Dungeon Bound Read online

  Squatting in embarrassment, Cindra clutched the armor tight against her large breasts and looked up. “Sorry, Packmaster.”

  “No worries, I’m glad you’re excited, but I’m afraid that may not fit you,” he said. “You are considerably larger than most women.”

  Huge blue eyes teared up instantly, rocking him back in shock.

  “Massster!” Sthuza hissed.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Cindra fell to all fours, drowning out any further words with sobbing wails as she dropped her new armor and broke down completely.

  Unable to comprehend the sight before him, Gabriel looked to his Prime.

  Long fingers pinched between green eyes, and several head-snakes stared at him in shock. Sthuza shook her head and beckoned him over with a free hand.

  “What just happened?” he asked, having to lean in close to hear over the earsplitting crying.

  Her cries are loud enough to wake the dead!

  “While I have not encountered very many of her species, I know enough about them to understand her concerns. She is without a doubt the largest female hellhound I have ever heard of, and I mean that in every way,” Sthuza spat, her voice growing heated toward the end.

  “I still don’t understand the problem.”

  She drew in a slow breath, exhaled, and continued. “Cindra fears that you will not want to keep her in your ‘Pack’ because she is too large.”

  “Why in the world would I do that?”

  “Because size is one of the primary factors in determining the value of a male, hellhound wise, and she is several inches taller than you.”

  He thought about that, still staring at Sthuza, hoping for more explanation.

  “She is taller, stronger, and far heavier than you. She fears rejection for being too masculine. Or rather, for making you appear less masculine by comparison.” Sthuza moved to Cindra’s side after speaking and placed a hand on her shoulder.

  Okay, I can see how some guys might do that, but honestly, she’s beautiful. Could do without the fur, but she really is stunning. So what if she’s strong enough to snap me in half?

  Gabriel nodded to himself after a moment, having decided on his next action. Several of Sthuza’s snakes warily watched him approach, but she didn’t react as he stepped in close and knelt on Cindra’s other side.

  Hope she doesn’t burn me.

  He took a deep breath, then leaned in, lifted her chin with one hand, and kissed her.

  Cindra surged forward, smashing her lips against his, bruising them on his teeth, and wrapped her arms around him, threatening to squeeze the life from him.

  Good thing I took a deep breath first.

  Several seconds of awkward lip smashing gave way when Cindra parted hers somewhat, letting his tongue slip inside the wet heat of her mouth.

  She tastes like cinnamon? Way hotter than Sthuza, or any human I’ve ever kissed, but it’s not unpleasant.

  A low-pitched whine rose up her throat, startling him, and he started to pull back. The affectionate hellhound followed him, pressing close and chasing his retreating tongue with a much larger one.

  Oh gods! She could choke me with that thing!

  Panic clawed at Gabriel’s mind. Then, faster than he could react, Cindra halted her oral invasion and began playfully teasing, long tongue dancing about. A spicy-sweet flavor spread as she continued exploring.

  “Well, that isss one way to sssilence her, Massster,”

  His eyes snapped open, widened more when he saw that Cindra’s were similarly open as she stared into his, and then glanced up to the gorgon glaring down at them. Swallowing, his mouth now tingling and tasting of spicy cinnamon, he worked his hands in between them to push Cindra back, but found no purchase save her firm breasts.

  How big are they? I can’t find her shoulders.

  She moaned as he inadvertently groped her chest. Still, after a moment, she relented and reluctantly pulled back, breaking the sloppy kiss. A viscous trail of saliva connected their mouths for a moment as he gasped for air.

  Cindra similarly began to pant, her gray skin flushing darker as she stared at Gabriel with lust-filled eyes. He swallowed hard, and the tingling sensation began to spread toward his center.

  “Packmaster wants to mount me now?” she asked breathlessly, one hand moving to cup an enormous breast.

  “Perhaps you should try on your armor for now,” Sthuza suggested, having picked it up and now presenting it to her again.

