baam!
The door slammed shut behind Atlas with a hollow thud.
He leaned back against it, exhaling deeply. The tension in his shoulders finally began to drain, replaced by a slow, creeping exhaustion. The candlelight in the room flickered against the polished stone walls, casting long shadows that danced with his thoughts.
"Fuck!"
His disguise began to peel itself away—first the fake beard disintegrating into dust, then the color in his hair bleeding back to blond as the enchantments faded. His golden eyes shimmered into full clarity, no longer dulled by illusion. Even his posture changed, straightening just a bit as the pressure of performance lifted off his back.
"...did I just—" he murmured, running a hand down his face. "—fuck, I actually went through with it."
A rumble stirred beneath him.
"…Did I wake up during your mating season again?" came a dry voice from below.
Atlas stiffened. "You've been awake this whole time?"
