The Mirror of Contrasts twisted reality further, forcing Marcus deeper into confrontation. Each reflection showed a different facet of himself—the controlled vampire elder, the repressed werewolf ancestor, and something else: the carefully hidden Dom who maintained absolute control in every aspect of his existence.
The spectral figures multiplied, but new ones emerged—submissives he'd trained, each one kept at a calculated distance despite their intimate dynamic. Their forms flickered with accusation, a silent chorus of connections he'd severed before they could breach his walls.
His maker materialized again, this time with a mocking smile. "Even in dominance, you remain distant. Control without true connection—what are you really afraid of, Marcus?"
