Chapter 72: Oh So Close

"At least come to the dinner," Daemus’s mother pleaded, her voice echoing down the quiet hallway.

Daemus didn’t even break his stride. "I would rather hang myself."

"Daemus!" Clarice called after him, her tone shifting from pleading to a sharp warning. "Your father will be angry. And you know how he gets when he is angry."

Daemus stopped. Slowly, he turned around to face her.

"I don’t care," Daemus responded, his voice dropping into a quiet rumble. "I am not a pup anymore, Mom. If my father hits me... I will hit him right back."

Clarice gasped, her silver eyes widening in shock.

Daemus leveled her with an icy glare that made the hair on the back of her neck stand straight up. "Harder."

Without another word, Daemus turned on his heel, stormed into Blair’s room, and slammed the door shut behind him.

Left alone in the quiet corridor, Clarice ran a trembling hand through her dark blue hair in frustration.

What was she going to do? How could she possibly make him see reason? Kyana was his perfect match in every single way, even if the Moon Goddess hadn’t specifically fated them together. The Blackwood pack was incredibly powerful. Daemus was going to need a strong, ruthless beastwoman like Kyana to rule alongside him if he was ever going to hold the title of Beast King.

His judgment is clouded by his affection for that frail human girl, Clarice thought bitterly, glaring at the closed bedroom door.

She couldn’t simply get the human out of the picture. They needed her, too. The genius genes she carried were essential for the future of the Wintercrest pack.

Clarice tapped her finger against her chin, her mind spinning. I can’t kill her. I can’t send her away. But maybe...

Clarice’s silver eyes suddenly widened. A slow, calculating smile spread across her face.

She didn’t need to get rid of the human girl. If her son loved the lesser that much, then she could use her.

Inside the bedroom, the slam of the door had sent a jolt of panic straight through Blair’s chest. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, lying perfectly still beneath the plush duvet and pretending to still be fast asleep.

Daemus leaned back against the closed door. He let out a long exhale. The second his silver eyes landed on the small lump buried under the covers of the bed, the anger and frustration clinging to him simply melted away.

An amused smile curved his lips. He pushed off the door and walked slowly toward the bed.

"Oh, she is still asleep," Daemus hummed out loud, pitching his voice so she could clearly hear him. "I guess I can just hand her over to Killian now."

Blair’s eyes shot open instantly. "Please don’t!" she blurted out, her voice raspy and panicked.

Daemus smirked, looking down at her. "So, you are awake."

He sat down on the edge of the mattress. Blair’s cheeks instantly reddened. She looked incredibly small and fragile wrapped up in the duvet.

Daemus gently pressed his palm against her forehead. The warmth of his touch sent a flutter through Blair’s stomach.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"Okay," Blair answered in a small voice, suddenly feeling incredibly shy under his intense gaze.

Daemus smiled. "You no longer have a fever."

His hand slid down from her forehead. He gently caressed her dark hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. His warm fingers trailed slowly down the side of her neck, pressing lightly against her skin as he checked her pulse.

His silver eyes were completely focused on what he was doing.

Blair swallowed hard. Her heart was hammering a frantic, rhythmic hole right through her chest.

Daemus caressed the softness of her skin, making small, soothing circles with his thumb against her collarbone. Blair’s breath hitched sharply when his hand slid just a fraction lower, coming to a stop just above the swell of her breasts.

"Your heart is racing," Daemus noted quietly, finally lifting his gaze to meet hers.

Blair stared back at him. His silver eyes are so pretty.

Daemus was leaning in. The scent of pine and fresh snow enveloped her.

"I’m happy you’re awake," he whispered to her, his face hovering mere inches from hers.

His hand was still resting gently on her chest. Blair could feel the heat radiating from his palm straight through her top.

"I’ve missed you," Daemus added softly.

A million butterflies suddenly erupted in Blair’s stomach, fluttering wildly against her ribs. Was he going to kiss her? Blair wondered frantically. Did she want him to kiss her?

Her face was burning red hot now. Her lips parted on their own accord, a silent, breathy invitation.

Daemus smirked, his gaze dropping to her mouth. "How can you be tempting me like this after just waking up?" he murmured. "Or maybe it’s just my pent-up frustration."

He leaned in another fraction, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling hum. "Something about the way you’re looking at me with those innocent eyes makes me want to..."

Daemus trailed off. His fluffy blue ear suddenly twitched, swiveling sharply toward the closed door.

He didn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he closed the remaining distance and kissed her.

Blair kissed him back without thinking too much about it. Because if she did stop to think about it, her mind would scream at her about how terribly wrong and dangerous this was. But the feeling of his soft lips against hers drowned out any rational thought.

Daemus’s hand slid lower from her chest, his fingers gently cupping one of her breasts through her top.

Blair’s eyes widened slightly as she suddenly remembered she wasn’t wearing a bra. A soft, breathless moan escaped into the kiss as Daemus gently kneaded her breast, the motion causing her nipples to harden instantly against his palm.

Daemus shifted his weight, easily climbing over her on the bed. He bracketed her body, trapping her securely between his muscular arms as he looked down at her.

His expression was serious now. The agonizing restraint he was exercising was plainly apparent on his handsome face.

With one hand, Daemus pulled the duvet away from Blair’s body, revealing her dressed in only the oversized shirt.

Blair’s face was flushed a brilliant crimson, her chest heaving breathlessly as she stared up at the Wolf Prince hovering over her.

Daemus leaned back down, lowering himself until their noses were almost brushing.

"Blair," Daemus whispered, his voice incredibly strained. "Tell me to stop."