That the dark shadow that had fallen on her face was gone and was replaced by the normal, happy Harlow.
We needed to have a girls’ night so I could figure out what was up with her.
“Right, now as I was saying, the fox—”
I stopped her with a finger in the air. "Hold up. Didn't you specifically tell me these fancy cameras only pick up humans and beings with—"
Harlow nodded. "A paranormal essence, exactly. Which is why this is so interesting." Her fingers tapped the remote, bringing the security footage to life on screen. "See this? Recorded the night Gideon brought you home. This fox followed you all the way here, then circled the property until sunrise before disappearing."
The black and white footage showed an ordinary-sized fox, but its coat gleamed silver in the moonlight. The creature moved like a shadow, ducking out of sight at the slightest sound or movement, expertly avoiding detection by anyone else on the property.
"The next night, during your scheduled gaming shift, our visitor returned." Harlow tapped the screen where the fox reappeared. "Watch this, it made multiple attempts to scale the rain gutter. When it finally reached your windowsill, it peered inside for several seconds before dropping back down. Whatever it was looking for, it must have found it, because after that, it disappeared into the woods and didn't come back."
I pulled up the stool next to Harlow. “Why would a fox… a special fox want to look in my window? And what kind of fox could we be dealing with here?”
Harlow’s smile widened again. “I’m glad you asked.”
Atlas kept one hand firmly on my thigh as I made final adjustments to my gaming setup. Everything needed to be perfect—water bottle positioned exactly three inches from my mouse, snack bowl filled despite knowing I wouldn't touch a single chip. Tonight was too important to break routine. Even with Atlas's distracting touch sending warmth up my leg, some rituals couldn't be compromised.
Harlow hip-bumped the door open, balancing an overloaded tray. "Snack delivery for the gaming goddess and her boy-toy!" The platter was a mosaic of carefully arranged fruit slices, tiny sandwiches with the crusts trimmed off, and what appeared to be first-attempt sushi rolls wrapped in seaweed that was already starting to wilt.
Atlas still didn’t know that Harlow didn’t know about him, and we were going to keep it that way… for then.
Atlas’ immediately looked over at the tray on the bed, and the decision to let go of my leg or get a snack was just too much for him. “Go on, I’m not leaving.”
Atlas let out one of his whines. I could hear his wings flutter behind him while they stayed invisible. “No, I’m with you.”
Atlas had been acting strange all day, especially when he came back from his morning walk. Harlow later explained she believed monsters grow strong attachments to their significant others.
They do it in monster romances, why not in real life?
Anyway, morning walk my ass, he smelled different. He smelled like the forest, the one we weren’t supposed to go into. That place had a distinctive smell that I could never forget. Like ozone and, I don’t want to say death, but maybe rotting moss?
Harlow and I exchanged glances. She snatched up a plate, crossed the room, and handed it to Atlas, who sat beside me in his own chair. He balanced the plate carefully on his lap as Harlow leaned down, her voice gentle but firm. "Eat up, big guy. Just so you know, once she starts gaming, you'll need to keep those hands to yourself. She needs complete focus."
Atlas' face fell, his eyes growing round with dismay. "You mean I can't touch you at all?"
I sank my fang into my lower lip, feeling the pressure build as it pressed deeper into the soft flesh. "Gaming requires my complete focus. With you sitting right beside me, I'm already struggling to concentrate..."
Atlas' eyes welled up with tears, tremors running through his fingers where they gripped my thigh. From deep in his throat came a sound I'd never heard before—a keening vibration so high-pitched it made the hairs on my arms stand up.
Oh. My. Gods.
Harlow gasped. “You are going to kill him, Kassie! You have to let him at least hold your boob, a foot, something!!”
I caught Atlas' trembling hand as it slipped from my thigh. His eyes were squeezed shut, his whole body quaking. Desperate to calm him, I guided his palm to my chest, letting him feel my heartbeat beneath the curve of my breast. His fingers instinctively curled around the soft flesh.
Despite my attempt at comfort, Atlas unleashed a high-pitched wail that vibrated through the glass panes of my bedroom windows, making them tremble in their frames.
Harlow clapped her hands over her ears while I lunged from my chair onto Atlas' lap, sealing my lips against his. The keening finally subsided as his fingers found the curve of my breast, alternating between gentle pressure and release.
“Better, much better,” he mumbled into my lips.
Harlow mumbled. “He is making biscuits with your boobs. Are we sure he isn’t part cat?”
I nipped at his face. “You are like a toddler. What the hell is wrong with you?” My expression softened. “No, really, Atlas, what is wrong? You’re clingy. Am I not paying you enough attention? Do you need mothy cuddles?” I adjusted myself on his lap and tucked my head beneath his chin, nuzzling him. He relaxed physically, and I heard a deep sigh.
One of his hands ran through my hair, and a deep rumbling vibration began. “I haven’t been completely honest…”
