Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Her body tensing as she gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. What did their mating have to do with her brother being stupid? "What in the world does that have to do with what is going on here?"

  His eyes never wavering, Kamui kept the bearing down into hers. "What would you have done Yukani?"

  With a sigh as she relaxed some, Yukani closed her eyes. "I would have forsaken every single one of them to be with you Kamui and you know that. And I never would have forgiven them if they tried to stop it. But this is a different situation and she is a…"

  "Human. Just like your niece Yukani. This is a choice that your brother made. A choice that only he can make for himself. You need to but out of it. You can't make his choice for him on who he mates and neither can your parents." Moving so that he was sitting next to her on the bed he sighed as he stood then headed for the door. "Yukani you really need to think long and hard what 'killing her' will do to not only your brother but your niece. Take it from personal experience. Losing your mother, or a mother figure never leaves you and always hurts. If your mother is right and his demon in it, and you kill her. You will be the one dooming him to not even have a chance to try and have a pup."

  Sitting up, Yukani dropped her head as tears gushed from her eyes as she quietly sobbed in her bed. Hugging her knees to her chest. He was right and she knew it. She would have turned on her entire pack to be with him. By the time that they told each other they both knew that it was too late and they were bonded. But this was so different. She was a human miko. If she were just a normal human, she would deal with it until she died on her own and it may not be so bad. But not a miko. She couldn't just let that go!

  Falling to her side, she felt her heart aching knowing that the choice she made was going to make her own mate angry with her. And would hurt Imae and possibly doom her brother. Curling into a smaller ball she closed her eyes as tightly as she could. 'If I had known that something like this could have happened I would have never left! I have to do this for everyone!'

  X

  Just as the palace came into view as the sun vanished leaving only trace amounts of light behind the mountain, Kiyoshi sighed as he dropped his head. They were there and from their scents none of them were happy about it. "They are here."

  Looking up and giving her father an odd look as she held onto her mother, Imae blinked as her head fell to the side. "Who is here father?"

  "Grandmother, grandfather, Aunt Yukani and Uncle Kamui."

  Rolling her eyes as she dropped her head with a sigh, Yokiyo shook her head. "Great. Let the fun begin."

  Going from her father's annoyed face, to her mother's Imae didn't understand. "Mama why don't you look happy about it? Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Yukani and Uncle Kamui will be happy to meet you. Because you are mated to Father and my Mama now."

  Hugging her, Yokiyo smiled as she laughed. She couldn't tell this innocent girl the truth about what was really going to be going on. "Oh honey it isn't that. They are just going to want to make sure that I am indeed strong enough to protect you when your father isn't around. It may take a little while to prove that I am is all. Though I am sure once I do everything will be fine and we will be one big happy family."

  Closing his eyes as that explanation seemed to do the trick for Imae, Kiyoshi took a deep breath through his nose. Intoxicating himself on her scent mingled with his, but then gasped as he dead stopped his cloud. Giving her an odd look as she looked up at him, his eyes were wide as they could go. "So soon?"

  Blinking at him, Yokiyo let her head fall to the side as she gave him a blank expression. "What do you mean so soon? We knew that they would be here today, and when we got home."

  Shaking his head Kiyoshi kept his wide eyes on her. "Not them. You."

  Glaring now, Yokiyo growled. "What about me then? And please don't talk in one word phrases or riddles. You know I don't get that."

  Smiling as he relaxed and his eyes went back to normal, he reached up and cupped her cheek. "You are having a pup."

  Even though he used a phrase she understood she didn't know why he said it. "What are you talking about Kiyoshi? I know I am going to have a pup someday but…"

  Growling as he gave her an annoyed look, Kiyoshi took a deep breath. "No Yokiyo now. I can smell it. The difference in you the second that it happened. You are right now as I speak pregnant with my pup."

  Her eyes going wide with a gasp, Yokiyo held onto the giggling girl that hugged her going on and on about she was going to be a big sister. She didn't know what to do or think about this. Finally as tears misted in her eyes, she was able to speak. "You mean it? You aren't just playing with me on this are you? I really am already pregnant?"

  With a smile as he gave her a nod and flew on, Kiyoshi dipped his head and seared her mouth with his own. When he pulled back he laughed. "This will make things easier with what we must do in the next two weeks."

  Nodding as she was still in shock, Yokiyo only smiled. It would make it easier, knowing that she was pregnant and that he knew it as well, his pack wouldn't try to kill her or make him send her away. But she still couldn't believe that she was pregnant so soon! They only actually mated two weeks ago! And he only gave her his pendant last night!

  Reaching up as they palace got closer and closer, she lifted the pendant out and let it fall to her chest for all to see. Now all she had to do is deal with the assassins in two weeks and then everything was going to be perfect. She was mated, had a daughter, her brother was back and had a mate. And now she was going to have a pup of her own. 'A son. That is what we need now. We have a daughter now we need a son.'

