The Lord of the North looked at Sesshomaru, who was looking at Kagome. The Lord then approached Kagome, and Sesshomaru turned his whole body to them as if he were ready to pounce. The Lord walked around Kagome. "I must say you have done well, Sesshomaru,"

Sesshomaru's lip went up a little, showing a fang; unhappy was an understatement.

Kagome watched as the man walked around her and then sniffed. Sesshomaru placed one foot forward. The Lord of the North looked up "The jewel Miko, Sesshomaru how did come about such a prize?" The man said with a smile. The other Lords gasped. Sesshoamru kept his eyes on the man.

"Lucky man, you are Sesshomaru, I don't know how you got her, but lucky man I must say, don't you think dear?" The man said looking at his mate.

She smiled. "Indeed he is; she will birth him strong pups, im sure his father is proud."

Kagome blushed, and Sesshomaru looked at the woman. What was the meaning of all this talk? Sango and the rest of the group cringed at the comment about his father; they all knew how he felt about this father.

"Very well, Sesshomaru, I will-" The man stopped as he brushed Kagome's hair back. Sesshomaru growled a bit,he and Kagome locked eyes.

"Sesshomaru, you have not marked her." The man looked from Kagome's neck to Sesshomaru.

"Uh, we have been busy, that's all," Kagome said, thinking quickly.

"Not busy enough," he said with a smile, making her blush more. The Lord of the north let her hair fall and walked back to the other Lords "Well, now you not busy, we shall watch as you mark her, as proof."

Inuyasha was ready to jump, and Sesshomaru's hands went to fists, and Kagome just froze..oh crap, Sesshomaru going to kill me! Kami Kagome, why can't you keep your mouth shut?

"That is not tradition," Sesshomaru bit out, bonding was nothing to take lightly, and to do so in front of other people, never!

Sesshomaru looked at the Lords.

"You will mark her, and I will give you your title and lands; we do not have time for full tradition, Sesshomaru, your father was very clear on the matter." He had mere minutes at best.

Sesshomaru looked back to the Miko, then faster than she could blink; he was at her side and grabbed her arm.

"I need a moment with my mate," He said with hate and sarcasm. He dragged Kagome a bit before stopping and looking down at her. "Do you know what you have done, Miko?"

"I'm sorry I was trying to help," She said quickly and in a whisper,

"This Sesshomaru didn't need your help,"

"No, but you would have lost your lands and your title!"

"Why, Miko, do you care?" He still was holding her arm.

"I umm, I don't know, I just do! I'd at least like to think we are allies in all this!"

Sesshomaru looked back to the Lords. "What is the big deal? Just mark me,"

Sesshomaru looked at her; she had no idea what she was saying.

"Woman, you do not know what you are saying, do you always through caution to the wind?" He looked into her eyes as she looked back at him. Of course she did, she had been around his brother for far too long.

"We are waiting, Sesshomaru," The Lord of the North called.

Kagome grabbed his face and turned him to her. " You want your lands or not because I believe I am your last hope or is help from humans still too far beneath you?"

She had no idea what she was saying. If she had been anyone else, he would have stopped this before he had a chance to even contemplate it, but he was contemplating it because she was right; this was his very last chance. But she had no idea what she was saying. But if she was willing, almost insisting, why hesitate? He had no other options, and she wasn't just no one. Still, he was not happy with her speak first and ask questions later, of course, to deny her and tell them it was a lie that would mark his honor and this idea wasn't his, it was hers. Perhaps this would be a valuable lesson for her to keep her mouth shut. But at the same time, she was doing this for him.

He had to make it fast. He brushed her hair away, she looked up, and he bent down and shank his fangs into her neck. She cried out as she grabbed him and held on.

Inuyasha was trying his best to pull away from Kikyo and the others, but they held him back, and this did not go unnoticed by the other Lords. Interesting Lord of the North thought. Kagome's scream went away, and a soft moan took its place as Sesshomaru sucked and licked the mark clean. "Foolish woman," He stated against her neck.

Her hand went to her neck as he stood straight. "It's ok, it's just for show," But damn did that hurt.

Is that what she thought? His eyes widened a bit, his mark, for show? "No, you are mine now," he said, looking hard into her eyes, hoping his words would set in quickly.

"Yours?" Kagome whispered, and then all the things that Sango had told her about demons came back to her "Like forever kinda thing?" Surely, he was joking.

"The well won't save you now. Is that what you thought?" She thought he would welcome the idea, but apparently not.

"You are bound to me as I am to you; time won't save you, Inuyasha can't save you, we are honor bound, you Miko are now my mate and wife,"

She had done her duty alright, and now it was his job to protect her, but he could not protect her from herself; this was her bed, and now she had to lay in it and with him.