The Abyss stretched endlessly, a labyrinth of black stone and shifting shadows that seemed to pulse with her heartbeat. Seris Vale moved cautiously, every step measured, aware of Mason's presence pressing on her like a living weight. The mark on her chest flared violently with every pulse, a reminder that she was tethered, trapped, and yet alive in ways she had never imagined.
"You are pushing yourself too far," Mason's voice whispered, threading into her mind like silk laced with steel. She froze, feeling the pull of his obsession pressing into her consciousness. His silver eyes appeared from the shadows, storm-dark and intense, coiling around her like smoke. "The Abyss is patient, but it has limits. So do you."
"I am not yours," she said sharply, though a tremor ran through her chest. She forced her fingers to extend, summoning tendrils of shadow that twisted and snapped like living serpents. "And I can control this."
"You think you can," Mason murmured, stepping closer. Every shadow around him seemed alive, protective and possessive, intertwining with her own. "But every spark of defiance, every act of independence… it only binds you tighter. You are mine. And the Abyss knows it."
Seris swallowed, forcing herself to resist the pull of the tether. The shadows she controlled surged violently in response to her emotions, flaring like black fire across the walls. She could feel the raw power coursing through her veins, amplified by her defiance. For the first time, she realized just how much her goddess blood could do, and how dangerously close she was to matching Mason's control.
A sudden roar echoed through the corridors. Rival immortals had arrived, drawn by the pulse of her awakening power. Their eyes glowed molten gold and crimson, and their presence warped the shadows, bending them into jagged, violent shapes. Seris's hands flared with dark energy, but this time she did not wait for Mason's guidance. She struck first, the tendrils of shadow lashing and piercing with precision that shocked even her.
Mason's silver eyes widened slightly, fascination and obsessive pride threading together in a storm of intensity. "Bold," he murmured, leaning close, his presence pressing against her like fire. "Dangerous. And yet… perfect."
The Abyss itself seemed to respond to their combined power, the shadows bending, coiling, and striking with a synchronized precision that left the rival immortals reeling. Seris felt the tether tighten, Mason's obsession threading into her, guiding her, amplifying her strength without stealing it.
"You are defiant," Mason said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And I adore it. Every spark of rebellion… every act of independence… only makes you mine. Do you feel it? The pull? The craving?"
Seris's chest heaved. Fear, exhilaration, and desire twisted together, making her knees weak. She wanted to resist, to push away, to claim her independence—but the pull of Mason's obsession was impossible to deny. Even as she stood, trembling with power, she realized the terrifying truth: she could defy him, but she could never escape him.
The battle escalated, shadows and powers clashing, the Abyss alive and screaming around them. Mason did not take control—he amplified, protected, and tethered, creating a storm of darkness and desire that both terrified and thrilled her.
When the last rival immortal fell, Seris sank to the floor, gasping for breath. Mason knelt beside her, silver eyes softening just enough to make her shiver, yet sharp enough to warn, protect, and claim. "You are mine," he whispered, voice low and intimate. "Every heartbeat, every breath, every act of defiance… mine. And one day, you will crave it. You will understand it. And you will want it."
Seris pressed her hands to the mark, flames of heat and obsession searing through her. She hated him. She feared him. And yet… she wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
The Abyss waited, alive and patient, shadows curling like silent witnesses. Seris Vale understood a truth she could not yet name: her defiance had only strengthened the tether, deepened the obsession, and bound her more completely to Mason than ever before.
And she was powerless to resist.