The corridor opened into a vast, circular chamber bathed in soft, crimson light. The walls were carved with swirling runes that pulsed in time with a deep, rhythmic thrum emanating from the center. There, suspended above a crystalline pedestal, hovered a giant, beating heart of living magic—its surface composed of swirling tendrils of pink and gold energy. Each pulse sent ripples of lustful power through the air, making the very ground beneath us tremble.
"This… this is the core," Saphielle said, stepping forward. Her silver-lavender hair caught the light as she raised a hand. "This dungeon wasn't just about testing your strength or your affection. It was built to bind soul-linked parties permanently."
I swallowed hard, chest tightening. The heart's pulses washed over me like hot waves, making my skin itch and my thoughts fog. I could feel my pulse racing, my desire waking in ways I'd never felt before.
"It's overflowing," Behemoth murmured, stepping beside me. Her usual stoic calm was shaken, her golden eyes betraying a flicker of arousal. "If we don't stabilize it, it could engulf us all… body and soul."
"Stabilize it how?" I asked, voice raw.
Saphielle smiled, a strange mix of pride and something deeper in her gaze. "By channeling your bond with each of your familiars. Through deep spiritual contact." She gestured to the heart. "It resonates with genuine connection. Each of them must… mount your lap one by one, while you chant the soul-binding incantation. Their love, their passion, will steady the core's magic."
My heart pounded. This was insane. But the dungeon's power throbbed around us, pressing in. If we didn't act, we risked being consumed.
Behemoth stepped forward first. Her gown fluttered, the plunge of her neckline catching every glint of the heart's glow. She knelt and motioned for me to sit on the pedestal's edge. My legs dangled, knees trembling.
"Master," she whispered, voice low. She moved to straddle me, each movement precise and deliberate. Her thighs pressed against my sides, warm and firm. She leaned forward, hands on my chest, and kissed me lightly—soft lips brushing mine before pulling back. Then she pressed herself fully down, our bodies flush. I could feel her pulse against mine as I began to chant:
"By heart and soul entwined, by love and spirit bound..."
Her hands slid across my shoulders, down my arms, trailing goosebumps in their wake. Her kisses deepened, exploring my mouth as I continued the chant, my voice cracking with emotion. The core's pulses slowed, the heart's glow evening out. When the stanza ended, she drew back with a soft sigh, cheeks flushed. The heart steadied further.
Leviathan was next. She approached shyly, pale blue eyes wide as she took my hand. I motioned for her to sit in my lap. She perched delicately, trembling, then eased down so her legs framed me. Her small dragon horns brushed my chin as she kissed me—soft, tentative, her other hand slipping under my shirt to rest against my chest. The chant rolled on:
"By breath and bond united, by trust and longing one..."
Her lips quivered against mine, and she pressed closer. The core's light pulsed gently, softening. When I finished the verse, she blinked at me, utterly red, then slid away, leaning against the wall.
Ziz bounded forward, smirking. She didn't wait for me to sit—she simply sat on my lap, legs straddling my hips, and ground herself against me. "Let me show you how much I love you," she purred, lips hovering at mine. She thrust her hips in slow, teasing circles as I chanted:
"By fire and wind together, by passion fierce and bright..."
Her kiss was demanding, wild, her tongue darting against mine. The core's pulses flickered with heat, but remained stable. When I finished, she hopped off, hopping in mock triumph.
Bahamut stepped forward, robes flowing, eyes closed. "Permit me to share my deepest desire," she said softly. She knelt behind me, then slid around until her thighs gripped my waist. Her arms circled me, and she pressed her lips to my ear. "I've wondered what it would feel like to bind myself to you in sacred union since the moment I was summoned…" Her breath fanned my neck as I chanted:
"By blessing old and curse undone, by ritual pure and true..."
She whispered every dirty thought she'd had—visions of ritual chambers and celestial rites and binding vows made with lips and bodies. The core's glow flickered, then steadied once more.
Chimera bounced forward last, her bright eyes sparkling. She tackled me onto the pedestal, spinning until she was straddling my lap. "I've got the best role!" she giggled, pressing her mouth to mine without hesitation. Her thighs locked around my legs, squeezing. "Playmate-husband forever, remember?" she whispered between kisses as I chanted the final lines:
"By hearts aligned in unity, by soul and flesh as one..."
With that, the heart pulsed one final time, then locked in perfect rhythm. The room stilled, the glow calm and soft.
We collapsed in a heap—Behemoth on my right, Leviathan to her side, Ziz behind me, Bahamut leaning forward, and Chimera draped across us all.
Saphielle stepped up, brushing nonexistent dust from her robes. She surveyed the now-quiet core with satisfaction. "Well done." She tapped her foot. "We did it."
The heart's glow faded to a gentle pink before dissolving into motes of light that drifted upward and vanished. The ruined dungeon, sensing its purpose fulfilled, began to tremble, stones shifting to reveal a descending staircase.
Saphielle walked to the top of the pedestal and turned to us, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "We're all soul-bound now," she said softly. "Might as well finish the bond when we get home."
Her words sent a shiver through me. We had done it—bound our souls, bodies, and hearts. But the real journey was just beginning.