MATED TO MY BROTHER'S ENEMY
"Watch as your love for her intensifies your suffering. All of you who wish to protect her instead cause you to hurt her."
He removed the iron, leaving a charred brand that pulsed with the same weak brightness as the collar. Still, the rot crept across their relationship, seeding pessimistic and doubtful thoughts into their respective minds.
Kael mumbled, "Feel that?" "That's the corruption setting in, transforming your honorable emotions into something more. useful."
Marcus fought the growing darkness in his head, but the collar rendered resistance impossible. Each effort to cut Lyra off from the poison opened their link more, allowing more corruption to move between them.