  Cindra’s bright-blue eyes finally looked away from him, and his body sagged in relief, as though her gaze had enthralled him.

  “Oh, right! Thanks, Snakey,” Cindra said, jumping up and reclaiming the leather and bronze equipment. Then she grabbed the crude robe and pulled it overhead, exposing acres of smooth skin stretched tight over powerful muscles.

  “No! Wait,” Sthuza hissed.

  Chagrined, Cindra ducked down, still looking larger than Gabriel and then moved behind a folding screen the gorgon must have set up while they were kissing.

  It didn’t feel like a long time. How did Sthuza get that out and set up so fast?

  Discarding the issue as irrelevant, he focused on slowing his breathing and recovering after the most intense kiss of his life.

  “Nice job distracting her. Though I fear you have doomed any chance at not having to mate with her now.”

  “You’re not mad?” The last thing he wanted was to upset the amazing woman.

  “No, Master, I am not angry. Last night you made excellent progress in convincing me that you are interested and care about my well being,” she said, smiling gently at him. “I am willing to risk trusting that you are sincere in your feelings.

  “Please do not prove me mistaken,” she whispered so quietly he would never have heard, if not for his enhanced hearing.

  Hard to believe that just last week, I was alone, and now I have two incredible women. Both of whom seem comfortable with the idea of sharing.

  “Thanks, Sthuza. I already can’t imagine a life without you, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure neither of you is lonely again.”

  Wetness glimmered in her green eyes, but the dressing screen flew across the room, interrupting any reply. They both traced back along its flight path and spotted the now fully clothed and armored hellhound.

  Gabriel’s jaw dropped, and his breath caught in his throat as he stared at the stunning display of feminine lethality. Once confident that the suit would never fit, he couldn’t look away from the sight. The sleek suit now stretched taut over Cindra’s muscular physique.

  Dark leather accentuated her figure as it hugged her thick hips and made her already impressive bust appear even more substantial. The blue-and-black leather armor fit her like a second skin, and the cinched cords paired perfectly with the thick plates protecting her arms, shoulders, and shins.

  Sthuza grinned. “Yes, I thought that would look good on you. I am glad to see it in use again.” She walked around the armored figure, inspecting her from every angle. “It has been far too long since the last wearer fell,” she said, her voice sad, but a small smile still graced her alluring lips.

  “Thank you so much, Lady Snakes!” Cindra roared before leaping forward and wrapping the slender gorgon in a bone-snapping embrace.

  “Ack! Let me down, you mussscle-brained canine!”

  Cindra ignored her protest and cheerfully spun the smaller woman around in circles.

  “That looks very nice on you.”

  The female behemoth froze. Blue eyes glowing, Cindra fixed him with an intense stare. All thoughts of the tiny figure pressed into her prodigious chest vanished.

  “Maybe you should put Sthuza down?” he suggested, grinning up at her.

  Cindra blushed, nodded, and dropped her struggling companion back to her feet.

  Sthuza spent a moment fixing her ruffled dress. “After seeing how excitable you are, I am having serious second thoughts about providing you with a weapon.”

  That’s a different one
than she wore last night. Should compliment her on it, it looks fantastic.

  “Do I have to use a weapon?” Cindra asked, glancing over at Gabriel.

  “You don’t have to, but if you want to fight in that form, and wearing your new armor, you probably should.”

  “Okay!”

  Sthuza nodded and then moved across the room to one of the piles of haphazardly stacked weapons. “I have just the thing for her. We made it for a fire giant, but she did not use it often, preferring a stupendously oversized hammer.”

  “Are you sure she’ll be able to handle something that big?” he asked, worrying. “I’m pretty sure mass plays a—”

  “Massster!” she hissed, shocking him into silence.

  Oh right. Guess not talking about Cindra’s size extends to her weight.

  “And yes, I have no doubt that she will find this sword perfect,” Sthuza said.

  She spent several minutes rummaging through the myriad weapons piled together in unstable heaps.

  “Is that safe?” he asked, anxiously watching her shifting and poking at gleaming blades, several sliding down to strike the thick rug.

