CHAPTER 25:THE GUESTS ARRIVE

Kouga, Ginta, Haggauku, and Miroku were on their way to the castle of the western lord. Ginta and Hagguku had gone a long way ahead leaving the other two to talk. "We are getting close can you since her yet?" "Yes I can but it is very faint. Do not worry I know I can not go and find her." "Wow you listened to me I am truly amazed. Please remember that you must greet Mara like you only know her because she is acting lead female of you pack family. Make sure you keep any and all urges you have toward her under control." Miroku nodded that he understood as the others came back so that they could all entered the castle grounds together. As they arrived they all heard something that made Kouga and Miroku growl softly. "Have you heard the princess of these lands is still not claimed" said one young youkai. "Yes I have but by the end of this week she will be" said another. "It will probably be that wolf prince they have been pretending to not be at it for years" said a third with that all three of them left to go find their fathers. Miroku turned toward Kouga and gave him a death glare. "It is just a rumor youkais are very good at starting rumors especially when a unmated female is involved."

A servant showed the four wolves to their rooms. Kouga told them all to get some sleep and that he was going to tell Lord Sesshomaru that they had arrived. With that he left to find the lord of the castle. Mara was not in a good mood she knew that Miroku was in the castle but she kept getting told to stay away from him. Suddenly she caught her kona's sent and went to say hello to him. She knew that he would not mind she was already dressed for bed in a long nightgown. She knew he was not stupid enough to try anything again. When she found him they hugged as normal but this time he did not let go of her. He pulled her against him and kissed her as she struggled. She pulled away and struck him hard across the face. "I told you Kouga I have a mate stop doing that. I will inform my brother you have arrived now go get some rest before I decide to rip out your lungs for what you just did." "As you wish Mara see you in the morning." "Goodnight kona and please give this gathering a chance you never know you might meet someone that you really like." So the two went their own ways Kouga to rest and Mara to see her brother.

Mara had told Sesshomaru that Kouga and the others had arrived. She was just leaving when he grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around to face him. The look on his face was really starting to scare her. "Why do you have Kouga's sent on you?" He growled thinking something had happened to her. "It is nothing he kissed me but I told if he did not let me go I would severely injure him." Suddenly they heard someone coming so Mara changed to her human form. This way it was easy enough to pretend she was a servant, slave, or Sesshomaru's wench. Neither of them liked it but they had been taught to fallow it since they were pups because their mother did not want any one to know her daughter could look human. They had also used it while she was cursed because Sesshomaru knew that if others found out they would use it against him by hurting her. Not to mention Sesshomaru did not like the fact that his sister had an ability he did not. "Now listen wench if I ever find you with one of my guests again I will fucking kill you. You belong to me alone and must do only what I say. Do you understand me?" As he yelled this Sesshomaru jerked her hair pulling her head up with his free hand and looked into her eyes with a clod stare. Mara nodded whimpering in fear and pain as his merciless grip tightened on her wrist his claws cutting deeply into the skin almost touching bone. " LEAVE" He roared as he shoved her towards the door almost knocking the youkai that was entering the study over. She turned and ran towards the servants quarters as she held her bloody wrist tightly against the front of her long nightdress.

"Well I see your mate has not changed you much and that you still have not broken that girl"said Tyen the brother to the southern lord. "My mate will not change me and I will never break that one. I like her fiery and it is more fun when she struggles." "Well anyway my brother asked me to tell you all of your guest from the southern lands are here." "Thank you Tyen did my cousin come back with you?" "Of course she has gone to her room she says she is very glad to be home. I must thank you again for taking her in after her new pack was killed. I just have to many in my home already." "It was a good thing for Mara plus if we had said no those girls would have killed us. Oh and congratulations on your newest child." "Thank you and you are right about the girls they are very close just like sisters. Well goodnight my friend." "Yes goodnight I will see you and your family tomorrow."

Sesshomaru returned to his chambers where he found Kagome and Mara talking. His sister was wincing as his mate looked at the multiple cuts and large bruise on her wrist. "I can not believe you did this to her you could have crushed her entire wrist." "Please don't Kagome I am fine it will be healed by this time tomorrow I think." "That is not the point Mara your brother should not have been so rough on you in this form." The lord glared "drop it mate" he said as his sister left.

Kouga got back to his room and was pinned to the ground in the hallway by Miroku. "I know what you did you bastard. I want you to stop trying to take my mate she is mine and you know it." "How did you know about that" he started but stopped as Kashin stepped out from behind Miroku. "You were spying on me you stupid pup." "No milord I was not spying I just happened to be passing when I saw what you did to the princess. I promise I will not get involved any further." "See that you don't." Once the young wolf had left Miroku let Kouga have it. "I hope this is not a normal occurrence." "It won't be I just have to get used to the fact that Mara is not the pup like girl I saved all those years ago. I guess I am still trying to protect her even though I know that she has you now. I will stop I give you my word as your blood brother and leader." "Good" said Miroku as they went to their own rooms to get some sleep. They both knew tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.

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