The Abyss shifted under Seris's feet. She tried, subtly, to act without Mason's guidance. Shadows obeyed her commands but with resistance—an echo of the tether between her and him.
"You are defiant," Mason said softly, appearing beside her. "And that defiance… intoxicates me. Do you feel it, Seris? That pull? That need?"
"Yes," she whispered, though she refused to meet his eyes. "I feel it. And I will not be fully yours."
"You are already mine," he murmured, silver eyes piercing her, "and every spark of independence only strengthens my obsession. The Abyss knows it. I know it. And you… will."
A wave of shadow demons erupted from the walls. Seris acted first, summoning dark blades, striking them down. Mason's presence flared, protective and invasive, amplifying her actions. The Abyss trembled in recognition of their bond—obsession, defiance, and growing power entwined in a dangerous dance.