  “Hmm? Oh, I am being quite careful, Master,” she replied without turning, casually tossing a dagger over her shoulder.

  Cindra sidestepped the flying blade, which sank to the hilt in the stone wall.

  “Yes!” Sthuza cheered after discarding several more bejeweled weapons.

  Head-snakes thrashed chaotically as she strained against a hilt as long as her arm. Despite her efforts, the sword refused to budge from the center of the pile. She huffed, spat on her hands, and tried to draw the blade again. “Bah, come over and pull this out for me, you big-boobed meathead.”

  Without a word of protest at the insult, the larger woman bounded over and wrapped one hand around the red leather grip and tugged. Most of the pile collapsed, sending Sthuza stumbling away, her snakes hissing as they writhed about her head.

  With the sword freed, Cindra lifted it up, letting the magical lighting highlight its flawless black blade.

  Is that adamantite? It’s got to weigh at least eighty pounds.

  “Cindra loves the shiny knife,” she said, swinging the almost seven-foot blade in a lightning-fast blur.

  “Pretty sure that’s a greatsword, Cindra, or at least a longsword,” he said, struggling to comprehend her display of raw strength.

  “Oh? This is a sword?” She cradled the gleaming weapon in both hands, leaning in close to inspect it.

  “Yes, it is, and it is for you, Cindra. Be sure to protect Master with it.”

  “Snakey is scary looking but best alpha bitch ever!”

  “Cindra!” Gabriel gasped.

  “Do not worry yourself, Master. It is a Pack thing,” Sthuza said, her calm tone soothing his outrage.

  He nodded and moved closer to inspect the priceless sword, wondering what enchantments the magic-receptive and nearly impervious metal carried.

  It looks big enough for a giant, but she was able to control her swing without a hint of strain.

  “Do be careful with that. The edges carry an enchantment for sharpness, among other things.”

  “Is it really okay to give her all of this? Both the sword and that armor must be worth a fortune,” he whispered, leaning close to Sthuza as they watched his second bonded run through a few more practice swings.

  “Of course it is fine,” she said, sounding surprised. “She is your bonded, as am I. Everything I own is now yours, so there should be no issue with equipping her well.”

  His brain froze up at her casual statement.

  All of this is mine now?

  I could sell that sword just for the metal and get enough to live a life of luxury back home. Would she let me sell all of this and abandon the dungeon entirely?

  He lost himself in thought as he considered how easy it would be to return to safety back in Lostbarrow and live like a king.

  The whole reason I resorted to delving was hoping to score big, and I can’t imagine a bigger score than this. But would it mean abandoning Cindra and Sthuza? Could they live in the city?

  And what about Merideva?

  He shook his head when he noticed Sthuza gazing at him.

  “Are you feeling okay, Master? You looked disturbed.”

  “Sorry, I’m fine, it’s just been a series of big shocks over the past week. Guess I wasn’t handling it as well as I thought,” Gabriel said, turning his attention back to the acrobatic hellhound.

  “Did you know she had training in swordplay?” he asked, noticing Cindra’s precise strikes and graceful parries.

  “I seriously doubt she has any weapons training.”

  “You’re kidding, right? Just look at the way she’s moving,” he countered, pointing toward her as she performed a backflip, landing in a perfect high guard pose.

  “Despite being as simple as pie, she is a quick learner. I will admit that we were fortunate to find her.”

  ***

  The pair watched for several minutes as the hellhound focused on her moves with a surprising intensity. At first, Cindra performed a simple series of strikes and parries. But, as she continued to practice, the maneuvers on display became more complex. Eventually, Sthuza called out, drawing the panting monster girl’s attention back to her audience.

  “What do you think, Packmaster? Cindra is good enough to protect with sword?” She asked, bright eyes locked on him, her dark-skinned features looking vulnerable.

  To give himself a moment to consider his answer, Gabriel looked her over, inspecting her armored form. Her figure-hugging leather and bronze armor looked as tightly stretched as when she first put it on. Despite the vigorous activity, there were no signs of damage to the stitching or seams.

