Epilogue
Atlas
Kassie nestled against me, her head tucked under my chin as the documentary credits rolled across the screen.
"What do you think about getting a capybara?
" she asked, looking up with that hopeful gleam in her eyes.
The timing couldn't have been better; an entire hour of footage about her favorite animal, just hours before our scheduled livestream.
I'd never seen animals so serene. Though they resembled oversized guinea pigs rather than the black and purple plush versions Kassie collected, real capybaras might thrive in our forest. Something about their unflappable nature seemed perfect for this place, as if nothing in the world could startle them.
Their unreadable expressions could hide either profound wisdom or complete obliviousness.
I ran my fingers through my antennae. "Even if we could track one down, I'd feel terrible separating a baby from its family. Where would we even look for a capybara breeder?"
Kassie’s shoulders slumped. “You’re right, that would be terrible. I also wouldn’t want it to get eaten in the forest here. You don’t think that would happen, do you?”
I shook my head. "No, most forest predators around here hunt based on fear response. Capybaras are too calm to trigger their instincts."
The alarm rang on Kassie’s phone, startling us both. I turned to click off the television, which Kassie said was due for an upgrade. It was small and more box-like. Kassie constantly reminded me it belonged in a museum, not our living room.
Kassie nudged me with her elbow. "Ready to heal some warriors, cleric?
" I scooped her up and carried her to the gaming corner of our cabin.
Someday I'd build a proper streaming room, but for the moment, our setup occupied the far wall.
These role-playing games had become our ritual.
I'd reluctantly embraced it. I found little joy in solo play, logging in only when she coaxed me in the beginning.
I enjoy seeing her happy and for the fun times that followed.
These days, I actually look forward to our gaming sessions. I've built real friendships through the screen. Of course, I still manage to get our party wiped out regularly, and Kassie's viewers lose it every time my antennae shoot straight up in panic whenever a boss catches me off-guard.
Our gaming sessions usually happen after dark. I lean into the Mothman persona during streams—the nocturnal creature thing makes perfect sense to viewers. The act has caught on with other supernaturals in town, too; they've started streaming their own "cosplays" that are really just themselves.
Our livestream flickered to life, dual cameras capturing both Kassie and me in frame. TeaBagTitan's username flashed in the chat, followed immediately by his face appearing in our video call, wearing that signature smug expression that always made my antennae twitch.
“Was Atlas over there pruning? Is that why you are late?” Fenwick's face appeared on screen with a wink.
Online, he never dropped the persona, but around town, he'd proven himself decent enough.
Despite his efforts to dial down the supernatural charm, some powers can't be completely contained.
At least, he hadn't used his abilities unethically in our community, though I sometimes wondered about his online tactics for making rent.
That wasn’t any of my business.
As long as he stayed away from my female.
Kassie blew a raspberry and slammed her hand down on the table. “TeaBag, you are just hilarious. But I would take it easy and stop stressing so much, you will lose even more hair if you keep worrying about the time.”
Fenwick grabbed the top of his head and felt his hairline. He narrowed his eyes. “Har, har, you are so funny. For your information, I have a very strict hair regimen, and my hair follicles are spectacular.”
A laugh caught in my throat, turning into a cough that sent Skittles flying from the bowl Kassie and I had been sharing. The chat lit up with laughing emojis, and I tried not to straight-up panic, in mortification.
By the grace of Night I was able to say, “I’m far too clumsy to be around masculinity this fragile.”
One by one, the other gamers in our video chat erupted with laughter, their faces lighting up our screen. Something unfamiliar bloomed in my chest, a pleasant flutter of acceptance I rarely experienced outside of moments with Kassie.
I made a fucking joke!
Kassie turned to me, beaming with pride, mouthing an “I love you. So proud of you.” Her hand reached over and lay on my leg. “You’re so hot when you take down the enemy like that,” she said.
Fenwick scoffed. “I’m not the enemy today, I’m on your side, ye one with grass highlights for hair.”
Kassie's lips curled into that particular smile, the one that meant trouble.
I recognized it immediately. She was about to unleash one of those bizarre ideas that only ever seemed to strike her mid-shampoo, those post-shower proclamations that left me wondering if the steam had temporarily rewired her brain.
“You know, speaking of grass, did you know that grass is kind of like the pubes of the Earth?”
The whole chat groaned; several heads fell to their desks. I cracked up beside her.
****
Several hours into the game, our raid party had fallen into a chaotic rhythm.
Commands flew across the voice chat, while our fingers danced over keyboards and controllers.
As the designated healer, I had the simplest job: keep everyone alive.
Though everyone understood my priority was always Kassie.
This whole event was her brainchild anyway, a clever strategy to boost visibility for the supernatural streamers in our community who were still building their audiences.
While Fenwick maintained his human appearance on camera, the flick of his tail occasionally betrayed him in the background.
The lycanthrope's headphones nestled awkwardly against his fur, though viewers seemed to find the combination endearing.
Byron struggled with his massive minotaur horns knocking against his microphone, yet somehow managed his controller with surprising dexterity.
The phantom drew the most criticism—forced to drape himself in a sheet to avoid revealing too much of the game through his translucent form, chat mercilessly mocked what they assumed was a bargain-bin cosplay effort.
Kassie still had other monsters to help with their systems at home, but overall, this cosplay night was a success.
“Fuck! It got me!” Kassie threw her controller onto the desk and crossed her arms. I tried my best not to look at her breasts that seemed to look extra… nice.
How long has it been since we mated?
Three hours? It was such a long time.
I shifted in my seat and healed another player.
