Chapter 18: Some Sex is Necessary

"You can make your demands first," Daemus offered generously, gesturing toward the paper.

Blair hesitated, the silver pen hovering over the page. She was acutely aware that she was attempting to dictate terms to a royal beastman.

"I... well, my biggest concern is safety," Blair started nervously, keeping her eyes on the paper. "But I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to myself by being paraded around campus as your girlfriend. What if your ex’s friends decide to come after me instead?"

"I will protect you from anyone and everyone at this academy," Daemus stated without hesitation.

He leaned back against the headboard, crossing his arms behind his head.

"And I won’t be all over you at school," Daemus continued, his tone reassuring. "I have hockey training constantly. Between the rink, classes and my royal duties, you will actually hardly ever see me."

Blair paused, tapping the pen against her chin in confusion. "But... then, how are you supposed to protect me if you’re never around?"

Daemus smirked. "If you are ever in trouble, Bunny, all you have to do is say my name. I’ll come running."

Blair gave him a highly skeptical look. "This campus is massive, Daemus. You aren’t Superman. What if you don’t run fast enough?"

Daemus held her gaze. "That will never happen."

He relaxed back against the pillows. "Besides," he added, "I won’t be the only one watching you."

Blair stopped writing. She looked up, her brow furrowed in deep confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"My turn for demands," Daemus deflected smoothly, ignoring her question. He raised a finger. "If this fake mating is going to be believable, we have to sell it to the public. You will attend my hockey games, and you will accompany me to all royal family gatherings."

Blair’s stomach plummeted. She stared at the paper, the words royal family gatherings echoing in her mind like a death sentence.

Would the duel to the death have been faster? she wondered miserably. She was trying to avoid apex predators, and now she was contractually obligated to eat dinner with them. She was really beginning to think this was a terrible idea.

She opened her mouth to argue, but the words died in her throat. She couldn’t turn back now, and she couldn’t be selfish. This entire mess was technically her fault. Daemus had dove into the pool to save her life. Because of her Daemus was now in a massive political scandal. She knew how seriously wolves took relationships and pack commitments.

No matter what, she had to take responsibility.

"Fine," Blair sighed heavily, writing it down. "But... I would appreciate strict physical boundaries. No kissing. And please, no unnecessary touching."

Daemus raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Define necessary touching."

Blair’s cheeks instantly flushed a bright, cherry red. She suddenly found the grain of the wooden nightstand fascinating. "You know. Just... holding hands. In front of your parents. Or linking arms if we’re walking into a game. That’s it."

"Holding hands," Daemus repeated, his voice strained with suppressed laughter. "Understood. Keep going."

"That’s all I have," Blair said softly. "Do you have any other demands?"

"Just one," Daemus said, propping himself up on his elbow, lying on his side to look at her. "I want you to tutor me."

Blair blinked, caught off guard. "Tutor you?"

A wave of relief washed over her. Finally, a demand that made sense! Something she was actually good at. It felt like the perfect, practical way to thank him for saving her from drowning and apologize for putting him in such a crazy situation.

"Yes! Of course," Blair smiled happily, quickly scribbling Tutoring onto the contract. "I can absolutely do that. What subjects do you need help with?"

"Math, mostly," Daemus hummed, watching her write. "So, is sex on the table?"

Blair’s pen snapped right through the paper.

She whipped her head up, her eyes wide. Her face, which had just started to cool down, instantly ignited into a raging inferno.

"What?!" Blair shrieked, momentarily forgetting she was talking to royalty. "No! Of course not! If kissing and touching are off-limits, why on earth would you think sex is fine?!"

"So, no sex?" Daemus asked, his voice entirely too innocent.

"No sex!" Blair yelled, steam practically whistling out of her ears.

Daemus pouted. The furry wolf ears hidden in his thick, dark hair drooped, pressing flat and pathetic against his head. He looked like a kicked puppy.

"But what am I supposed to do during mating season?" Daemus asked mournfully. "Or during the full moon?"

Blair crossed her arms protectively over her chest, trying desperately to ignore how cute his ears were. "I don’t know! You’re a Prince! Can’t you just... find a woman or two? Quietly?"

Daemus frowned, shaking his head. "If I sleep around while claiming to have a fated mate, it will expose the lie. I will be punished and you will likely be killed or sold for breeding?"

She definitely didn’t want that, but...

Blair’s face kept getting hotter and hotter. She was out of her depth. "Well... you have hands!" she stuttered out, mortified. "You can just... handle it yourself!"

Daemus chuckled. "That is such a human suggestion."

Blair cringed, remembering with a jolt of horror that she wasn’t dealing with a human college frat boy. He was a beast. During the full moon and mating season, he would basically be an animal in heat.

Daemus sat up slowly. He leaned toward her, a charming smirk playing on his lips.

"Can we compromise?" Daemus asked softly. "Can we have some sex? Just... necessary sex?"

Blair’s trembling lips parted to—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The soft, polite tapping against the door echoed through the room.

Blair froze.

She realized suddenly that the hallway outside was silent. The ex-girlfriend’s furious screaming and the terrifying sounds of claws against the wood were gone.

Daemus’s playful, pleading demeanor vanished instantly. The drooping ears perked back up, disappearing into his hair. He stood up from the bed.

"Our time is up," Daemus said quietly.