"What are we going to do about the other lords? They are certain to never believe this to be the accident it was."

Touga pursed his lips at the presented problem he had yet to consider. He had only been concerned, up to this point, with what it meant for the pups. He still had a load of questions regarding them, and he didn't care to add any more issues on top of it. Scratching his temple, he lifted a shoulder. "I truly do not care what the reptile or the cat have to say on the matter. It doesn't concern them at the moment. You are still alive, so Kouga's status means not, and not only am I still among the living, there is another in line for the West before Kagome. We will deal with them only when we have to. Neither one of the pups are old enough for a mating declaration to be necessary, and neither one is in the position of power where an announcement to the regions need be made. For now, until we know how the mating affects them, we will keep this to ourselves."

The Eastern Lord grunted. "Are you sure that is wise, Touga? It is certain to come out, sooner rather than later, and it could well be seen as something it wasn't if we hide it. You may not, but the east has enough issues with the reptiles to the south. We do not need more."

At that, Touga's lips parted into a smirk so wide, his fangs glowed in the dying sunlight. "The snakes dare not attack an ally of the West. The last time they stood against my army, they were nearly completely eradicated."

Ryushi's brow rose to meet his bangs. "Ally of the West?"

Touga snorted lightly, a chuckle in his throat. "My daughter is mated to your son. Because of that, they will undoubtedly one day wed and finish what was started. This will unite our lands, presumably forever, unless Kouga or Kagome are assassinated."

Leaning back against the stone he stood in front of, Ryushi crossed his arms. "And we are to say, without exception or discussion with them, they are to eternally pay for what was nothing more than a mistake?"

The Western Lord locked his eyes on the wolf's. "Have you ever seen the aftermath of an unfinished mating, Ryushi? I have, and it is not a recommended course. It is nearly a death sentence for both parties. But that is beside the point. The point being, of course, the mating saved your son's life. Were it not to have happened, instead of being mated, he would be dead. Is it truly such a terrible thing?"

"So you condone the forced mating of children?"

Touga snorted again, this time in annoyance. "Condone? No. Accept would be more apt a word. Of course, since your son should have died, I suppose I could always see that through and free my daughter from it. Either way, I am at least willing to look at all sides of the issue and not zero in on the one thing nothing can be done about. We can make this easy for them, or we can make it hell. Tell me, Lord Ryushi, which one you prefer happen with children?"

"Daddy?"

Both lords snapped their heads in the direction of the quiet voice, coming face to face with the two in question. Kouga stood with Kagome in his arms, and Kagome looked between the adults with a drawn expression while Kouga looked pissed off.

Touga turned to face them and crossed his arms. "You are supposed to be in bed, Kagome."

Kagome shook her head. "No, I'm supposed to be off my leg, but I was told you wanted to know what happened in the clearing."

Sighing, Touga tilted his head. "How much of that did you hear?"

Kagome shrugged, her voice quiet. "Enough."

Ryushi stepped in then and told Kouga to put the pup down on one of the pillows on the floor. Touga, once he daughter was settled, crouched in front of her and listened as she recounted what she remembered, answering the all important question of who the exchange happened.

Lacing his fingers together in a fist between his bent knees, Touga cocked a brow at her. " What you did with the General was nothing like this. It was completely different situation, and even then there was a real risk in doing anything that had to do with two different people's blood being exchanged. Which is why you were told never to do that by yourself and always have someone else there to assist you."

Kagome dropped her eyes and played with her fingers. "I'm sorry, Daddy, but he was going to die. Are you mad?"

Touga sighed hard before setting his hand on her head and scratching behind her ear. "Oh, I'm furious, Kagome." She whimpered, but he wasn't done talking yet. "I'm furious you didn't have the proper kind of supervision when your ability to control your abilities was at your weakest. I'm furious you were attacked by an ogre. I'm furious you did something you were expressly told not to do. But mostly, I'm just relieved you're alive." Crooking a finger under Kagome's chin, he smiled at her. "We will figure this out. For now, you need to rest. You drank a lot of blood which in itself is a concern."

Confusion overtook her features. "I feel okay."

There is nothing quite like the indulgence of a father. He butted her nose and chuckled. "Go, Little Lady. You have a lot of blood that's not yours in your belly that hasn't been absorbed yet, and not all of it will. You may not have realized it, Kagome, but you nearly bled Kouga dry, and that's a lot for one so small. That blood has to go somewhere when you're body can't take on any more of it. You may be fine now, but it won't last much longer." He then turned his attention to the overly pale wolf prince. "You should be resting as well, Kouga."

The wolf prince crossed his arms and leaned against the wall behind him, giving his head a little shake. "Nah, I'm good. I slept for two days. Besides, there is no way in hell I'm going to be able to sleep until I eat something. I'm fuckin' starving."

Ryushi rolled his eyes, his voice flat. "Language, Cub. You are in the presence of a Lady."

Though he wrinkled his nose, Kouga said nothing to reprimand at first. Instead he pushed himself from the wall and moved back to Kagome's side, crouched down and once she wrapped her arms around his neck, hoisted her into his arms. Once she was secured in his hold, that was when he turned to look at his father. "A Lady though she may be, Father, she is MY Lady, and less than proper language is something she's gonna hear. May as well get her used to it, hmm?"

Touga and Ryushi watched as the prince dipped his head to them and leave the room, Ryushi shaking his head at his son's back. "That cub will be the death of me."

Touga snorted with a grin. "Won't they all?"