The Abyss itself seemed to breathe around Seris, alive and aware. Shadows stretched and coiled, responding to the tether, to Mason's obsession, to her defiance and growing power.
"You cannot escape it," Mason whispered, stepping close, silver eyes storm-dark. Shadows pressed around them both, alive and protective. "Every spark of independence, every act of power… only strengthens the bond. You are mine. And one day… you will crave it."
Seris pressed her hands to the mark, chest heaving, trembling. Fear, desire, and exhilaration twisted together. She realized fully that she was no longer just surviving the Abyss—she was awakening. And Mason's obsession was inescapable, threading through every heartbeat, every movement, every thought.
The Abyss shivered around them, alive with recognition. The bond, dark, consuming, and obsessive, was absolute. She could defy it. She could resist. But she could never escape it.