  The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 70

  Smelling his son coming, Kurosai fell from the tree he had been sitting in since they arrived. A glare on his face as he growled and watched as they landed close to him. But he didn't know what to say or do. He had every intention sending her away or cutting her down. Forcing her away from him one way or another and hope it wasn't too late for his son. But now he couldn't do either one! It was too late! The wench was pregnant! That seals the deal in a mating. He was astonished that she got pregnant as soon as she has, but cursed it as well. Even if it wasn't before, now that she was pregnant the bond is there no matter what.

  Shaking his head as they headed for the palace, Kurosai got his wits about him and growled as stormed toward them. "Kiyoshi….."

  Turning calmly to meet his father's eyes Kiyoshi sighed. "Before you start Father, my mate. Yokiyo." His eyes were hard too. Hoping that the fact that he and everyone else there knew she was pregnant and they couldn't do a single thing about it.

  Glancing down at her, Kurosai sighed. "Young Lady." He then turned to his right and smiled as Imae all but climbed up his back to hug him around his neck. "And how are you Imae?"

  Hugging his neck as he reached up and patted the side of her head, Imae couldn't help but be elated. "I am doing great Grandpa! I have a new Mama now and I get to be a big sister! Isn't it the best!"

  Keeping his smile forced, Kurosai nodded as he lifted her off his back and sat her on the ground before him with his hand on her head. "Yes it is Imae." He then met his son's glare with one of his own. "A word?"

  Turning to the right to see Yoite was already there, Kiyoshi sighed as he nodded then just walked away from Yokiyo and Imae without a word. 'Well this is going to be interesting.'

  Watching with a sigh for a moment, Yokiyo then turned and looked down at Imae as she took her hand. "Come on honey. We need to go and get you cleaned up for dinner. Especially now we have company for dinner."

  Her chocolate eyes wide as they headed for the palace, Imae blinked. "Do I really need to get in the spring?"

  Laughing Yokiyo winked down at her. "No I don't think you need too. Just a good wipe off and you will be fine." Looking up, Yokiyo stopped with a start as she came face to face with the same dark blue eyes like she had. Flashes of the picture in their room and she knew who this was instantly. His mother. Giving her a slight bow, Yokiyo smiled. "Lady Sorae.
"

  Tears welling up in her eyes as she stood there, Sorae didn't know what to say or think. She already wore the pendant. And she was pregnant. There was nothing that anyone could do about it now. "You are my son's mate?"

  "I am. My name is Yokiyo but you may call me whatever you wish too."

  Looking down at the little girl now hugging her legs, Sorae smiled as she placed her hand on her head. "Well I see I was right. Though I can't say that this is the most pleasing thing. If you know what I mean."

  Knowing exactly what she was talking about, and knowing that she knew she was pregnant, Yokiyo sighed as she took Imae's hand again. "I do. But don't write me off without knowing me first either." She then walked around her, smiling down at Imae. She knew that she was being rude, but Kiyoshi's parents or not she wasn't about to just sit back and let them treat her like crap. She wasn't going to change her attitude or who she was for him, she certainly wasn't going to do it for anyone else.

  X

  Once they were alone, Kurosai hardened his eyes as he crossed his arms with a deep growl. "What in the hell were you thinking!? She is your natural enemy! Hell I am shocked she is pregnant! I think you have lost your damn fool mind haven't you?!"

  "The choice was taken out of my hands Father. I avoided her as much as I could. There were few times we had fights, and more than a few where it was pleasant. He came out. Unlike most I was not going to fight it. After all it was you who said anyone my demon wants to claim is my better half."

  "She is a damned human miko!" His anger rising, Kurosai threw his hand toward the palace. "She could kill anyone in this palace if she really wanted too! The very second you realized what was going on you should have either cut her down or sent her packing to stop it! Not mate her!"

  Turning away from his now growling father, Kiyoshi sighed as he closed his eyes and started to walk away from him. "By the time I realized what was going on with him, the thought of doing either sent me into a rage. There was but one choice after that. Mate with her. You can accept it or get out."

  Stopping just before he vanished around a flower hedge, Kiyoshi turned his own growl on his father. "Just remember what her being pregnant means Father. If I have too, I will face you over this." Then he was gone.

  Sorae was just on the other side of the hedge, but didn't say anything as he stormed past her growling. She heard what happened between them. She wasn't happy about it either, but she wasn't going to risk her mate and son fighting over it either. She rounded the corner and went to Kurosai as more tears fell. Grasping onto his arm she sighed. "Just please stop it Kurosai. I hate it as much as you do. But you can't really mean to think that you could do that to your son could you? Or Imae? Or….." Choking back a sob with her other hand, Sorae closed her eyes. "Or the pup that she is carrying. The bond is there and….."

  With a sigh, Kurosai wrapped his arms around his now sobbing mate as he sighed and rubbed her back. "I know Sorae. No I wouldn't be able to do that so don't worry. I just wish that damned fool would have used his head. While Imae was sleeping that first night he should have dumped her in the closest human village. It would have hurt her but she would of gotten over it thinking that she just left."