Fenwick tilted his chin and snapped his fingers. “Hey, Mothman, you wanna come over and heal me? I swear it’s like you don’t like me.”
This little shit talks a big game, but in front of me, he pisses his pants.
A rumble vibrated through my chest as I navigated my character across the screen.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Kassie's subtle movements beside me, but forced my attention back to the raid.
Every instinct screamed to track her every breath, but I had teammates depending on me… even if one was Fenwick.
She does like it when I do light stalking.
I'd fly overhead in town, my wings casting flickering shadows across the cobblestones as she’d walk between storefronts or visit Elowyn at the pharmacy.
I’d track her scent until she wandered toward the forest edge.
That was when I’d dive, the wind whistling through my antennae, swooping down to catch her in my arms with a playful growl that’d make her squeal and melt against me, her pulse quickening beneath my touch in that way that drives me wild.
Damnit, I was getting hard.
“Going code match everyone, code match,” Fenwick said, and I snapped out of my trance.
“What code is that? What formation, I don’t know that!” I said in a panic.
I felt something warm on my inner thigh, and I squeaked in surprise.
Please, no.
Kassie hummed. “It’s your turn, Atlas.”
No, no, no.
The cameras were rolling, and I had no pants on. Because, why do you wear pants to this stream? I was supposed to be in cosplay. Mothman doesn’t wear pants.
I would always wear pants next time.
My dick was already betraying me, and Kassie’s hand was massaging my slit.
“Time to come out to play.”
“You are not talking to my dick, are you?” I whispered harshly.
Fenwick clears his throat. “You alright there, Atlas? Just want to make sure you know, your microphone is working.”
Noooo. Why is this my life?
The warm, wet sensation of Kassie's tongue against my most sensitive area sent electricity through my body. I clenched my jaw, struggling to maintain composure while the crimson glow from my eyes intensified, casting eerie shadows across my keyboard.
Byron huffed, his breath fogging up the camera. “Your eyes are too bright; it’s destroying the equipment.”
Well, my other equipment is about to get destroyed.
I whispered her name through clenched teeth, squirming against her iron grip.
"For the love of… not while we're streaming!
" Her silent laughter sent vibrations in places it really shouldn’t.
The chat window caught my eye, a frenzied cascade of capital letters, animated faces, and exclamations that told me our audience was thoroughly entertained by whatever they thought was happening.
My body betrayed me completely, emerging from my protective slit, only to be enveloped by Kassie's warm mouth.
The sensation shot through me like lightning, my leg jerking violently against the power strip.
In an instant, our elaborate setup went dark, leaving only the faint pulse of a kitchen appliance light across the cabin to illuminate our shame.
That didn’t stop my match, though; she was on a mission from Night itself.
I reached down, trying to pry Kassie off, but she was determined, and I was half-hearted at best. It was hard to think straight with every nerve ending in my body screaming for more. I could feel the heat rising in my face, and I knew I was about three seconds away from spontaneous combustion.
At least I wasn’t on camera being viewed by thousands of others.
My phone beeped, and I clicked on the voice message that came through.
"Guys?" Fenwick's voice cut through the darkness, sounding genuinely concerned. "You alright? Did something happen to your power?"
Byron's gravelly voice followed, "Maybe their fuse box is as outdated as their TV."
Great, even the minotaur was taking stabs at my ancient electronics. I could feel Kassie's shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, which only made her efforts more vigorous. I let out a strangled noise, something between a groan and a plea for mercy.
I got my voice together and replied with a voice message. I didn’t need anyone showing up. "Hang on, technical difficulties."
Kassie's hands were on my thighs, her nails digging in slightly as she moved her head, taking more of me into her mouth. I gasped, my head falling back against the chair. The room spun slightly, my vision hazy with lust and the faint glow of my eyes reflecting off the dark surfaces.
The wet, obscene sounds of her mouth sent electricity crackling through every nerve ending, turning me diamond-hard in seconds. My coils twitched violently, aching to constrict around her delicate throat, to feel her pulse hammering against my grip as I forced her deeper.
“Kassie, if you don’t get off my dick and put your ass in the air…” I snarled, my throat letting off a high-pitched scream. “You will get a load far too big for that pretty mouth of yours.”
Kassie released me with a wet pop, looking up with eyes that sparkled dangerously in the dim light.
Before she could say a word, my hands found her waist, lifting her as if she weighed nothing.
The couch cushions sank beneath her as I tossed her down, my thoughts consumed by need rather than gentleness.
I ripped her skirt up, exposing her bare flesh to the air. No underwear— I'd shredded the last pair with my teeth this morning, unable to control the frenzy her scent triggered in me.
I was starting to see a pattern with her shenanigans…
I bent down and took one long lick of her pussy, savoring the taste. “I can feel your heart beating between your legs, my soul.”
Kassie whimpered. “Atlas…”
“Now, I will make it beat in tune to my own heart.”
Kassie gasped when I entered her. My coils reached inside her and massaged her. She came almost immediately, and I felt her arousal soak me completely. My wings fluttered when I pulled out and turned her around. My hand wrapped around her neck. “Did you want to play naughty games tonight?”
She bit her lip, her eyes still filled with a gaze of lust. “I was only trying to…”
I tightened it just a little more. Her arousal perfumed around me.
“I think it’s time to go outside, let the real monster have you…”
She nodded quickly, and before I realized what I was doing, we were out the door, into the air, my cock inside her as I fucked her in the stars, as if they would bear witness that she was mine, for always.
Because I never thought a monster like me would get a human as perfect as this.