The corridors of the Abyss writhed with shadows as Seris moved cautiously, trying to control her powers independently. Her mark burned hotter than ever, a tether between her and Mason pulsing like a second heartbeat.
"You grow bold," Mason whispered, appearing from the darkness. Silver eyes piercing her soul, shadows curling protectively around him. "Every spark of defiance, every act of power… strengthens the bond. You are mine, whether you admit it or not."
Seris swallowed hard, summoning shadows into blades. A rival god lunged from the darkness, eyes molten with fury. She struck first, moving with precision, her powers amplified by Mason's obsessive presence. He did not touch her, yet every movement was guided, every strike threaded with his obsession.
When the immortal fell, she pressed her hands to the mark, feeling heat, tether, and desire coiling inside her. Mason knelt beside her, brushing her hair back. "You are defiant," he whispered. "And that defiance… excites me. You will learn to crave the tether, Seris. You will want it."