  Guess the suit’s enchantments do make it fit. That being the case, why is it so tight?

  Continuing to study her, Gabriel couldn’t help but notice the lack of footwear and gloves, and he idly wondered if Sthuza had boots prepared as well. He struggled to ignore the way her heavy breathing forced her magnificent bust to rise and fall. Instead, he concentrated on her flushed face as the sweat made her skin glisten.

  She’s way too big to be that sexy.

  “I believe he found your performance to be more than adequate, Cindra,” Sthuza answered smoothly in his place, an amused smirk twitching at her lips.

  “Yay!” Cindra screamed, swinging her sword overhead and nearly striking an ornate magic lamp.

  She ducked her head, chagrined, and shot the glaring gorgon a meek smile. “Sorry, Lady Snakes.”

  Sthuza let out a small sigh, then shook her head, snakes lashing about. “Forget about it, but please be more aware of what is around you when you swing that weapon. It is quite lethal.”

  Tall, gray ears flopped when Cindra nodded.

  “Perhaps it is time now to go introduce us to your Dungeon Core?” Sthuza suggested, glancing over to Gabriel. “Or would you like to ssstare at her breassstsss for a while longer?”

  That snapped him back to the present. He shook his head, then focused on his bonded gorgon. “Sorry about that, I’m ready now.

  “Though I was curious if you were planning on any footwear to go with her armor?” he asked, pointing at the hellhound’s gray feet and her sharp claws.

  Sthuza stared at Cindra’s feet for a moment before nodding to herself and returning to the magical wardrobe.

  “Yes, Master. I have the perfect pair of boots for her. Thank you for reminding me. I almost forgot to change my own clothes,” she said, already halfway inside the enchanted closet.

  “If you would please step out into the hall for a few minutes, Master. Cindra and I will finish getting dressed and meet you there.”

  “Okay…” Gabriel said, a little surprised.

  I’ve already seen Cindra very naked, and there’s a dressing screen. But it’s not a big deal.

  Sibilant whispering teased at his ears as he headed out the enchanted cave entrance.

  CHAPTER SEVEN
TEEN

  Not sure how long his bonded would be, Gabriel decided to dive further into the details of his two new allies. A moment of concentration was enough to bring up his Dungeon Interface. A single thought was all it took to switch to a detailed Attributes page for Cindra.

  What would the Guild pay to have a Soulstone that provides this much information?

  He quickly forgot his initial intention to skim over the main points when he saw just how much there was to read about the busty young hellhound.

  Cindra

  Dungeon Bound (Base Species: Seruuberc Hellhound)

  Sex: Female

  Age: 19

  Soul Essence: 1245

  Bonded Monster to Gabriel Grimm

  Upgrades: 0

  Threat Rating: A

  The list of her attributes alone was a full ‘page’ of his display, and Gabriel marveled at the precise nature of everything presented. It had fewer total entries than Sthuza’s, but he could read these.

  Focus on something, and the Interface brings up a more detailed view of it.

  Reading the description of stamina and its influence on spellcasting, he made a mental note to check how his improved physical stats might affect his magic.

  Mind more focused on his bonded at the moment, he switched pages to read through the social and habitat sections. Hopefully, he could find something to help avoid any more embarrassing blunders like the weight issue.

  It’s still insane that she can control a sword that heavy. I need to get Sthuza to explain that better.

  No sooner than he’d thought to check if the entry on hellhounds included anything about their shapeshifting, the portal spiraled open again, and the two beautiful monsters stepped through. “Hello, Master, did you miss us?” Sthuza purred seductively, drawing his attention.

  Not confident in his ability to speak, he stared at the pair. Both now wore figure-hugging leathers, and he nodded slowly while drinking in their irresistible beauty, committing their perfect forms to memory. Sthuza’s was a lovely green-and-white ensemble while Cindra still wore her too-tight leather armor but now had a matching helmet strapped to her waist.