she broke into a mad run until she reached her room and fell on her bed, curled into a crying ball. She was so in love with him that she couldn't stand it. But was so unsure of how he felt about her and didn't want to let her demon come out to bond with him. A fight she knew she was surely losing. She just knew in her heart of hearts that she was now and forever more doomed to live a life alone and unmated because she would forever be his. And he had no clue.

  X

  The scent of fresh tears pulled a growl from him as he dropped his head and clenched his fists together. He could see the emotions in her eyes. They were confused and he hated knowing he was the cause! Then without warning he leapt over the palace wall and raced into the woods not far from the palace. Once in there he let out a loud growl as he gave a swing of his arm, his claws sending dozens of trees falling to the ground.

  He was so in love with her that he couldn't see straight. But he couldn't show her or tell her how he felt either! He could feel that his demon wanted to come out and claim her. But for some stupid reason hasn't come out yet! He wasn't going build up her hopes just to dash them if his demon didn't pick her for his mate after all. He refused to add to the heartache he could see she would have already. She was too sweet and innocent for that! And has already been through hell because of Horani!

  After a few dozen more trees felt his anger, he slowly made his way back to the palace and to his spot on the roof where he could watch her sleep. His heart aching to see that she had cried herself to sleep. Tears still staining her perfect face. 'Damn you demon! You better come out soon! I don't know how much longer I can stand this for!'

  Making of a Lord Chapter 8

  Two years have passed now since the day that he kept Sorae there to live in the palace with him for good. Or until she found a mate which ever came first. For the longest time, he had hoped that no one would claim her while he waited for his demon to make up its mind. And now he was certain that it has decided to lay claim to her. To the point it was all he could do to keep his seat and not step in when a noble there from the West approached her. Even though his first reaction was that he wanted to rip his head off for even looking at her.

  For now though he just sat on the roof and watched them with a glare. The second that she was alone he was whisking her away from the palace and telling her what was going on with him and claiming her. He could see it in her eyes when she looked at him that she was in love with him and her demon wanted to bond to him but she fought it. He knew he was the reason, but he had his reasons for waiting so long.

  X

  With a shy smile, Sorae listened to this arrogant self-centered noble from the West as he rambled on about himself and how large his home was. Finally after what seemed like forever she could take no more of his ravings. Giving him a slight bow she closed her eyes. "My Lord if you would be so kind. I need to excuse myself and find my mother. She hasn't been feeling well of late and I would like to check on her and make sur
e that she is alright."

  With a glare Hanbei crossed his arms as he growled. "You are of the same noble blood that I am My Lady. Just signal for a servant to go and look after her. After all that is why the vermin exist. To serve those like us."

  Glaring at him now Sorae crossed her arms. "My mother is my concern My Lord. Not that of the servants of this palace. I will tend to her on my own thank you very much. Good day My Lord." Then she turned to walk away from him, but gasped when she felt a sudden sense of pure rage wash through her, followed by a flash of white and blue.

  Not being able to help himself, Kurosai flinched and moved before he knew what he was doing. Next thing he knew he was there and giving the noble a hard punch to the side of the head, then kicking him through the wall. All he saw before the rage was that Sorae turned from him and he dared to reach out and try and touch her. "Don't touch her."

  Looking up slowly into his eyes, Sorae was shocked to see that it was Kurosai that was standing there. The glare and growl in his voice at the noble shocked her. But what scared her at the moment were that his eyes were bleeding black like he was getting ready to transform. Not moving a step she let her head fall to the side as she spoke to him in the slightest of whispers. "Kurosai?"