The Abyss pulsed violently. Shadows twisted around Seris and Mason like living snakes, curling protectively around him while responding to her every command. The silver mark burned hotter than ever, pulsing with each heartbeat in sync with Mason's obsessive tether.
"You are already mine," Mason whispered, eyes storm-dark and molten. "Even your resistance feeds me. Every spark of defiance, every act of independence… strengthens the bond. You will crave it, Seris. You cannot resist."
Seris's pulse spiked. She summoned shadows into whips and blades, striking an immortal who emerged from the darkness. Mason's presence flared, threading obsession into every strike, amplifying her power while maintaining her control. Fear, exhilaration, and desire tangled together in a storm that left her trembling.
Another rival emerged, a god older than memory, eyes molten gold blazing hatred. Shadows twisted violently, obeying both her will and Mason's tethered obsession. Every strike, every maneuver, was infused with a suffocating, intoxicating heat that left her quaking. She hated him. She feared him. And yet… she wanted him.
The Abyss reacted violently to the tethered power, coiling around them, striking at any who dared approach. When the last rival fell, Seris collapsed, exhausted and trembling. Mason knelt beside her, shadows brushing intimately along her neck and shoulders. "You are mine," he whispered. "And one day… you will want it. You will crave it."