  Nodding as she relished being in his arms, Sorae clung to his clothes. "Kurosai are you going to stay for the presentation?"

  Looking down at the top of her head, Kurosai blinked as he sighed and used a hand to make her look up into his eyes. "Sorae do you want to stay and see what happens?"

  "I do. As much as we hate it, we need to at least help protect her from the others that are coming." Then the urge to sob was too great as she buried her face into his chest once again. "It is already too late to do anything about her right now. At least we can keep her around until her human life is done for him. Give him as long as we can."

  Lifting her into his arms with a growl, Kurosai headed for the palace with closed eyes. "Fine. But don't think that I am not going to be rude as hell with her. I don't have anything against half demons, just never thought I would have one of them calling me grandpa who was mothered by a miko."

  X

  Falling back on the bed, Yokiyo let out a sigh. Her first meeting with neither of his parents went very well at all. And now that Imae was in her room for a while with Yoite she smiled. Letting her hands fall to lay on her still very flat stomach, she couldn't help but giggle. 'Of course you are going to make it easy for Mama aren't you. Now they have to deal with it regardless of how they feel about me.'

  "You actually got pregnant?"

  Sitting up, Yokiyo blinked to see a woman standing there. She had her head bowed and was hugging herself as she shook. She figured she knew who it was but she wanted to make sure. "You are?"

  "I am Yukani."

  "I see you are his sister. Standing she sighed as a hand stayed on her stomach and she smiled as she looked down. "Yes I am. I honestly didn't think that it would have happened this soon."

  Her amber eyes glaring as Umarus stepped in the door, Yukani growled. "Giving my brother a half demon child. That is absurd and it never should of happened!"

  Looking up to see the tears dripping out of her eyes as she growled, Yokiyo hardened her own eyes. "He doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Don't go acting like you are all high and mighty when you don't even know what happened here the last five and a half months. You weren't even here so you don't know anything."

  "I know that somehow you seduced my brother. That has to be the only reason why he would have done this!" Dropping her head again, Yukani started to shake even more. "You know I had every intention on cutting you down and taking your life the second that I saw you today. Then you have to come back with him and be pregnant. He will never be able to mate again and in what fifty years or so you will be dead? For his sake I hope that child is a boy. At least then it would have a chance to be strong considering how powerful my brother is. Even though he is stupid."

  Finally Yokiyo was thoroughly annoyed with everything that has happened in such a short amount of time. Keeping her own head down as she walked up to this woman, a hand holding up to make sure that Umarus knew to stay out of it. Once she was there she shocked her as tears rushed from her eyes and she slapped her. "Don't you dare make an assumption like that. You don't know the half of what happened here! You know nothing about me or the relationship that I have with your brother!"

  Turning her back to her, Yokiyo went to the balcony with crossed arms and closed eyes as she growled. "You and your parents are acting like I am nothing because of what I am. His demon chose me to mate with for a reason. I was content just being here with Imae. I did not have any intention on mating with him. Until about two weeks ago I still thought I hated him and everything he stood for."

  "So why the hell didn't you just leave! It would have hurt Imae yest but she would have gotten over it once Kamui and I were back and everything was normal again. She would have forgotten all about you!"

  Turning to glare at the demon, Yokiyo flared her miko powers to their fullest as she narrowed her eyes with a growl. "Why don't you leave!?" Letting her aura fade, she shocked Yukani and Umarus as she advanced on her and pushed her back making Yukani stubmle back on her behind. "Live my life and tell me how to run it! Watch as your brother flees the village you were born in with you as demons destroy it. Only to find your parents wounded with no chance of survival and watch them die. Watch as more friends and those like family are killed before you without cause or reason! Have your brother abandon you in the middle of the night for a quest of revenge! Tell me what I should have done or should do after all that!"

  Yokiyo hadn't realized that she was crying and shaking until just as she took a breath she felt a gust of wind and a strong arm go around her waist, calming her nearly instantly. Taking a deep breath she turned and buried her face in his chest and she took a few deep breaths. She has only known she was pregnant for less than half a day now and only because he told her. She really didn't want to get worked up like this and chance it hurting th
e baby or her pregnancy in general. 'Damn her she got to me.'

  Both arms around his mate, Kiyoshi growled down at Yukani. "What is the meaning of this Yukani?"

  "You really expect us to like it!?" Jumping to her feet, Yukani glared as she growled at him. "We will have to put up with it because of the bond. But I will never like it. Never!" She then fled the room as another torrent of tears came flowing from her eyes.

  With a long sigh, Kiyoshi lifted his mate and headed toward the bed. "That could have been worse."

  Clinging to him, Yokiyo let out a half laugh as she tried to stop the tears, keeping her face buried in his neck. "But it could have been better too. Your mother and sister are clearly going to be able to get under my skin and draw out my temper I believe."